Ovens: types, functions and manufacturers

Cooking is a daily task for any housewife. Without this, almost no woman can imagine her life. Moreover, cooking is essential to keep us alive. You can cook food in different ways - fry, boil, bake, and so on. It is about baking devices that will be discussed in this article.

An oven is a chamber where food is placed and where it is cooked at a certain temperature that has been set in advance. An oven can help even a not-so-great cook prepare great meals that all family members will love. Today there are two types of ovens - gas and electric. It is rather difficult to advise which one to choose. If a person has gas in his dwelling, then there is no point in using an electric oven, because this will simply increase the cost of electrical energy.

If we talk about culinary aspects, then electric ovens will have more serious functionality. For example, there are a number of heating modes, including convection. But today there are already gas models with this function.

All the considered models of technology, as it has already become clear, differ in the type of power supply - they can operate on electricity or gas. The latter have more advanced functionality, as well as a fairly large list of programs.

In addition, the oven equipped with infrared heaters and induction elements. The cost of such solutions is higher than the price of conventional models. And here it should be mentioned that you will have to pay a little more for the repair of such a device, because the more technologically advanced it is, the more difficult it is to identify and eliminate a certain breakdown. It should be mentioned that electric models of ovens can heat up to 500 degrees.

Ovens can also differ in terms of the energy that they consume. As a rule, we are talking about a specific range. Given this, before buying an oven, you should allocate a separate line for it that supplies electricity.

But, like any other device, they have disadvantages, the main one being the high price.

The second category will be gas models, which are slightly less functional and technologically advanced. They cannot evenly heat food during cooking, which is considered one of the most serious drawbacks. But their the cost will not be so high, like electrical counterparts.

When choosing an electric oven, you should study the models of devices that are offered on the market today. All such solutions are also categorized by location and control mechanisms.

Such models can be:

• independent;
• addicted.

The latter are linked to the hobs due to the presence of a common control system. The specificity of the installation of such a solution assumes that the built-in cabinet is placed under the surface for cooking.And independent solutions do not have a common control unit with the hobs, which is why they can be controlled independently. This is the only way they differ from the second category.

Electric ovens can be found these days, which differ in setting methods.

There are the following types of adjustment for this category of devices:

• mechanical;
• electronic;
• combined.

Models that are mechanically controlled are less expensive and come with a variety of toggle switches and handles. Electronic variants usually have touchpads. Combined solutions support the ability to control one or the other. In general, as you can see, there are not so many categories of ovens, which does not complicate their choice too much. But in any case, before purchasing a model, you should take into account its characteristics, which were discussed.

In modern models of this type of technology, the presence of guides, so-called telescopes, is provided, which are used for baking sheets and grates. Their use makes it possible to pull out the trays every time you open the device and does not allow them to fall down when they are carelessly removed.

Such a technique can have a number of levels for gratings. Usually we are talking about three or four. In this case, the guides are usually placed at one of the specific levels. They have a removable type design, which is why they can be easily rearranged to the required level. Some products are equipped with retractable telescopic guidesequipped with a special shockproof system, which allows for smooth movement of the baking sheet in the chamber where cooking is carried out.

The rails, which are usually equipped with such devices, can be embossed and wire... A number of devices that are built into furniture already have them. It should be noted that the embossed version is represented by not too large indentations on the sides and by the presence of protrusions in the working chamber. Baking trays are placed in special grooves and, if necessary, they can be extended a certain distance. The wire version is rails located on the sides of the camera and designed to support trays.

They are usually divided into 2 categories:

• built-in;
• removable.

Usually the oven is equipped with 1-2 trays made of heat-resistant metal with a non-stick or enamel coating. They can have the same dimensions and characteristics, or differ from each other in depth or in other parameters.

Also, manufacturers often supplement the standard equipment with all sorts of functional devices - baking trays made of glass, baking stones, a grill for frying food, stands for steaming.

Most ovens today are multifunctional. They have several heating modes. In addition, again mainly in electrical cabinets, there are automatic food preparation programs. But they are only available in models where electronic control is present. We can say about such a device that it is smart.

The number of programs can vary greatly and are designed for cooking different types of food and products. That is, the oven, in a certain operating mode, understands what it needs to cook, knows the characteristics of the product and the recipe for a particular dish. The user usually only needs to enter the weight of the product.

As mentioned earlier, the oven is usually electric, can be completed with an additional microwave module or a steamer. In this case, the model has a number of software menus, including combined ones.It turns out that if the "steam" option is chosen, then the culinary possibilities of the oven are significantly expanded, because you can cook the maximum number of dishes. And in the "microwave" mode, you can significantly reduce the cooking time.

