Wall ovens are a great alternative to a traditional range unit by eliminating the need to bend over when cooking and making it easier to keep an eye on your food. They are designed to be an excellent fit in any kitchen regardless of the layout or space restrictions. This guide will help determine the best wall ovens for your home and what to look for in a wall oven when shopping.
Types of Wall Ovens
Outfitting your kitchen with a wall oven has numerous advantages. Being able to add and remove pans to an oven without having to bend over puts less stress on your back and joints, which can be even more important as one ages. In addition, situating the oven separately from the stovetop can ease kitchen congestion and allow two people to cook together more comfortably.
Wall ovens are available in a single-oven or double-oven design, and with options in door configurations, including standard doors, side-opening doors and French doors. Some wall ovens feature a one-and-a-half oven configuration, with the half oven providing room for warming, grilling and reheating. Multiple rack positions also allow you to accommodate larger cookware.
Some double units combine different cooking technologies for increased versatility, presenting a smaller wall oven that offers microwave cooking along with a larger wall oven with traditional or convection heating.
Gas vs. Electric Ovens
Depending on the hook-ups available in your kitchen, you can install a gas wall oven or an electric wall oven. If you have the option to install either, choose based on your needs and budget.
Electric Wall Oven:
- Lower price range and more models
- Larger capacity
- Requires a 230/240 V connection
- Price of electricity determines operating cost
Gas Wall Oven:
- Price of natural gas determines operating cost
- May have electronic controls
- Fewer options available
Convection Ovens & Microwave Wall-Oven Combo Ovens
Convection ovens use an internal fan to circulate hot air throughout the oven compartment, improving heat circulation throughout the entire oven. The moving air allows food to cook evenly from all sides, allowing for a crisp, browned exterior and a fully-cooked inside. True convection ovens have an additional heating element around the fan. While electric convection wall ovens are more common, some gas wall ovens do feature convection cooking capabilities.
A microwave-wall oven combo adds the speed and convenience of microwave cooking to normal cooking tasks. While the microwave oven is generally smaller than the standard wall oven, it provides quick reheating and prep of small everyday meals, and performs well as a second oven during more complicated meals. For example, while a roast and potatoes may be cooking in the standard wall oven, the microwave can be used to heat gravy, cook green beans or other vegetables or even cook a separate meal entirely for kids.
Size and Capacity
Most common wall oven widths are 30, 27, and 24 inches, with 30-inch models being the most common. 27-inch models are less common and 24 are fairly rare. Not all models come in all sizes, so be sure to measure your available space. Detailed cut out specifications are available on all product pages for each model.
When selecting a size, look at the capacity - measured in cubic feet - listed for each model and take into consideration the number of people you'll be preparing meals for on a regular basis:
- 2 to 3 cubic feet will accommodate households with one or two people.
- 3 to 4 cubic feet will accommodate households with three or four people.
- 4 cubic feet or more will accommodate households of four or more.
It may be tempting to purchase a larger oven than you might need if you entertain on a regular basis, but it is rarely worth the extra expense.
Additional Features of Wall Ovens
There are a wide variety of features available in wall ovens that can help make cooking easy and hassle-free.
Accurate Preheat: Many ovens monitor preheating based on a set period of time. However, some measure the temperature of the oven, indicating that it is fully preheated and ready for use only when it actually reaches the preset temperature.
Self-Cleaning: Many ovens come with a self-cleaning feature to make clean-up easier after cooking. Some self-cleaning ovens have removable oven bottoms that will also make cleaning easier, as you can pop out the bottom, wash it and then slide it back into place.
Delayed Start: A delayed-start feature lets you program your oven to begin cooking even when you’re not home. While this feature can be a time-saver, many safety experts discourage its use, citing statistics that point to the unattended operation of cooking appliances as a significant cause of kitchen fires.
Safety Lock: A safety lock feature prevents the oven from being used unless it’s turned off, so children can’t turn the heat on and accidentally burn themselves.
Steam Oven: Steam cooking combines steaming power with standard thermal cooking to heat foods thoroughly all the way through while helping them retain moisture and succulence.
Consider the following when shopping for new appliances:
- 3-prong plugs are used for homes built before the year 2000.
- 4-prong plugs are used for homes built after the year 2000.
When you add professional installation to your new appliance purchase from The Home Depot, a compatible cord is required. The delivery agent carries both types of cords to make sure your home is covered.
When transportation of wall ovens is a challenge, The Home Depot truck rental can help. From pickups and vans to moving trucks, we've got you covered.