8 Types of Ovens and Their Benefits
Ovens play a vital role in the kitchen, and you want something that will perform as you need. It’s important to consider all your options, like gas or electric, convection or conventional and freestanding vs. slide-in. Learn more about the differences between ovens, ranges, and stoves to help you figure out why ovens may be a fit for your home. Whether you’re remodeling or just want an upgrade, use this guide to zero in on the optimal types of ovens for you.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF OVENS?
Whether you’re looking for your first oven or trying to upgrade your kitchen with a modern model, there are several types of ovens to choose from. The following is a list of different types of ovens on the market to help you determine which model will be the best fit for your kitchen.
1. SINGLE, DOUBLE OR COMBINATION RANGES AND WALL OVENS
Ranges come with either single or double ovens, while wall ovens are available in single, double and combination models.
Single oven ranges and single wall ovens provide a standard single oven cavity in a variety of capacities.
Double oven ranges feature two separate ovens, typically a smaller on top and a larger below, that can be set to different cook settings.
Double wall ovens usually contain two ovens with matching capacities, resulting in larger cooking capacity overall compared to a double oven range.
Combination wall ovens have a microwave on top and an oven on bottom, saving space in the kitchen where the microwave would have been.
Single wall ovens require less space and can help you cook everyday meals with their standard capacity. Double oven ranges or wall ovens and combination wall ovens are great options to help you prepare multiple courses simultaneously. Learn more about the different types of wall ovens and best rated wall ovens.
2. GAS OR ELECTRIC OVENS
In addition to requiring different power hookups, gas and electric ovens have some distinct benefits. Keep in mind that wall ovens are only available with electric power.
GAS OVENS
Gas ranges tend to cook quickly and use more moisture while cooking, making them ideal for bakers. Gas stovetops employ an open flame which can be quickly adjusted for responsive temperature control. Gas ovens also typically have a separate component for broiling.
If your kitchen is already equipped with a gas hookup, you may want to consider choosing a gas oven. This option is also great for bakers as this heat helps food retain moisture and promotes browning.
ELECTRIC OVENS
Electric ranges and wall ovens are known for even, consistent cooking. They use an electric heating element that produces a drier heat than gas ovens, making them good for roasting and broiling. Electric range stovetops are flat surfaces with heating coils underneath. They heat up fast for quick boiling and simmering and can often be easier to clean since there are no grates to remove, helping to save you time while cooking and cleaning up after meals.
Learn more about the differences between gas and electric ovens. When you’re ready to shop, you’ll find plenty of gas ranges, electric ranges, and wall ovens from Maytag.
3. CONVECTION OR CONVENTIONAL OVENS
When shopping for a new oven, you need to consider how the oven disperses heat to cook your food. Read on below to learn about convection and conventional ovens to discover which option will work best for you.
Convection Ovens
Convection ranges and wall ovens have a fan and exhaust system that circulates hot air inside the oven to help maintain a consistent temperature from rack to rack, making it ideal for kitchens that regularly prepare multiple dishes at once. These ovens can be standalone appliances, but you can also find microwave and conventional ovens with convection cooking features. Like conventional ovens, convection ovens can be gas or electric and come in different models with various features.
True Convection ovens from Maytag brand use a powerful third heating element and a sturdy fan to circulate heated air more consistently than traditional thermal bake ovens for ideal roasting and baking.
Conventional Ovens
Conventional ovens, also called traditional, regular, thermal or radiant ovens, have heating elements that are typically located at the bottom and top of the oven. These models are known as the traditional style of electric ovens and offer familiar settings and functions. In a conventional oven, the dish closest to an active heating element cooks the fastest. In contrast, a convection oven fan circulates air throughout the cavity and around dishes.
Learn more about the differences between convection and conventional ovens.
4. FREESTANDING OR SLIDE-IN RANGES
The main difference between freestanding and slide-in ranges lies in the installation and location of the oven controls. Both are great options but one may function better within your kitchen’s layout, so it is important to understand their differences.
FREESTANDING RANGES
Freestanding ranges can be found in most kitchens. They feature a backsplash where the controls are located along with finished sides that allow them to be installed on their own or between cabinets. This style offers versatility in its installation as the range can be installed almost anywhere within your kitchen layout.
SLIDE-IN RANGES
Slide-in ranges have controls in the front and are designed to sit seamlessly between cabinets for a premium look, which means that most models will have unfinished sides. Without a backsplash for controls, they offer an opportunity to expose more of a tile backsplash. Overhanging sides create clean lines and even help prevent food from falling into the gaps between the cabinets and the range, making clean up after cooking easy.