Continuing the topic of additional functionality, we note that ovens with electronic control also have special software algorithms - "defrosting", "languishing", "gentle stewing" or even "fermentation".

Separately, it should be said about models equipped with a grill. In some of them, you can activate the grill on a large area, while in others - on a small one, that is, in a limited space or for dishes of certain volume. Such products can also be completed with additional elements, for example, spit... Also, such models can be equipped with a special temperature probe... It is an extremely important element and is essentially a large thermometer that measures the core temperature of food.

If the temperature probe has the ability to turn off automatically, then cooking stops immediately, and if not, then the device displays the corresponding information and sounds a sound signal to alert the user. And in some of the most advanced models, the temperature probe has no wires at all. By the way, it can be purchased separately if you wish.

The maximum temperature at which food is cooked is 220-250 degrees. In modern models, the user can set the cooking temperature himself and change it as he wishes. Often, the displays of new models show not only the automatic temperature, but also the real temperature inside the oven. There are options where the temperature can be higher than the value set by the manufacturer. But in such products, a special pyrolytic-type purification technology is implemented.

Important points in the selection of a specific model of the oven will be its weight and dimensions. Models that are built-in will be smaller due to the lack of an enclosure.

Ovens of this type generally fall into three categories:

• narrow;
• wide;
• full-size.

The first group includes devices with parameters 0.6 x 0.55 x 0.45 m (height x depth x width). To the second - 0.55 x 0.5 x 0.9 m.To the third group - 0.55-0.6 x 0.5 x 0.6 m.

The next aspect that is important to consider when purchasing such equipment is - the amount of work space. For full-size cabinets, it is in the range of 55-68 liters, for narrow counterparts - 37-45 liters, depending on the model.

Almost all products on the market today are produced with a hinged door. This option is common almost everywhere. But he has a flaw - an open door prevents you from getting close to the oven. This should be taken into account when choosing a place in the kitchen for installing equipment.

On sale there are options with the number of glasses from 1 to 4. The more there are, the higher the price.

Cabinet weight will vary depending on the model, manufacturer, materials from which the device is made, brand and other parameters. If we talk about the average mass of such equipment, then they are at the level of 35-45 kg. For example, Bosch equipment usually weighs from 36 to 41 kg, Gorenje - 33-43 kg, Ariston - 30-53 kg.

The oven must be fully compatible with the interior of the room where it is located. Today, the color range of such a technique is extremely wide and varied - from the classic white to rather interesting solutions like red or purple... In addition to color, you should also pay attention to the stylistic performance of the product.

Today manufacturers offer ovens in several styles.

• Modern. This style is one of the most modern. Its distinctive features are laconicism and severity of lines, as well as classic color schemes.

• Retro. Quite a popular trend, which combines the advantages of country and Provence, is also characterized by a fairly large range of colors.

• Provence. This style is also called rustic. It is characterized by lightness of forms, excellent lighting and naturalness. In this case, light tones of the case will prevail, mixed with elements in ivory, bronze or coffee with milk.

• Classic. It is considered a fairly popular and popular style. The geometry of the forms, the high quality of the technology and the pretty good color scheme will also appeal to many users.

• Country. It is something similar to the Provence style, but its color range is much wider. The ovens are very interesting, made in bright green, copper, gold and sand colors, as well as in cocoa color. If there are decorative elements on the device, then they are made either of brass or cast iron.

• High tech. A distinctive feature of this style will be a combination of metal and glass. Most often, oven models are made in black. If there are decorative elements, they are usually made of stainless steel.

Ovens are a product that is in quite significant demand. So it is not surprising that many firms produce this type of equipment.

The most popular oven companies are:

• Hansa;
• Bosch;
• Gorenje;
• Whirlpool;
• Smeg;
• Kaiser;
• Electrolux;
• Miele;
• Zanussi;
• Fornelli.

The cost of good gas ovens starts from 11,000 rubles, and electric ones - from 14,000 rubles. Let us give, for example, several models from some of these manufacturers, so that you can roughly understand the features of the products of a particular brand, which can seriously help when choosing a good oven.

The first model that deserves the attention of a potential buyer, made by the German company Bosch and has the designation HBN539S5. This option is considered a representative of the middle price segment, because its price is about 25 thousand rubles. It has many advantages - a rather nice and outwardly expensive design, as well as serious functionality.

This model differs from analogs by the presence 8 different cooking modes... In addition to the traditional ones, this model also implements special functions such as defrosting and grilling. This oven has a rather large internal chamber volume, designed for 67 liters. The chamber walls from the inside have special enamel coatingwhich protects the metal from high temperatures.

