Choosing the best compact oven for you
Compact ovens buyers guide
Designing a new kitchen or buying new appliances can seem complicated with so many options available. This can feel even more challenging if you’re trying to make the most of a smaller area and ensure that you have all the cooking capabilities you require. This is where compact ovens can really come into their own. This guide highlights some of the main benefits of compact ovens to help you to discover if one of these could be the right choice for you.
Compact ovens can be a good choice if you are very tight on space. Alternatively, you may choose a compact oven alongside other cooking appliances to create greater capacity and flexibility in your kitchen.
What is a compact oven?
A compact oven is usually a smaller option of oven. The height of a compact oven will generally be 45cm or less. It is designed as an added extra in a larger kitchen or as a solution to limited space. They can be an especially great choice if you live alone or in a smaller household as they can offer all of the functionality of a conventional oven whilst only taking up a fraction of the space of a full-sized oven.
Types of compact oven
There are compact ovens that carry out the role of a traditional oven and those that also provide microwave or combination microwave capabilities. A compact oven with microwave functionality can be a good solution if you simply don’t have space for two separate appliances or you just want to maximise on the area you have available. Many compact ovens will have a grill inside and there are also steam compact ovens which are often chosen as an additional cooking option in larger spaces.
Things to consider when buying a compact oven
Compact ovens can be a viable option when space is limited. However, it is important to consider whether one would be the right choice for you or whether you would be better off making appliance cuts elsewhere to make space for a larger option. They are also great as an added oven unit alongside a standard oven if you have the space.
Benefits of a Compact Oven
There are many benefits of compact ovens, not least that they can offer oven cooking capabilities in areas that might not offer space for an alternative. They can provide grilling, baking, and microwaving functions in one small unit, making them perfect for single people or smaller households. Something to be aware of is that there is limited space inside as most are around the size of a larger built-in microwave, but this may be all you need.
Compact ovens are often also chosen to complement other cooking appliances and may act as a second oven and microwave in a larger kitchen, for example. This can enhance the functionality of the space and offer extra cooking options when preparing meals for large numbers or when you want to make a variety of different dishes.
Styles and Designs
Compact ovens are built-in units and so it is important to choose the right fit for your kitchen in terms of style and design. Thankfully, there is a wide choice of different options which should ensure that this is not too difficult to achieve. There are modern and more traditional designs, as well as a choice of colours ranging from off-white to metallic finishes and bolder colours.
Budget
There are luxury compact ovens that can cost more than £4,000, but, in general, you should find something suitable with a budget from £160 to £400. Even at the lower end of your budget, you could get a built-in microwave oven and grill or a combination microwave oven.
Size
In general, compact ovens are 45cm tall or smaller, slotting into spaces that might otherwise be left unused in a fitted kitchen.
Key Features
The best compact oven for your lifestyle will include features that you need to maximise on the space offered or to make cooking a little easier. This may include microwave capabilities or advanced cleaning technology. As you would expect, higher cost, higher specification compact ovens will offer more advanced features than budget alternatives. Let’s take a look in more detail at some of the key features you may require.
Microwave
Microwave functionality is a good choice if you are looking for the best compact oven where space is at a premium. There is the choice of simply having a compact oven with microwave or a combination microwave oven offering features such as grill functions and various cooking combinations.
Grill
Compact ovens will usually come with a grill included but this is something that you will need to confirm if it is a priority for you. A grill can really enhance the functionality of a smaller oven by offering lots of fast and simple cooking options.
Cleaning
Compact ovens can offer a range of easy-clean options. These include simple enamel linings that make it easy to wipe away grease and grime. Ovens with pyrolytic cleaning functions turn dirt into ash. Similarly, compact ovens with catalytic linings absorb grease and burn it away as you cook at temperatures of 200 degrees or more.
