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Our experts have put in hours of research to find the best single oven for your kitchen... Burner Of Gas Stove
This article was updated in January 2024 to reflect the latest prices and stock levels. We also added a newly-tested winning oven, the Hisense BSA66346PDBGUK.
Baked eggs. Fresh focaccia. Luxurious servings of lasagne. From morning to night, we rely on our ovens to keep us fed. It really is the heart of the kitchen – especially for those who are partial to the joys of baking.
And while we love using an air fryer for crisp, golden results, we’re not quite ready to part ways with our beloved ovens just yet. Especially since modern ovens are real multitaskers; they can tackle defrosting, dough proving, pizza baking, and even steam cooking. Many models on the market also have handy self-cleaning modes, so you can say goodbye to the dreaded oven scrub-down.
Yes, there’s a lot to consider when investing in a new oven, but fear not, we’ve done all the research so that you can find the best pick for your kitchen.
If you’re buying a built-in oven, you’re in the right place. From models with integrated microwaves to options with 77-litre capacities that are fit for a Sunday roast, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute put 46 built-in ovens to the test to find the most accurate and intuitive on the market. Here are the cookers that won’t let you down:
If you’re replacing an existing oven, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point, or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.
Buying an oven is a big investment, so it’s crucial to know which makes, models, features, and cooking functions are worth looking at before making that all-important purchase. Here's our handy breakdown.
These all-in-one ovens can slot under the counter or sit at eye-level. Compact models tend to measure 45cm in height while regular single ovens are about 60cm.
You can choose between two types of double oven: built-in models, which measure about 90cm in height and sit at eye level; or slightly smaller built-under models, which are about 70cm tall and sit underneath the counter.
The latest innovations in cooking tech, a smart oven can be controlled remotely as they connect to your phone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
Built-in ovens can have an overwhelming number of features. For day-to-day cooking, you’ll need a fan-assisted model with a full grill, partial grill, fan grill, and upper and lower heat. But if you’re an aspiring home chef or a dinner party aficionado, there are some snazzy additional features that could be worth investing in. Here are the multifunction modes to look out for.
When it comes to cleaning, we’re all probably a little guilty of paying less attention to the inside of our ovens than the rest of our kitchen. However, grease and burnt food can build up and absorb the heat, making your oven less efficient.
That’s why investing in an oven with a self-cleaning function could be a game-changer. There are three types on the market: pyrolytic, catalytic liners and steam-cleaning. Some even boast a combination, such as the GHI Approved Beko AeroPerfect Single Multi-Function Oven, which has liners and a steam-cleaning program. Here are the benefits of each type.
The most popular self-cleaning function, this is an automatic programme that combines pressure and high temperatures to convert grease and food residue into ash.
These liners transform the oven into a self-cleaning machine when set at high temperatures.
These clean using water from a removable tank or an included tray to loosen dirt and grease.
You can’t test an oven without cooking, and that’s exactly why our experts at the GHI donned their aprons and got roasting, grilling and baking. In each oven, they made a full roast dinner, roast potatoes, apple crumble, fairy cakes, fruit cake and toasted bread.
They inspected each dish for any highlights or concerns, noting every little detail, including whether the fairy cakes rose and if the potatoes were sufficiently crispy. They also tried cooking with multiple shelves in use at the same time to see if this altered the results.
Next, they placed their thermocouple (a durable sensor for measuring temperature) inside the centre of the oven and tried varying heats to ensure the oven temperature gauge was accurate. They also checked how hot the oven door became while in use.
There was very little we didn’t like about this 77-litre Hisense oven. It achieved full marks when it came to grilling and cooking an entire roast chicken, and our cupcakes came out looking golden too, with only a few lacking the perfect rise.
What makes this oven unique is you can connect it to your phone via WiFi and check the progress of your meal while on the move (or sat on the sofa) via the ConnectLife app – and that’s not all. There’s also an air frying and steam cooking function among the 13 programmes, giving you plenty of options to experiment with.
The only (small) downside was that there were some fluctuations in temperature during cooking, so you may need to keep an eye on the app to check your food is on track. Despite this, our testers were full of praise for this oven; its preheating time was the quickest of all the models we’ve tested, and the touch display was easy to use and responsive. An all-round quality buy.
From its digital temperature gauge to its soft close door, this Hotpoint impressed. It scored full marks for its ability to distribute heat evenly and took just nine short minutes to preheat on both the fan and non-fan assisted settings. The no-fuss control panel also makes for easy cooking and outer cleaning. Just give it a swift wipe down and you’re good to go!
This model is the perfect choice for busy families who like to cook. It has a deep capacity and spacious interior, making it ideal for batch cooking and epic feasts. It scored full marks in the roast test, producing crispy but fluffy potatoes and a golden-brown chicken skin in under two hours. Even at 200C, the oven door remained cool to the touch, so it’s a safe bet if you have little ones. The included grill tray is also a great size for big meals, comfortably fitting 12 slices of bread.
Keen bakers take note: the backlight illuminated the entire oven, so you can monitor your bakes without having to open the door.
We recommend using Hotpoint’s online instructions if you run into any issues, as the included paper manual wasn’t quite as informative as we'd have liked.
This Hoover model made an excellent roast in under an hour. The chicken was juicy, and our experts were particularly impressed with the crispy skin on their potatoes. Outside of mouth-watering Sunday feasts, this oven proved to be a trustworthy buy. The thermostat was accurate, ensuring it stayed as close as possible to the target temperature, and there’s a wireless food thermometer for second-by-second heat assurance.
