If you've been thinking about baking at home but aren't sure which oven to buy or what would suit you best, this guide is for you.
Before deciding which model to choose, it helps to understand how these ovens work. The electric oven was designed to replace traditional ovens fuelled by charcoal, wood, open flame or natural gas. It cooks food by converting electrical energy into heat, which radiates from heating coils, from insulated elements sheathed in heat-conducting materials, or from ceramic, glass-like rods. Heat travels from the surface of the food towards its centre, so the food cooks evenly throughout. Below, we look at the main types of electric oven and how to choose one that matches your needs and gets the most out of it.
The Two Main Types of Electric Oven
1. Countertop Electric Ovens
The first type is generally small, electrically powered and easy to move around, which makes it very convenient, with no installation hassle. Using one is simple: place it on your kitchen counter, plug it in and it's ready to go, making it ideal for home cooks who want to bake treats for fun. Sizes range from 9 litres all the way up to 900 litres, and you can choose from plenty of functions, such as top heat, bottom heat or both, to suit whatever you want to bake. The drawback is that heat may not spread evenly throughout the oven, so you may need to bake several test batches and watch the results to learn how your oven behaves.
2. Built-In Electric Ovens
The second type is designed to look sleek and save space, and is suited to long-term use in the kitchen. It is installed into a cavity built specifically for it. These ovens control temperature precisely, distribute heat evenly and offer a wider range of functions than countertop models. Their main drawback is a relatively high price.
Which One Should You Choose?
As you can see, each type of electric oven has its own strengths, and the right choice depends on what you plan to bake and how you'll use it. If baking is just a hobby, a portable model that's easy to move may be the best fit. If you're baking to sell, a larger machine is the better choice.
