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Fry until crispy and cook gently with all-round heat

After a delicious meal with chicken legs and potatoes, your whole family is looking forward to the trip to the countryside. You return to the dining table in a good mood, where the smell of coffee is already in the air. In the middle of the table is your home-made chocolate cake. You prepared the meat, potatoes and the bases for the cake yourself – in your oven. In this buying guide, you will find out what different types of ovens there are and which oven is right for you and your cooking style.

Baking creations from sweets to roast pork

Do you like cakes with a crispy base as well as crispy roast pork with a buttery center? Then a good oven is an important appliance in your kitchen . With their all-round heat, ovens cook cakes, roasts or fish and vegetables at temperatures of up to 300° C. Different types of heating allow you to distribute the heat in the oven correctly, for example using hot air or top and bottom heat. This way you can also make pizzas, casseroles and unusual recipes like a whole fish in a salt crust.

Oven variants for the kitchen

Ovens are available as individual versions with different features or as combination devices. You can choose between the following models for your kitchen equipment.

Ovens with microwave

With a microwave, you can heat up home-cooked meals or store-bought ready meals in just a few minutes and eat them straight away. So that you can benefit from the advantages of a microwave without having to accommodate another appliance in your kitchen, some manufacturers offer ovens with an integrated microwave function . With this and the right microwave dishes , your oven can be used like a normal microwave in addition to the baking functions.

Oven sets

Many manufacturers offer oven sets that include an oven and a hob that matches the design and features of the oven of your choice. In contrast to built-in ovens , oven sets have the advantage that the oven and hob work independently of each other – meaning they can be placed far away from each other.

Built-in ovens

A built-in oven can, as the name suggests, be integrated into a fitted kitchen. To make the appliance as easy to use as possible, the lower edge of the oven should be about 10 to 15 cm below the elbow. This way, you can watch your cake or roast chicken baking without having to bend down. You can also comfortably handle the baking tray, baking pan or casserole dish at arm height.

Mini ovens

Since not every home has space for a standard oven, manufacturers also offer smaller models. A mini oven with an interior of up to 40 l can accommodate standard baking tins and roasting pans. Many of these practical small ovens are even equipped with a grill function, top and bottom heat and other additional functions.

Pyrolysis ovens

With a pyrolysis oven, grease splashes in the oven are no problem. If you activate the self-cleaning program, the oven is heated to up to 480° C. All frying and baking residues are burned in this way and you only need to sweep out the ash – what remains is a clean oven interior. The oven door is locked during the entire pyrolysis process.

This is what matters when buying an oven

In addition to the standard functions, ovens with additional functions or features can make meal preparation even easier. Since the devices come with a wealth of technical data and options that can quickly make it difficult to keep track of, you will find some tips for purchasing below.

Telescopic extension

The more freely and unhindered you can reach your roasting or baking tin in the oven, the more convenient and safer it is to handle hot tins and baking trays . Many manufacturers therefore equip their ovens with a hinged door and telescopic pull-out. This allows you to pull out trays and cake racks individually on a single, double or triple pull-out – depending on the number of levels. Baking tins or roasting pans can therefore be easily removed from the hot oven without having to reach into it.

Different types of heating

Even simple mini ovens have top and bottom heat, so that the oven can be heated from two sides and thus evenly. Most ovens are equipped with numerous heating types, for example grilling, pure bottom heat, hot air, keeping warm, cooling fan or pizza setting. High-end devices offer up to 30 different heating types.

Steam baking function

High-quality models often have innovative heating functions such as the steam baking function, in which hot water is evaporated by a built-in mechanism and used for cooking or defrosting. The moisture in the baking chamber ensures, for example, that bread or potato wedges are crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

4D hot air

Hot air is the right heating function if you want to load several trays or racks on different levels in the oven at the same time. The hot air is swirled in the oven and is therefore distributed more evenly between the individual levels. With 4D hot air, the heat distribution is improved using sensors by measuring values such as heat and moisture content and continuously adjusting the air flow accordingly.

Automatic program selection

Whether 4D hot air, grilling or pizza setting – innovative ovens are equipped with an automatic program selection. All you need to do is enter what you want to cook in your oven – for example cake, pizza or grilled chicken. The oven itself selects the appropriate heating type.

