oven for baking

Oven for Baking: How to Choose The Right Oven

An oven for baking is one of the most crucial baking tools and equipment. Hence you must make sure you know how to choose the right oven.

But not everyone is an oven expert. Plus, with lots of ovens in the market, choosing an oven for baking can be confusing and time-consuming.

Don’t be discouraged though, because we are here to help. In this article, we’ll talk about how to choose the right oven.

How to Choose the Right Oven

  1. Decide what you want to use the oven for.

  2. Know what type of oven you need.

  3. Determine the size you need.

  4. Identify the special features you need.

  5. Consider your budget.

  6. Think about the location.

  7. Determine the look you want.

Choosing the Right Oven for Baking

An oven is crucial in making perfect baked goods, so you must know how to choose the right one. Here’s how to choose the right oven for baking:

1. Decide what you want to use the oven for.

First of all, you should know what type of oven you need. What are you going to use your oven for? Is it for making simple desserts? Do you want to make minimalist cakes? How about savory dishes?

If you are baking easy-to-make desserts like simple brownies and butterscotch, an oven toaster will do just fine. They are light and small, so they are good enough for simple recipes. 

On the other hand, you would need a bigger oven to make more advanced desserts like graduation cakes, carrot cupcakes, and brookies. While these can be made using small ovens, most recipes are not made with them in mind. 

In addition, you should also decide if you tend to use the oven to make savory dishes like baked macaroni and roast chicken. 

On top of that, you should determine whether the oven is solely for your home or baking business.  

While a smaller oven is budget- and space-friendly, you will need a better business oven for baking. 

2. Know what type of oven you need.

Now that you know what you want to use your oven for, it’s time to know what type you need. 

There are four types of ovens based on cooking methods: (1) convection, (2) conventional, (3) microwave, and (4) combination.

Convection ovens include fans that circulate heat for even cooking. On the other hand, dishes closest to the heater in conventional ovens cook the fastest. Microwave ovens use radiation, while combination ovens combine the said types.

Convection ovens are ideal for baking cookies and roasting meat and vegetables. 

While convection ovens provide even browning and faster cooking, they are not ideal for some recipes. The circulating air can result in an uneven product for recipes that start with wet batters like cakes and custards. 

Instead, you should use conventional ovens for these. Conventional ovens can perfectly cook baked goods that start with almost liquid batters.

Microwave ovens are powered by radiation, so they are mostly used for reheating food. There are a few desserts (e.g. desserts in mugs) that you can make using a microwave oven

If your budget allows it, getting a combination oven allows you to be more flexible. While they are more expensive, they give you the functions of both conventional and convection ovens.

3. Determine the size you need.

Most ovens are between 27 and 30 inches wide. There are smaller ovens, and you can choose them, as long as they fit your goals. 

To choose the right size you need, look at how much space you have. Will the oven fit your kitchen? Is it going to fit the batches you want to bake? 

In addition, don’t forget to measure the allocated space for your oven. You might not want to buy a great oven only to see it not fit your kitchen. 

Speaking of allocated space, you should also think about whether your oven for baking should be single or double.

Single ovens are an excellent choice if you have limited space and don’t have to bake a lot. However, you cannot bake multiple dishes at the same time. 

Double ovens, on the other hand, are more versatile. They are great if you bake a lot. Double ovens also let you bake more dishes at the same time. 

4. Consider your oven’s location.

oven for baking kitchen

In relation to your oven’s size, you should consider its location as well. Where are you going to place it? Are you going to put it on top of your counter or floor? Do you want to place it on the wall?

There are three basic types of ovens according to placement: wall, countertop, and range.

As its name implies, a wall oven has to be placed on a wall. A countertop oven has to be placed on top of a counter, while a range can be placed on the floor.

You should wisely choose where to put your electric oven. For one, it should fit your kitchen’s function. If your kitchen is mostly for baking, any oven would be fine. 

Your oven placement should also fit your kitchen’s design. If your kitchen has a minimalist design, a wall oven would be best. If it has a traditional design, you can go for a range or countertop oven. 

5. Determine the look you want. 

Speaking of your kitchen design, your oven should fit it as well.

Ovens are usually available in white, black, silver, or a combination of the said colors. While ovens are usually not available in other colors, you can work your way around them.

In addition, while it seems better to have matching appliances in your kitchen, they don’t have to match. You just can’t choose an oven simply because it matches your other appliances.

Remember, it is okay if your oven looks a little bit out of place as long as it does what you need it to. 

You might have your heart set on a certain oven, for example, but consider a stand mixer with a different color. Other times, you might want to keep an old refrigerator but upgrade your oven for baking.

6. Identify the special features you need.

Now ask yourself if you need basic or advanced features for baking.

If you are going to bake simple desserts, you can opt for a single-mode oven for baking. But if you plan on making tiered cakes, complex bread, or layered savory dishes, ovens with multiple modes are a better option.

You might also want to consider ovens with self-cleaning modes. Since many don’t like cleaning ovens, a self-cleaning one saves a lot of time. 

They also save a lot of money because they are better insulated and therefore keep heat better. While self-cleaning ovens are more expensive up front, they help cut your energy costs.

7. Consider your budget.

If you are baking solely for your family, you can have a lower budget for an oven for baking. You can even get an oven that costs a few thousand pesos (a few hundred dollars). On the contrary, you should allocate a bigger budget if you are baking for business. 

Remember, an oven for baking is a lifeline of your business. You should not invest in a low-quality oven if you want your baking business to stand out

Like any kitchen equipment or appliance, there is a wide range of oven prices. These depend on the quality, features, and brand. 

While there is no universal price, a single wall oven starts at approximately 35,000 PHP (700 USD). Double-wall ovens can go up to 100,000 PHP (2,000 USD). Oven ranges cost somewhere between 20,000 PHP to 50,000 PHP (400 to 1,000 USD). 

kitchen with oven

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Conclusion

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to choose what brand, model, and type of oven you will buy. This article is here to simply guide you. 

Whatever oven for baking you choose, don’t forget to read the manual carefully. Use the oven as recommended. If the oven is not self-cleaning, clean any residue as soon as you can. 

Using an oven thermometer also helps you monitor your oven’s condition. It makes sure that your oven is heating up properly.

Since your oven is an investment, regularly check it for signs of wear and tear. With proper usage and care, a high-quality oven should last for many years. 

Print or bookmark this article so you can choose the right oven for baking. Happy baking!

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About HICAPS

Over the years, HICAPS has helped bakers and businesses make delicious products by offering ingredients like ChiffonAide Cake Oil, Magic Whizk Whipping Cream, Red Velvet Flavor Emulco, and Instabake Brownie Mix

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