Unless you are a professional fitter it can be hard to keep up to date with white goods. Most people will only buy an oven once every fifteen years which means that they normally forget all the research they did last time around and have to start from fresh. This article is here to explain what to consider when choosing the size of oven you need.
Unfortunately you have to consider more than just the capacity (usually measured in litres) of the cavity. You also need to take into account the layout of the shelves, how heat is distributed and the configuration of your appliance.
Hamilton Beach Toaster Oven
Capacity - the average European, domestic oven has a capacity of between 48 and 60 litres. 48 litres is a little on the small side and 60 is a touch large but it would be fair to say that any machine with an internal capacity between these numbers would be able to cope with day to day demands in most homes. Think twice about choosing an appliance with a smaller capacity than this and be aware that larger internal dimensions will increase your running costs.
Heat distribution - the distribution of heat inside the cavity makes more difference than cavity size itself. Conventional ovens (both gas and none fan assisted electric ones) are warmer at the top than at their base which means that when you set them to a cooking temperature it is only the middle shelf that achieves that temperature. In a fan assisted (also known as convectional) oven hot air is forced around the cavity to maintain an even temperature throughout. Obviously this means that if you need to cook lots of the same food type a smaller fan assisted oven will often provide more simultaneously usable space than a larger conventional one.
Layout - always opt for a model with flexible shelving. This can be shelves that pull out to be inserted at a different height or a smart shelving system that can be adjusted in-situ, but height adjustable shelves are a must. This is so you can make the most of the space you have available; what's the point in having a 100 litre capacity if it comes to Christmas and your turkey will not fit in because of fixed shelving heights.
Configuration - whether you are buying a single or double oven can make a huge difference to how you use the space available to you. Two small cavities are often (but not always) more versatile than one large one but can take up more room.