Shop Maytag® freestanding ranges or slide-in ranges to find the perfect fit for your kitchen.
5. SELF-CLEANING OVENS
Self-cleaning ovens feature a cycle that will use high or low heat to loosen soils inside the oven for easier cleaning. They’re common on all oven types and don’t come with a much higher price tag. Traditional self-cleaning ovens use extra high heat to help burn soils to a powdery ash you can then wipe away. Low heat self-cleaning ovens will often use water and steam along with a special oven coating to loosen soils with less of the smoke and odor that come with high heat cycles. If you find yourself scrubbing your oven more often than you’d like, a self-cleaning option can help to make kitchen cleanup easier.
All Maytag® ranges and wall ovens feature a self-cleaning cycle that uses either high or low heat. Learn more about how self-cleaning ovens work, or explore the differences between self-cleaning and steam-cleaning ovens.
6. STEAM OVENS
Steam ovens are often used in combination with standard ovens. They use steam rather than dry heat to cook food, helping lock in moisture and nutrients. Steam ovens are great if you enjoy gently cooked vegetables, seafood, rice and grains or baking moist cakes. You won’t be able to brown or crisp food in a steam oven, which is why many brands offer combination steam ovens that can switch from steam heat to a standard oven.
7. MICROWAVE OVENS
Microwave ovens are compact appliances that heat food quickly using electromagnetic waves which are absorbed into the molecules of water, sugar and fat in food. These ovens cook food from the inside out, while conventional ovens cook from the outside in. Microwaves are great for preparing frozen meals, reheating leftovers and cooking smaller portions of food and can be a great option for smaller kitchens and dorm rooms.
8. TOASTER OVENS
Toaster ovens are essentially mini ovens. These ovens use a similar heating element to a standard oven and can be used to cook smaller portions of food. Like microwaves, toaster ovens are an excellent option for dorm rooms and kitchens without the floor space for a full-sized oven. They are also a great choice for supplemental oven space when your main oven is full.
Learn more about making food without a stove or oven if your kitchen doesn’t have the space.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST TYPE OF OVEN FOR MY KITCHEN?
Start by thinking through a few key considerations like how much you want to spend, what type of cooking you usually do and which power hookups you have.
PRICES FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF OVENS
Ovens carry a wide price range. For example the price of, Maytag® ranges can span around $800 to $2100 and wall ovens around $1900 to $3200. For both ranges and wall ovens, double and combination ovens will cost more as well as models with convection cooking. When it comes to ranges, expect to pay more for gas and slide-in models.
YOUR COOKING HABITS
Think about what type of cooking you do most often. If you bake lots of pastries and casseroles or when baking multiple dishes, convection ovens help deliver even results and generally offer the best options for many kinds of baking. Double ovens offer more capacity for those who like to make big, multi-dish meals. If you’re a messy cook, consider an oven with a self-cleaning cycle or an electric range with a smooth, easy-to-clean cooktop.
WHAT TYPE OF POWER HOOKUPS YOU HAVE
Most kitchens are set up for an electric oven—all you need is an outlet. To install a gas oven, you’ll need a dedicated gas line, which can be installed for an additional cost if you don’t already have one. There are also dual fuel ranges, which combine a gas cooktop with an electric oven. Learn more about dual fuel ranges.
WHAT IS A GOOD SIZE FOR AN OVEN?
Determining the right sized oven for you depends on the size of your kitchen. Standard wall ovens are typically 24–30 inches wide and 27–29 inches high, with depth ranging from 22–24 inches to fit within standard cabinets. Ranges are typically 30 inches wide 25–27 inches deep and 30 inches tall.
Some ovens come in large capacity options that allow you to prepare more food at one time, or compact sizes to accommodate smaller kitchens.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT KIND OF OVEN I HAVE?
You can determine what type of oven you currently own by investigating the features and how the oven generates heat. Gas ovens require both a gas line and an electrical connection, so if your kitchen is not equipped with a gas line you likely do not have a gas oven.
Look inside your oven to determine whether you have a convection or conventional oven, as a convection oven has a fan and exhaust system inside the cavity. Steam and self-cleaning ovens will have those functions as settings on the control panel.
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SHOP TOP MAYTAG® RANGES & WALL OVENS
From traditional freestanding ranges to large-capacity double wall ovens, Maytag has a hard-working oven for every kitchen. With features like True Convection, Power Preheat and the Max Capacity Rack, these ranges and ovens are designed to deliver.
