THE KITCHENISTA

The oven is integral to any kitchen so when it comes to buying one, you need to make the right decision.

But what should you be looking out for? What do you need to know? Check out our indispensable guide to buying an oven.

Firstly, always consider oven usage. For a person living alone, a single oven will most likely suffice. But if you have a family or enjoy entertaining you should choose a double oven as they provide the additional cooking space needed for entertaining or special occasions.

Steam ovens offer a number of benefits including the retention of vitamins and minerals in food while

cooking. However, steam ovens cost considerably more than a standard oven so unless you’re a fanatic cook or extremely health conscious, the money could be put towards other accessories such as a combi-microwave or wine cooler.

When installing a built-in oven, the height is determined by the position of the grill, known as ‘Eye

Level Grill’. This makes for easy access to both the grill and oven, and reduces the risk of injuries and spillages if you’re bending down to get food in or out.

One of the great things about a built in oven is that they give you the freedom to install the hob anywhere else in the kitchen. This means you can be even more adventurous with your kitchen design.

The hottest trend for this year is for a ‘bank’ of ovens. Rather than choose a double oven, the more aesthetically pleasing option is to install two single ovens adjacent to one another. You’ll find that manufacturers are now designing their kitchen appliances with this in mind by making sure that the control panels line up horizontally. You can also pick and choose appliances, such as a single oven situated next to a combi-mircrowave.

If you’re short on space, opt for a Hotpoint Openspace. This new appliance has revolutionised kitchen design as it offers 30% more space than a typical single oven, and comes with a dividing shelf so it can be used like a double oven.

And don’t forget about self-cleaning ovens – they are already huge in Europe, particularly France, so it’s only a matter of time before they catch on over here too!