TechTalk

The latest tech reviews and inspiration from Currys

Freestanding vs built-in ovens – which is right for me?

Looking for a new oven but not sure what’s best for you and your kitchen? Whether you’re fitting-out your first home or revamping your kitchen, we can help…

cooker-tips

Article Main Image

Freestanding ovens

In a nutshell: An all-in-one cooker that stands on its own four legs. It’s got a hob on top, oven space below and some have a separate grill

The main advantage of a freestanding oven is that it’s one complete package. It fits into an existing gap in your kitchen and comes in a variety of sizes. You can take it with you if you move house too.

What do you get with a freestanding oven?

  • Slots neatly in your kitchen – sizes range from 50cm to 150cm wide

  • Choose from gas or electric – whichever you prefer to cook with

  • Stress-free cleaning with enamel easy clean, pyrolytic self-clean or catalytic liners

  • Flexibility for more ways to cook – go for a single or double oven

Why not try… BEKO Electric Ceramic Cooker

The BEKO Electric Ceramic Cooker offers bags of space for all your dishes. And its a cinch to keep clean too, thanks to steam cleaning and easy-to-clean enamel coating.

Anything else I should know?

Although, in theory, you can choose where to put your freestanding cooker, it will need to be close to a power source – whether that's a plug or gas outlet - usually within a range of about 1.5 metres.

We always recommend you use a qualified electrician to install an electric oven. And if you’re getting a gas oven, make sure it’s fitted by a Gas Safe registered engineer, as that’s the law.

Range cookers

In a nutshell: A combination of ovens, grills and hobs that are perfect for feeding big families and cooking lavish Sunday roasts.

If you want to make a statement – both design and cooking-wise, one of the best types of freestanding oven is a range cooker. It’s designed for serious chefs who like to experiment with new dishes, or those who often cook for lots of people.

What do you get with a range cooker?

  • Up to 50% more oven space than smaller freestanding ovens

  • Cook dishes at different temperatures, with a choice of up to 4 oven compartments

  • Several hob plates so you can have lots of pans on the go at once

  • Spend less time scrubbing with easy-clean oven interior and hobs

Why not try… Rangemaster Kitchener 90

Whip up sumptuous Sunday roasts in the dual fuel Rangemaster Kitchener 90. With a large combined oven capacity of 135 litres, it’s well equipped to cope with family meals or dinner parties. If pan-frying is more your style, you won’t be short of stove-top options either – it has a 5-burner gas hob plus wok burner.

Built-in Ovens

In a nutshell: An integrated cooker that seamlessly blends into your kitchen for a modern and stylish look.

If you want the flexibility of a range cooker but don’t have space for one – or worry it’ll be out of sync with your gorgeous new kitchen units – a built-in oven is the way to go.

Built-in ovens, as the name suggests, are installed into kitchen units or fixed to cupboard doors. A built-in oven is usually 60cm wide, which is the same as standard kitchen units.

What do you get with a built-in oven?

  • You're free to choose the **type, model and style **of hobs and ovens so you can mix and match

  • Option to place it at eye level so it's easy to see how your dishes are cooking

  • Flexibility to put the hob where you like – wherever works best for you

  • The choice of conventional, fan or multifunction ovens

Why not try… Bosch HBS573BS0B electric oven

Create culinary masterpieces in your cool-looking kitchen with this fantastic multitasking oven. Plus, once the cooking’s done, there’s no need to scrub it – just activate pyrolytic cleaning and the oven will burn away grime, so all you need to do is give it a quick wipe, and you’re good to go.

Get the Bosch HBS573BS0B electric oven

Is there anything else I need to know?

A built-in oven is very tricky to move once it’s in place – you can’t just pull it out like you can with freestanding models. If you're moving house, your built-in oven will have to stay put.

And as you're slotting this type of oven into place, you'll need to have it installed by a professional – whether it’s gas or electric.

But whatever questions you have, you can video chat with an ovens expert on ShopLive.

Related in Cooker Tips

Related Article Image
Air fryer bacon: the ultimate guide
Related Article Image
How to clean a glass oven door
Related Article Image
How to make a toasted sandwich in an air fryer
Related Article Image
How to clean a microwave: Best cleaning hacks
Related Article Image
Go from faker to Star Baker with the right oven

Let's get cooking!