Fast heating function

Whether it’s pound cake or roast beef – every baked good should only be left in the oven until it is cooked. Every extra minute in the oven can dry out the food. Many recipes in baking books therefore call for a preheating time for the oven so that the baking time can begin at the right operating temperature. With ovens that have a quick-heating function, the preheating time is reduced considerably – and you can put your pizza, casserole or loaf cake in the oven at the right temperature shortly after switching on the appliance.

power consumption

Modern technology not only makes ovens versatile, but also ensures economical energy consumption. Manufacturers offer appliances with energy efficiency classes A and A+ – the latter using less energy.

Decision aid: Which device is right for you?

The functions and features of ovens vary greatly from model to model. Depending on how often you cook, for how many people and how much time you spend in the kitchen baking, different appliances may be suitable for you. Below you will find some recommendations for purchasing.

Ovens for beginners and singles

If you are just setting up your first kitchen or don’t have much space in your single apartment, a mini oven is the right choice. The small ovens are equipped with the most important functions such as top and bottom heat, hot air and sometimes even with a rotisserie and programs such as BBQ. If you have space for a freestanding oven, an oven with the basic heating types is sufficient.

Ovens for families

A family with several members needs to cater to different tastes. Pizza today, casserole tomorrow, and roast beef with fries from the oven on Sunday. If your oven has several heating types, you can easily meet the food wishes of all family members – program functions or automatic program selection make preparation easier. Since the oven is used a lot, it is helpful if it can be cleaned with a pyrolysis function.

Ovens for passionate hobby cooks

As a passionate hobby cook, you like to try out new recipes and cook often and for lots of guests. In this case, a high-quality oven is an indispensable tool in your kitchen. A built-in oven at the right height for you allows you to work comfortably with baking trays , molds and racks. If you’re busy preparing a meal and want to quickly take dishes in or out, you’ll appreciate an appliance with a telescopic pull-out. Many professionals also swear by steam ovens, in which oven fries and practically all types of bread turn out particularly crispy. Ovens for semi-professionals are also characterized by innovative functions such as steam cooking and practical features such as at least ten heating types including microwave and 4D hot air. But details such as retractable control knobs, chrome cladding, retractable oven door and TFT color display also make baking a joy.

Conclusion: Indispensable kitchen appliance for a rich menu

If you want to cook, bake or grill, an oven is a versatile kitchen helper. Whether it’s a built-in oven or a mini oven, with a few or many additional functions – use your appliance to experiment with classic and new recipes. Your purchase decision depends primarily on the size of your household and the situation in your kitchen.

FAQ: The most important questions about ovens in advance

What is important about an oven?

When choosing an oven, you should pay attention to the dimensions of the housing and match these to the space available in your kitchen. Also important are the size of the cooking chamber, the number of heating types, a hot air and steam function and the average energy consumption. Pre-select programs for different dishes, telescopic pull-outs for easy filling of the cooking chamber and a pyrolysis function for self-cleaning ensure greater convenience when baking.

Are there ovens with a microwave?

Some ovens are also equipped with an integrated microwave. This allows you to quickly bring food to the desired temperature or quickly defrost frozen food. With such combination appliances you also save space in the kitchen.

How many watts does an oven need?

The energy consumption of ovens depends on the size of the cooking chamber, the type of heating and the technical measures used to save energy. Models with energy efficiency classes A++ to A (A+++ to D) require on average between 0.5 and 1.5 kWh (kilowatt hours) per standardized baking process. The connection value for the connection to the power grid is between 2.3 and almost 5 kW (kilowatts), depending on the model.

What are the standard dimensions of ovens?

The standard width of built-in ovens is 59 cm, while the installation height is standardized at 60 cm. In addition to such models, there are also compact ovens whose height is only 38 or 45 cm due to the smaller cooking space volume.

What is a self-cleaning oven?

A self-cleaning oven has a pyrolysis function and burns burnt-on residues at temperatures of up to 480 °C. After the pyrolysis process, you remove the ash from the cooking chamber and wipe the inner walls clean without much effort.