What is it?
The oven is the enclosed appliance that bakes, roasts and grills, heating food inside a closed cavity rather than in pans on top. In most UK kitchens it is a separate appliance from the hob, built into a tall housing at eye level or fitted under the worktop, and it drops into its own housing unit.
Ovens are usually electric, most with a fan that moves hot air around for even cooking on several shelves at once. Beyond plain baking they add features like grilling, steam and self cleaning. The common size is a 60cm wide cavity, with compact 45cm high models used for combination and steam ovens.
- 1Tall Unit
- 2Integrated Oven
- 3Worktop
- 4Base Unit
- 5Hob
What does it do?
Baking, roasting and grilling
The oven cooks food in an enclosed cavity, surrounding it with heat for baking and roasting, with a grill element at the top for browning and grilling.
Even cooking with fan and functions
A fan moves the hot air around so several shelves cook evenly at once, and extra functions like steam or different heat settings suit different dishes.
Fitting into the kitchen
As a built in appliance the oven slots into a tall housing at eye level or under the worktop, becoming part of the run rather than a freestanding cooker.
Where is it used?
Built into a tall unit at eye level, which is easier to load and check without bending down.
Fitted under the worktop, often directly below the hob, where space or layout suits it better.
A compact or combination oven is often stacked above the main oven to add microwave or steam without taking floor space.
Types
Ovens are chosen by how many cavities they have and what extra functions they add on top of plain baking and roasting.
Single oven
One cavity in a standard 60cm unit, the most common built in oven. Simple and flexible, it suits most households on its own.
Double oven
Two cavities in one unit, a larger main oven and a smaller second oven or grill, letting you cook things at different temperatures at the same time.
Combination microwave oven
A compact oven that also works as a microwave, often stacked above the main oven for quick reheating and speedier cooking.
Steam oven
Adds steam, either on its own or combined with normal heat, for moister, healthier cooking that keeps texture and nutrients.
Range cooker
A wide freestanding cooker that combines one or more ovens with a hob in a single unit, an alternative to a separate built in oven and hob.
Typical sizes
Ovens follow standard cavity sizes, with the supply set by the electric load.
| Feature | Typical figure |
|---|---|
| Single oven | 60 cm wide, 60 cm cavity height |
| Compact or combi | 60 cm wide, 45 cm height |
| Capacity | around 70 litres, single |
| Cut out | to the maker's template |
| Supply | a dedicated high power electric circuit |
How to specify
Choose the oven for how you cook and where it will sit, and set up the right electric supply, since ovens draw a lot of power.
Format and functions
Decide single, double, combination or steam, and which functions and cleaning you want, such as pyrolytic self cleaning. This sets the size and the cost.Position and housing
Choose eye level in a tall unit or built under the worktop, and fit the correct housing unit with the clearances the maker requires.Supply
Confirm the dedicated high power circuit the oven needs, which an electrician must provide, and check the cable route to the housing.
Other considerations
Interacting elements
The oven works alongside the other cooking elements.
- Hob is a separate surface for pans; the oven is the enclosed cavity.
- Tall or base unit houses the oven at eye level or under the worktop.
- Worktop a built under oven sits directly below it.
- Electrics the oven needs its own dedicated power circuit.
Popular manufacturers
Neff
Famous for its Slide and Hide disappearing oven door and CircoTherm hot air cooking, Neff is a popular choice in fitted kitchens for design led, well featured ovens.
Bosch
A German maker with a wide, reliable oven range from full size to compact, known for even cooking and a cool touch door that stays safe to the touch.
AEG
A German brand, part of Electrolux, offering ovens with SteamBake and steam functions and pyrolytic self cleaning, in clean, modern designs.