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Wall Oven Buying Guide
Oven Buying Guide
Getting Started
If you're a cook who loves to bake, roast, or broil, you've likely spent lots of time bending over a low freestanding range. And if you're tired of having to constantly hunch over to put your dish in the oven, baste or flip foods, or just check on its progress, a built-in wall oven may be your answer. Its name says it all: the oven is built into the wall, flush with the kitchen cabinets, usually at or around waist level. Additional cabinets are usually placed above and below the wall oven for handy cookware storage.
Wall ovens bring a great amount of convenience to the cooking process, and make it especially easy to transfer hot, heavy dishes from the oven to your countertop. But shopping for a wall oven does require a bit more research and preparation compared to buying a freestanding oven, especially if you're renovating your kitchen to fit it. Since installing a wall oven requires modification of your cabinets and possibly even the walls in your kitchen, careful measuring of the location is critical.
Types of Wall Ovens
Single Wall Ovens
Space-saving and versatile, single wall ovens are a great option for the typical kitchen. These ovens can be installed around waist level in one of the walls of your kitchen, or they can fit in a kitchen island, usually right below the separate cooktop. Single wall ovens offer one cooking zone, much like standard ranges.
Double Wall Ovens
A double wall oven offers an additional cooking cavity for greater cooking flexibility and increased capacity. These ovens usually come with convection or broiling capabilities in one or both units. Double wall ovens are a great choice for anyone who regularly cooks for a big family, or often finds themselves cooking multiple large dishes at the same time.
Wall Oven and Microwave Combo
Microwave/Oven combos feature a full-featured oven and a microwave built into the same appliance. With both options in one unit, you can cook large meals and quickly defrost or warm up leftovers at your convenience.
Wall Oven Fuel Types
Gas
This type of oven requires natural gas or a liquid propane connection. You may have a limited choice of sizes and brands for this type of oven.
Electric
Electric wall ovens require a 230/240 volt connection and they are usually available in all sizes and styles.
Wall Oven Sizes and Capacity
Wall ovens are available in several widths, including 24, 27, 30, and 36 inches. 30-inch wall ovens are the most popular size, and what you're most likely to find in a typical kitchen. This size can usually accommodate between 2 - 3 racks.
Some high-end appliance brands offer 36-inch models, although those may be too large for the average kitchen. And if you're really limited on space, a 24-inch electric wall oven can be an excellent choice without sacrificing features.
When comparing oven sizes, consider how many dishes you usually need to cook at the same time. Do you entertain frequently or do you only cook for a few people? Checking the internal oven size is essential before buying an oven.
Wall ovens offer a wide range of internal capacities. The most popular single wall ovens offer similar capacity to freestanding ranges of the same width—usually around 4.5 to 5.1 cubic feet of cooking volume for a 30-inch oven. Low-profile single wall ovens offer a shorter overall height, resulting in about half the capacity (enough to cook one dish at a time), while double wall ovens give you between 8 and 10 cubic feet of cooking space.
Wall Oven Standard Features
These features are common on every wall oven.
Flat racks
All wall ovens come standard with 1 to 6 racks, depending on the oven size and configuration.
Viewing window & oven light
A large, clear-view window with an oven light allows you to check the cooking process without opening the door.
High/Low broil option
This feature lets you choose high or low broiling. High broiling is used mostly to quickly cook, brown, char, or caramelize. The low setting allows for slower broiling to ensure doneness without drying out foods.
Oven timer
All ovens will have a timer, some ovens have both a bake and regular timer. The difference is the bake timer only works when the oven is engaged, whereas the regular timer can be used for anything.
Look for these optional features on your new wall oven:
Convection
Convection ovens use a fan to circulate hot, dry air around the food for even and efficient cooking. This method is especially handy when dehydrating or roasting certain foods. It's also great for baked goods like cookies and pies. If you're curious about the differences between convection versus conventional ovens, you can find more helpful information in this post.
What Is A Convection Oven?
Air fry
This feature uses the convection fan in your oven to circulate hot air at high speeds resulting in a crispy fried layer and even browning, without the use of oils. Enjoy the taste and texture of deep-fried foods without the extra guilt.
Smart Connectivity
Many modern wall oven brands offer Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, giving you remote access to your appliance from your smartphone. This handy feature allows you to preheat the oven, set timers, and adjust the temperatures while on your way home from work, in the backyard, or straight from your sofa.
Guided cooking controls
This feature takes all of the guesswork out of cooking. Simply use the oven's display panel to select the food that you want to cook, and the oven will then walk you through the cooking process, instructing you on which pan type, required rack positions, and temperatures to use in order to achieve your desired doneness. Some even have a library of photos to show you what the finished product will look like.
Full-extension gliding racks
Unlike traditional flat racks, gliding racks allow for easier unloading of roasts and casseroles. These racks glide smoothly allowing you to roll the dish out of the oven cavity before removing it from the oven.
Steam cooking
This features adds steam to the cooking process, which helps cook foods more evenly, while retaining their colors and preserving nutrients. Steam cooking also ensures that foods retain moisture better—allowing you to use less oils and cooking sprays—and results in crispier crusts on pastries.
Self Cleaning Function
Self-cleaning ovens use high temperatures to automatically burn off spills and leftovers from ovens without the use of chemical cleaners.
Removable Doors & Oven Bottoms
When selecting a wall oven, consider cleaning features that will make it as easy as possible for you to clean hard-to-reach places. For example, removable doors and oven bottoms will help you through the cleaning process.
Some wall oven models offer doors with side swing hinges or French-style double doors instead of the typical bottom hinges. Your oven size and door style will largely depend on your kitchen and the space available for your unit. Measure carefully to figure out which size is best for you.
Infrared Grilling Systems
Infrared grilling systems broil food and allow your oven to get hotter faster than traditional heating methods. The good news is that you can quickly cook at very high heats. The bad news is that it's harder to cook more delicate foods, like fish. Still, once you master the technique, infrared grilling systems allow you to prepare food quickly with a juicy taste from the comfort of your kitchen.
Color Options
Stainless steel is ever popular, but wall ovens come in all of the colors and finishes normally available with modern appliances. Some options include black stainless, white, black, and slate; some high-end brands offer completely custom color options.
Shop and Save on Wall Ovens from Abt
If you're looking to save space in your kitchen, consider a wall oven to meet all your cooking needs! Once you've decided that a wall oven is for you, refer back to this guide to help you decide on specific features that will meet your needs. At Abt, we're here to help you maximize your cooking experience. For additional assistance, reach out to our appliance specialists at 800-860-3577.