How to choose an oven

The first question to ask would be whether you want a gas or an electric oven. This will depend largely on what kind of connection you have in your home. If you don't have a piped gas supply, you may want to get an electric oven. You can still get a gas oven, although it'll have to be model with space to hold a gas cannister.

The space you have

Ovens can be built into a cabinet, letting you determine height and location that will fit in with the rest of your kitchen without having this to be placed under or on top of a surface. However, if your kitchen is small, you might want to consider a freestanding unit that's a little more flexible in placement and takes up less bench space. Regardless of the kitchen space you have, be sure to take some measurements of the area allocated before you begin your shopping.

Your cooking requirements

Know your capacity:
Oven capacities are measured in liters. However, check the usable space rather than going by the stated capacity for a better idea. On average, a single oven will have a capacity of between 50-60 liters, a double oven around 70-80 liters, with some models offering extra wide capacities for batch cooking. Generally, if you entertain and cook a lot, have a large family and/or large kitchens, a double oven would be more suitable for heavyduty cooking and is great for cooking lots of different foods at the same time.

Gas vs. electric ovens:
Recent advances have led to electric ovens being more efficient and producing quicker cooking results. On the other hand, gas ovens are less costly to run. Check out the pros and cons below.

	Gas Less expensive to run Doesn't dry food out as much as electric ovens (unless fan-assisted) However, tends to have different levels of heat at the top, middle and bottom. Without a fan-assisted setting, this means having to rotate the food to allow even cooking Does not generally have any direct heat from the top of oven, so does not crisp or brown food as well as electric ovens
	Electric Move precise and more even temperatures in the oven Considered safer than gas ovens Most electric ovens are now multifunctional, meaning they heat from the back, front and middle of the oven and so are more versatile than a gas oven May take longer to heat up

Other features:
When comparing ovens, these features are time-saving and convenient.

• Electronic controls: These provide greater accuracy and maintain a constant temperature that is ideal for baking delicate foods. On some ovens, temperatures are preset to save you time.
• Timers: Most ovens will have a digital clock and a timer, with the simplest being a minute minder where an alarm sounds at the end. An auto timer lets you set cooking time. A double oven timer uses the same time setting for both ovens, although typically only the main oven is programmable. .
• Self-cleaning: True self-cleaning ovens are pyrolytic. When set in cleaning mode, the oven locks itself and heats up to around 500 degrees Celsius, converting food residues into ash that you can simply wipe away when it's cool.
• Oven lighting: Interior lights may turn on automatically or require flipping on a switch. It may use standard bulbs or the brighter, more effective halogen bulbs.
• Racks: Higher-priced models tend to offer stable racks that glide in and out more easily than those in budget models. Try out the racks in stores to test their ease of use. Also check if there is a safety stop mechanism to prevent you from pulling a rack right out.

Your budget

With oven prices ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, you'll need to narrow your choice to a price range. If you plan to do lots of baking and entertaining, then budget for a higher-end model with all the bells and whistles. If cooking is not your thing, you may be better off getting a cheaper, smaller oven.