Buying an oven can be a complicated business. There are decisions to be made about the type and the features. Here is an easy guide to help you determine the best oven for your home.
The first decision to make when looking for an oven is whether to get a range or a built-in model. With a range, you get the oven plus the cook top all in the same unit. A range is very affordable, with prices starting at $300. The size of a range oven is standard, so if you are replacing the oven, you won’t have to remodel or reconfigure your kitchen. A built-in oven is generally more desirable for modern, updated kitchen, and it will be more attractive to buyers, if you decide to sell your home. You can mount a built-in oven at any height, making cooking more convenient. And, with a built in, you can install a second oven on top of the first. The down side to a built-in oven is that it must be professionally installed and will generally require a remodel of the kitchen. It is also more expensive: starting at $500 without the range, which must be purchased separately.
Here are some of the features that you may come across when searching for an oven.
Self cleaning: high heat will burn off most food spills, eliminating the heavy scrubbing.
Convection cooking: This method of cooking is faster than conventional cooking and will speed up your cook time.
Rack options: You can find multiple removable racks, half racks and adjustable rack positions. Half racks give you the most flexibility, allowing you to cook a large turkey on one side and something else on the on the other side with a higher rack, such as a casserole.
Meat Probe: A built-in met thermometer makes it easy to know when your meat is done. The precise reading takes out the guesswork.
Automatic shut-off: There is no more worry about leaving the oven on. With an automatic shut-off feature, the oven shuts itself off after 12 hours.
Variable Broiler: You can adjust the temperature settings on broil for slow cooking.
Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.
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