The door is equipped with three layers of glass, which prevents it from overheating from the outside and minimizes the risk of getting burned. The control mechanism of this model is a display equipped with a special clock with a wide range of functions. The cooking process is regulated using special rotary switches. In general, this oven will be an excellent solution for users who value high German quality and do not want to overpay for manufacturability.

Another model, which I would like to talk a little about, produced by the Swedish company Electrolux and has the EOC 95651 BX index. This model is assembled in Poland or in Germany, which already speaks of the high quality of the oven. He is a representative of the products of the middle price segment. The price of such a solution for the kitchen is about 52,000 rubles.

The considered model belongs to the category of integrable independent solutions. This option is considered one of the best in the specified price range. Model equipped with a grill and convection cooking mode, which allows it to be cooked as evenly as possible. Also in this process, the uninterrupted circulation of hot air masses helps. In addition, the device from Electrolux is equipped with a function for defrosting food.

The device is also equipped with a special thermal probe, allowing to control the temperature of any dish during its cooking. This model is equipped with timer, which makes it possible for the device to turn off if necessary at a certain time. This oven has an automatic cleaning mechanism using the pyrolysis method. Of some additional functions, I would like to highlight the presence of backlight, protection from children and a fan.

Another oven to consider manufactured by Gorenje. Its index is GP 979X... This model belongs to the premium category, which is why it is not as popular as previously described. But it should be said that its quality is impeccable in all respects.

This oven is a multifunctional solution that has not only convenient operation, but also the most modern design. The cost of this model will be considerable - about 88,000 rubles.

The main advantage of the Gorenje oven is the presence of an automatic cleaning mechanism. If we talk about the energy consumption class of this model, then everything is in order, because the device belongs to the A + group. It should also be called an advantage that the volume of the inner chamber of this electric oven is considerable and amounts to as much as 73 liters.

In addition, there is the ability to cook food on five trays at once... The device from this manufacturer is equipped with a powerful and efficient ventilation system, as well as 16 cooking modes... Among them there are such as step-by-step cooking, drying and Vario grilling. By the way, such a device would be an excellent option for a small-sized kitchen, because the small size and features of its installation allow you to save space.

Another model is made by Miele and has the index H 6461 BP EDST / CLST. It is equipped with 71 cooking modes, has a touch screen text screen, automatic shutdown, child protection, a nice futuristic design, and an automatic cleaning system. The internal volume reaches an impressive 76 liters.

There is a convection mode here. The model is equipped with a timer, which allows you to program its shutdown at a certain time. The oven is also equipped with 11 heating programs and 60 automatic modes. It can heat up to a temperature of 300 degrees. There are such technological features as an electric grill, a ventilation system, a program for defrosting food, telescopic guides, the ability to automatically turn off and much more.

As you can see, the mentioned manufacturers and other brands offer a fairly large selection of models of ovens of various types in terms of cost and functionality. This makes it possible for any client with any amount of money to find for himself a fairly effective solution that can fully satisfy his needs in this matter.

When choosing an oven for the kitchen, almost everything will revolve around the technical characteristics of the device.The first thing that will interest us is that the model will work. on gas or electricity. The former run on liquefied or natural gas and usually have only one burner, which is located at the bottom. There is no automatic temperature control, which will not be a very good option for preparing confectionery products, as well as dishes where serious temperature control is required. At the same time, such a solution has its advantages - it is economical and can work where there is no electricity.

If we talk about electric models, then their range on the market is much larger. Their design features presuppose the presence of various heating elements, which allows to ensure maximum and even heating of food and products. Even budget models provide quality food preparation.

Another point to pay attention to is type of execution, that is, the device in question will depend on the hob or not.

It is better, of course, to purchase an independent version for the following reasons:

• the dependent option should be located only under the cooking surface, which is why it is impossible to place them far from each other;
• connected devices must be connected to the same outlet, but if the wiring is old, then it may not withstand such a load.

That is, it is better to choose an independent electrical model.

The next important criterion is dimensions... Usually, the sizes of ovens do not differ much from each other. To select such equipment in size, you should look at the kitchen wall, the depth of which is usually 0.55 meters. As for the parameters of width and height, quite a few models have dimensions of 60 by 60 centimeters. The height can be slightly smaller - up to 45 centimeters, and the width - up to 0.9-1.2 meters.

The next important point is power... Someone may say that this parameter is not too important, since the power of such equipment is rarely higher than 4 kW. The higher this indicator is, the faster the cabinet will heat up. Here, only one thing is important - before purchasing the model you are interested in, ask about its power, and then check the condition of the wiring so that it can cope with such a voltage.

