When it comes to buying a new oven, there are a few important things that need to be considered. Especially if you have not bought a new cooking appliance in a while. Technology is rapidly changing, and in such a short time period, cooking equipment has seen a rejuvenation, with new and improved features being introduced regularly. In this short guide, we don't only give you practical 'before you buy' advice, but we will also highlight some of the newer features (and modern takes on classic features) that you can use to help you consider what your next purchase should be. So sit back, take notes, and thank us later.

Key Features

Convection Cooking

Many of the top new ovens will have a convection-style cooking method. Most regular cookers cook food by enveloping it in super-hot and dry air. The heat is greatest on the outside of the food, and sometimes, the food will be cooler in the centre. This often means that the food nearly cooks itself. Convection ovens have fans that produce extra energy, and as a result, the hot air hits your food with greater force, allowing it to cook hotter and faster. This is not so much a new phenomenon, but many new ovens have extra energy-saving convection heating and cooking, which means you enjoy your food faster and save energy while you do it.

Pyrolytic Cleaning

Pyrolytic cleaning is a great feature that more and more ovens are adopting. It is essentially a function for self-cleaning. When you run a pyrolytic cleaning program, your oven is heated to around 400 degrees C, and all of the food deposits within the oven are turned to ash. It is a fast and effective way to clean an oven without needing to get your hands too dirty.

Double Ovens

The hint is in the name. Double ovens are great because…well.. it is two ovens in one. It means that you can cook that chicken for dinner and bake that chocolate cake for dessert at the same time. It may be double, but it halves the stress.

Timers

Again, nothing ground-breaking here, but a timer may be something new to you if you have an older oven. The function of a timer is simple, convenience. Don't pretend that you haven't forgotten about your dinner in the oven before, only to remember an hour later that your lasagne is still in the oven at 200 degrees. Timers are useful for any form of oven-based cooking. With many new models of oven containing LED timers and timers that turn the oven off or down when completed, you can quite easily navigate your way around and never burn the dinner again.

Glass Doors

Many ovens have glass doors now, so this is not so much of an issue, but it is still super-important. The worst thing you can do when cooking is keep opening and closing the door. With a glass door, you don't need to do that because you can peek in and see how your food is doing. All glass doors should also be removable and should be easy to clean. (Just make sure the glass is not hot).

Before you Buy

Here are three things to consider before you buy any oven:

1. What is your Price Range:There's a wide range of prices when it comes to ovens. Setting a budget is important. Extra features like touchscreen controls are tempting, but they'll be an added expense. Think about what type of cooking you do. There are special features for pizza and baking but these can also add additional costs to your budget. Be sure to only pay for the features you need! Know what you are willing to spend, accommodate to suit your budget, and remember that there is no such thing as a bad oven.

2. Gas or Electric:There are someimportant differences between gas ovens and electric ovens. Understanding the differences and how they may fit into/affect your kitchen is very important. You may also be restricted by your kitchen layout. Be sure to ask our team before you make your purchase.

3. Oven vs Cooker:This one trips a lot of people up. Yes, in some ways, both an oven and a cooker can be compared. But always remember that an oven and a cooker are actually not the same things. A cooker will typically have more space and a hob built into the top of the unit. An oven is simply the heating appliance with the door/doors and no hob. If you are looking for something with a little more all-in-one capability, consider the cooker, but if you prefer something simple, effective, and modern, then a new oven will suit you just fine.

Are you looking to buy a new oven with some of these features for yourself? Get in touch with your local store, or call our online sales team, who will be happy to assist! Home delivery for large appliances is €24.99, and we even offer an installation service and recycling of your old appliance.

In store, we provide a large collection of ovens from leading brands like Samsung, Bosch, Whirlpool, Zanussi, and much more. We stock a range of ovens, double ovens, and oven accessories. So be sure to check out the collection, where you will find many of the exciting features listed above.