How to choose the right electric oven

In small apartments, dorm rooms, cottages there is no possibility to install bulky electrical cabinets or stoves. A small electric tabletop oven in such cases may be the best option. Such an oven is quite capable of replacing the stove that is familiar to us with an oven built into it.

Advantages and disadvantages of the device

Externally, the device may resemble a microwave, but their functions, of course, are quite different. There are a large number types of mini-ovens. The electric tabletop mini oven can be small (6 liters in volume) and roomy (up to 50 liters). It can be with a hob, single or double, or without it.When using such ovens, you can both bake and cook something.

If the oven has various functions, then it can completely replace not only the gas stove, but also a brazier, and even a microwave.

Mini-oven has the following advantages.

1. The device can at any time be transported from home to the country, for example, and vice versa. It differs in ease and mobility.
2. Anyone can handle the installation.
3. If there is no need, you can put the oven in the pantry or on the balcony - it will not take up much space.
4. The desktop oven is compact, takes up little space and is very convenient for small kitchens.
5. Differs in environmental friendliness in comparison, for example, with gas analogues.
6. Does not leave burning products, does not demand additional ventilation.
7. In many of these ovens there are cooking surfaces with several comforters (from 1 to 3).

A little about the shortcomings of these electrical devices. First, in the operating mode, mini-ovens usually get very hot, which can lead to burns. It is necessary to comply with all safety rules specified in the instructions for the device. It is also problematic to cook a lot of food for a large family: you will have to cook in several stages, which will affect the consumption of electricity.Therefore, if you have a large family, it is better to think in advance and purchase a larger oven.

Criteria for choosing the right one

Choosing a mini-oven, you must submit for what purpose it will be intended: just bake something, bake (bread, pizza, pies, roast, etc.) or cook more varied dishes. It is also necessary to consider how much food you are going to cook with it, and keep in mind that:

1. Power devices usually depends on their size, and ranges from 600 watts to 3000 watts.
2. With an oven of greater power, you will have to be a little more complicated: they are less mobile, heavier and take up more space.
3. In modern electric models, mini ovens have several heating modes (bottom, top, uniform). There are models with heating and defrosting modes.
4. The cost of desktop devices with a certain set of functional additions will be slightly higher than that of simple low-functional models.
5. It is necessary to clarify the correspondence of the voltage of the electrical network with the power of the purchased oven.

Manufacturers on their products usually put a label recognizing the class of energy consumption.For example, the letter A is usually marked the most economical, less energy consuming device, and the letter C - the most energy-intensive, powerful products.

Basic functions of electric ovens

Most of the electric desktop ovens have features such as:

1. Grill, with which you can create a ruddy crust on baked products.
2. Timer - to signal the readiness of a dish or to automatically turn off the oven at a specified time.
3. Spit - for comprehensive cooking of meat dishes.
4. Convection – for better baking of dishes using hot air circulation.
5. Mangal (in expensive models). If available, the mini-oven can be used to make kebabs, the top cover of such a mini-oven can be removed in these cases.
6. Food Defrost Function by gradually raising the temperature in the furnace.
7. Boiling control function - to maintain the set temperature so that liquid dishes cannot boil over.
8. Self cleaning functionwhich, however, does not replace ordinary cleaning, but makes it much easier.

Additional features

Often, besides the basic options, desktop ovens can be equipped with additional functionality to ensure safety and comfort during use:

• Heat indicators, protecting users from various burns that have not yet cooled down the device (the indicator glows until the temperature inside is below 60 ° C).
• Metal detectorIt is not possible to put metal-containing dishes in a mini oven. If there is a similar function in the device, you need to know in advance how it can be turned off (otherwise nothing can be cooked in ceramic pots or in heat-resistant glassware).

How to care

Ovens are pretty unpretentious in terms of care and cleaning. Their enameled surface has a non-stick layer and is sufficiently resistant to burning. They can be easily cleaned with any detergent, not abrasive products.

Most instruments have built-in hydrolysis functions or pyrolytic self cleaning. There are also models with grease-absorbing filters.

Conclusion

When choosing an electric desktop oven for home or cottage, you need to pay attention to its functionality, size and power. Moreover, the more any basic and additional functions incorporated in the device, the greater must be its power.It is also necessary to take into account the correspondence of the voltage in the electrical network to the declared capacities of the purchased device.