Otherwise, the wiring will have to be changed. For this, it is better to use wires with copper conductors with a cross section of at least 2.5 mm2.

Additional functions are also important, for example, tangential cooling... Some functions may not be needed by the hostesses. Then there is no need to pay extra for something that you will not use anyway.

We will tell you a little, what functions are we talking about.

• The ability to turn off automatically when the oven overheats. This function must be mandatory, because it protects equipment from an emergency.
• Timer. This function will also not be superfluous due to the fact that it will greatly facilitate the life of the hostess, because she does not have to control the time in order to pull the dish out of the oven in time.
• Mechanical or electronic control. Electronic control is more convenient, but it is not as reliable as the good old mechanics, and the cost of equipment with electronic control will be significantly higher. And rotary switches will be cheaper, although they are not as technologically advanced.
• Grill and convection. These functions will be quite useful due to the fact that they can significantly expand the list of dishes that can be cooked in the oven. In addition, there are models with microwave oven functions on the market today. Such devices will cost more, but the oven can be used as a microwave. Also today, models are offered where you can cook barbecue, carry out drying of fruits and preparation of yoghurts.
• Another point is the door cooling fan. Thanks to its presence, the door does not heat up. This protects adjacent appliances and furniture from heat.
• Telescopic guides. They have already been mentioned above. Thanks to them, you can safely get the finished dish out of the oven.
• Protection from children. This function is also extremely important and should not be forgotten.
• Cleaning mechanism. This function can be implemented in different ways. For example, the inside of the oven can be coated with enamel, which is easy to clean. This means that after every cooking, it can be easily washed with detergent.

If we talk about a more convenient type of cleaning, then it is the hydrolysis option. In this case, the detergent is poured into the pan and the cleaning mode is activated. After this procedure, the fat from the walls is washed off much easier. There are a number of oven models with pyrolytic and catalytic cleaning, due to which the fat breaks down itself and is removed from the oven walls, because the temperature in the oven is about 500 degrees.

• Temperature probe. Another useful device that will allow you to control the temperature of the dish being cooked.

There are many criteria for choosing an oven. Such a technique should be chosen very, very carefully, so as not only not to make a mistake, but also to get the highest quality solution that will delight the hostess with its functionality, and family members with delicious food.

The rules for using gas and electric models are slightly different. Let's start with gas.

• Before turning on the device, you should inspect its internal space for damage. You should also remove excess from there and leave only a rack-stand where the dish will stand.
• The level should be correctly determinedrequired for the preparation of a particular dish. The lower one is necessary for maximum heating, the middle one will be more versatile, and on the upper one you can get an appetizing crust on a ready-made dish.
• Choose the right container for baking or stewing food. It is best to use pots made of ceramics, special sleeves, foil, or molds made of cast iron, glass or silicone in ovens. In them, you can easily stew meat with vegetables or make gravy. If you need to make baking, then you should use the baking sheet that comes with the device, as well as various forms.
• Correct ignition of the gas oven Is another important aspect. Where auto ignition is present, on the oven panel, turn the lever responsible for setting the temperature to the end. After that, press a special key and hold it for about 10-15 seconds. When the fire is lit, it is necessary to adjust the temperature and place a container with food in the cabinet.

Now a little should be said about electric models. They are very easy to use:

• first you should turn on the device and set the required temperature;
• wait 20 minutes for the oven to completely warm up;
• open the oven door, then put a dish with food inside and close the door;
• set the required cooking time on the timer;
• as soon as time passes and a beep sounds, you will need to open the oven door and remove the dish.

There are certain subtleties that should be observed. when using an electric oven.

• Cookware should not be placed for baking in the very bottom of the oven. This can damage the heating elements, which are usually located at the bottom. Place the container with food only on shelves or on grates.
• This technique can be turned off a couple of minutes before cooking ends.The residual temperature will be enough to bring the dish to the end in the remaining time.
• To cook the meat evenly, it is better to put the dishes with it on the middle shelf. But it will be better to cook various soups and stews just on the lower level.
• When using the slow cook function, then you should be patient. With this mode, food will take longer to cook, but it will retain its pleasant taste, juiciness and nutritional value of the ingredients.

There you can not only find designations of what functions are in this model, but also read recipes and a lot of useful tips on using the purchased model of the oven, as well as familiarize yourself with its technical parameters and the rules for first switching on. This will allow you to better understand what capabilities the equipment you have purchased has, and to prepare even more delicious, interesting and healthy meals for your family.

An overview of the best electric ovens is presented in the following video.