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Which oven is best?
Which oven to buy?
When looking for a new oven, you probably want to know which oven is best for your kitchen and needs. What is a conventional oven? What is a convection oven? Is a convection microwave worth it? What about a steam oven? These questions might float through your mind while exploring your options.
Most of our models, for example, are convection ovens, meaning they are equipped with a fan to evenly spread hot air throughout the cavity. Since cleaning is a tiresome, thankless task, opt for a self-cleaning model, also known as a pyrolytic oven, to save time and hassle.
Browse our oven guide below to find out what to consider when buying a new appliance.
1. Which type of oven is best for you?
Depending on your kitchen layout and your personal preferences, there are different models to choose from.
Built-in oven : Integrated into a cupboard, either underneath a worktop or, more ergonomically, at eye level in a wall.
Built-in oven with hob controls : Operate both your oven and hob from the same control panel.
Freestanding cooker : Two appliances – an oven and a hob – in one appliance.
Double oven : Two separate ovens in one appliance – typically built into a wall.
2. Which oven dimensions fit your cutout?
Measure your cutout or look in your current appliance's user manual as a starting point. Here's some general advice about sizes.
- Standard size: 60 x 60cm (w x h)
- Compact size: 60 x 45cm (w x h)
Pro tip: A compact oven can be combined with a warming drawer to fit a standard oven dimensions.
3. Which heating types suit your cooking preferences?
Today's ovens generate heat or circulate the air in different ways. For example, a convection model cooks and bakes with hot air while a steam oven can cook food with vapour in addition to cooking and baking with hot air.
What is a convection oven?
A convection oven uses a fan to distribute heat evenly throughout the interior. This helps dishes to cook more evenly. In addition to the convection setting, most such appliances also offer, for example, conventional heat (no fan), bottom heat and grill settings. Our products come with an advanced convection setting, such as 3D Hotair or 4D Hotair. The advantage: even distribution of heat on three (3D) or four (4D) racks simultaneously.
What is a steam oven?
In addition to offering conventional cooking modes, a steam oven also uses water vapour to cook foods. This light yet deliciously healthy way of preparing and reheating many foods preserves nutrients. Our models allow you to whip up an entire meal – vegetables, fish, potatoes – on three racks at once. And with our Steam Plus Function, which raises the vapour temperature to 120°C, dinner is served even sooner with an even bigger helping of vitamins.
Pro tip: An added steam feature on some of our convection ovens lets you add blasts of vapour to bake, for example, crusty bread.
What is a convection microwave oven?
These multi-functional appliances are convection ovens that come with a microwave setting. As a result, they can be used to cook food as well as to heat it up, meaning you don't need a separate microwave. Activating the microwave while cooking also speeds up the process. Efficient, space saving and convenient!
Pro tip: Some of our convection microwave ovens also come with added steam function.
4. What about a self-cleaning oven?
Models equipped with a cleaning programme that uses high temperatures to burn off food and grease residue on the interior are also known as pyrolytic ovens. When the programme is finished, all you have to do is wipe out the remaining ash – no harsh chemicals necessary!
Some of our products have a coating that absorbs grease or use water in a process called hydrolysis instead of pyrolytic self-cleaning.
5. What smart oven features make life easier?
You can access and operate a WiFi oven via the Home Connect app on your phone. It's a great way to enjoy clever features that make cooking more fun.
- Convenience: Start preheating on your way home.
- Safety: Double check it's switched off after leaving.
- Precision: Select a recipe in the app – send the settings to your WiFi-enabled oven.
- Tips: Oven Assistant suggests suitable programmes for your dish.
- Support: Remote Diagnostics allows a Bosch technician to investigate an issue from afar.
Look forward to new features in the future as well.
6. Which extra features do you need?
Advances in oven design and technologies take cooking and baking to the next level. Here are some of our highlights.
Full steam ahead: In our steam ovens, the Steam Function Plus raises the temperature up to 120°C, turbocharging healthy dinners. As a result, you get even more nutritious goodness in less time.
When a crust is a must: Steam is a magic ingredient in conventional cooking. The Added Steam feature introduces a blast of water vapour to create a crispy crust on meat and bread.
PerfectBake: The PerfectBake sensor monitors the moisture content of baked goods, and turns off the oven automatically when done. PerfectBake Plus enhances this function with Home Connect's artificial intelligence. Simply use the app to select your dish and press start. Your appliance not only activates the right heating mode and temperature but also counts down to done.
PerfectRoast: With up to three measuring points, our PerfectRoast meat probe monitors the temperature of all kinds of meats. PerfectRoast Plus adds the power of Home Connect’s artificial intelligence, so you’ll know down to the minute when your meat is done exactly to your taste – whether bloody or browned through.
Air Fry Function: Now you can fry to a perfect crispy crunch with hardly any oil right in your Bosch model. The Air Fry Function turns thinly sliced potatoes or other veggies in the Air Fry & Grill tray into irresistible snacks.
What is the best oven brand?
What is the most reliable oven brand? How long do ovens last? What is the best oven to buy? Who makes the best ovens? It's natural to want a high quality appliance that will last for years to come. At Bosch, we offer uncompromising quality, technical perfection and maximum-possible reliability – as demonstrated in many independent product tests.
What is the most energy efficient oven?
How much energy does an oven use? It depends on the model as well as the settings and temperatures you frequently use.
Generally speaking, most modern appliances consume around 2.4 kWh per hour on medium to high heat. Our most energy efficient ovens use convection heat.
