Outside of the USA & some parts of Asia, European standard built-in ovens have a 60cm width 99% of the time. 90cm ovens are rare these days due to poor energy efficiency.

 

The internal cavity of the standard 60cm oven can vary from 56 to 75 liters of usable capacity. Larger capacity is achieved by reducing panel size, eliminating wall ribs, or integrating the grill element. Choose the right size rather than the biggest; a bigger cavity takes more time & energy to pre-heat the oven.

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If you need more capacity, go for two 60cm rather than a 90cm oven.

 

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In regions where electricity supply is intermittent or expensive, ovens may be powered by gas. However, heat regulation in gas ovens is not very accurate. Also, gas leaking into a cavity can be very dangerous. 

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Electric ovens are the choice of modern kitchens because they have; 

• High level of safety.

• Precise heat regulation for consistently good results.

• Cooking fans & multiple heating elements combine to create multiple cooking functions.

• Electronic interfaces & preset timers enhance users' experience.

The combination of the cooking fan & multiple heating elements creates varied cooking functions

1. Bottom heat 

2. Top heat 

3. Top & bottom heat

4. Top heat with fan 

5. Bottom heat with fan 

6. Top & bottom heat with fan 

7. Rear heat with fan 

8. Fan only

9. Spit with grill 

10. Spit with bottom heat

11. Spit with top & bottom heat

The best ovens feature 3-ply doors. During operation, the external part of the door is no more than 70°C, making it safe to the touch. This is a vital feature when there are children around the house, more so when an oven is mounted in a low cabinet.

 

A mid-range oven will have 2-ply glass doors to reduce heat exposure. Even so, the temperature of the door is well above 100°C.

 

A low-end oven has a single layer of glass on the door. The temperature of the glass door is dangerously high, at about 200°C in operation.

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An electrical cooling fan, located between the oven cavity & the control panel works to circulate air to cool the oven door & chassis. This ensures that the parts of the chassis in contact and in close proximity to the kitchen cabinet is at a manageable temperature.

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In the long term, it prevents premature aging of the kitchen cabinet due to prolonged, excessive heat. This feature is not unavailable in entry-level built-in ovens.

European standards of Energy Efficiency rates domestic ovens on a scale from the bottom D to A+++ at the top.

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Buying an oven with a better energy rating means more efficient use of energy that will translate to saving on electric bills & reducing the impact on the environment.

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Control Panels may consist of mechanical knobs, electronic switches, or a combination.

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• Mechanical knobs - these are the traditional controls that are reliable & durable. However, mechanical switches tend to be less precise & lack timer preset functions.

• Electronic switches - these are featured in top-end ovens & they are highly accurate. Electronic switches can present more than 10 programs in a convenient interface. Electronic timers offer many preset timer functions that are useful for a busy lifestyle. Touch control switches are the latest technology that is available.

For convenient maintenance, some ovens may be equipped with self-cleaning features. Residue grease splatters are incinerated, turning them into ash. There are 2 types;

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• Pyrolytic - Pyrolytic ovens self-clean by incinerating grease residue through high temperatures of 500°C. It places a huge demand on the temperature tolerance of all components, a system to lock the door for safety as well as power supply & consumption, making them very expensive to buy or run.

• Catalytic - Equipped with catalytic panels to facilitate the incineration of grease residue at the normal working temperature of 220°C. This system is more common & affordable