Again, this model is a safe bet for households with little ones and inquisitive pets. Its handle and door remained cool to the touch even when the interior reached scorching temperatures and the display warns you when opening that the interior is hot. Plus, the childproof lock is a great perk for peace of mind. Be warned, the oven door does require quite a tug to open, so it may not be ideal for anyone with limited mobility.
This offered a best-in-class range of functions. It has 16 different cooking settings, allowing for precision and accuracy, but the star feature was its turn dial, which has clear audio prompts to guide you through the cooking set-up. The pyrolytic and steam clean settings also made light work of tough grease stains. Thanks to its gliding telescopic rails, you can remove hot trays safely without crouching or fuss, too. The oven door also scored highly – our experts noted that it remained cool to the touch even at 240C.
The premium price and techy features make this oven perfect for larger kitchens and chefs who will make use of its advanced functions. It does come with several trays that take up a lot of room when the oven is in use, so this may not be the model for you if you’re tight on storage space. It’s an excellent addition for anyone whose meals revolve around the freezer though – the gentle warming capabilities were a thawing delight.
Our testers were less impressed with the halogen lighting, which didn’t sufficiently illuminate the top grill, so you’ll need to open the oven door to check on your bakes; but that's a minor flaw for this great buy.
This covered all the basics, with a quick preheat function, stay-cool handles and intuitive touchscreen controls. But it’s the oven-meets-microwave capabilities that really set it apart from the other models we tested. You just push a button to switch from the oven to the 900W integrated microwave. When we put the microwave to the test, we were impressed with how well it cooked a ready meal lasagne. Easy, breezy meals, sorted.
It goes without saying that this is an excellent option for people who are low on countertop space, as you can forego a worktop microwave and opt for this two-in-one model instead. For busy households, it’s also worth noting that you can use both the microwave and the conventional oven at the same time.
A little patience is required during set-up as you’ll need to install the side rack yourself and the ceramic clips can be fiddly at times. Our experts also found that the oven temperature was a little less accurate when using the non-fan assisted setting, so we recommend sticking to fan assisted.
This Hisense oven has a whopping 77-litre capacity – five litres larger than most of the other ovens we tested (except our runner-up, another Hisense). Spacious and speedy, our experts loved the five-minute rapid preheat option and it impressed with its lightning two-and-a-half-minute grilling time. The bright internal lighting also gave a clear view of all five shelves (top shelf included). Hello confident grilling.
Thanks to its large capacity, this oven is a batch cooker’s dream, and you can also quickly (and safely) thaw frozen food with the defrost function. When using a lighter touch, our experts found the touch display to be quite unresponsive, so they recommend going for a firm press. The Hisense’s shelving also felt unstable at times and the proximity of the timer and minute reminder button meant it was easy to mix them up – watch out for a clumsy finger slip.
Our testers also loved the oven's air fry mode, which is perfect for those constantly on the lookout for more midweek meal ideas — and opens up a whole new world of dinnertime possibilities.
From its pyrolytic in-depth cleaning assistance to the economical curved oven door handle, the design of this fuss-free oven secured an impressive 9.6/10 from our testers. You can easily remove the door for straightforward cleaning, and it also stayed safe to touch even at 200C. The thermostat proved reliable too, maintaining our target temperature with ease. On our cooking tests, it produced a satisfying and succulent roast dinner, complete with crispy and evenly cooked potatoes.
It’s ideal for everyday cooks and beginner bakers – there’s even an automatic Turn&Go programme that sets the cooking time and temperature for you which our testers loved.
On the downside, this oven did take 30 minutes to reach 200C so it's probably not ideal if you're on the hunt for a speedy cooker. The oven's fan also stays on for up to 30 minutes after use which may not be ideal for open-plan kitchen and dining spaces. These small issues aside, its a good value, reliable oven.
This Beko buy has a versatile range of cooking options, including steam cooking, so it's a good choice if you're purchasing your first oven. It has an easy-to-understand touchscreen and control panel that makes getting used to your new cooker easy. Our testers didn’t have to refer to the manual once during set-up or use, but you’ll be pleased to know that it has clear diagrams and instructions in case you do run into any problems.
Our experts did find the oven door became exceptionally hot (44C) when the oven was on a high temperature so it's probably best to opt for a different model if you have small children or pets.
However, for anyone who likes entertaining, this 72-litre capacity oven is a smart buy. The oven’s SimplySteam feature made cleaning a doddle too, so tidying up after an evening of being the host will be a breeze.
Installing a built-in oven is relatively straightforward, as they’re designed to fit inside your kitchen cabinets, but it will require more than simply slotting it into place and plugging in. Many electric ovens are just too powerful to plug straight into a wall socket. Check with the manufacturer for guidance.
You’ll need to ensure the oven is the correct size for the cavity you intend to use and that you'll have enough space to fully open the door. You should also check it's near the power supply you wish to use, be it gas or electricity, and that you have enough space around the power supply for proper installation.
Lastly, you’ll require a platform strong enough to support the oven’s weight and with enough clearance to meet the safety guidelines of the manufacturer.
For peace of mind and your own safety, we recommend your oven is installed by an electrical engineer or Gas Safe registered engineer, depending on the power supply.
When you purchase a new oven, they are usually equipped with a range of accessories for your convenience. These are among the most common.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s homes writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market. When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her cooking, running and exploring London’s foodie hotspots – or trying to make friends with every dog she passes. Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall and on X @megan_geall
Blossom is our Senior Homes Tester. Passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for our readers, she has tested everything from blenders to pizza ovens. Blossom enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols for hundreds of items. Innovative items like robot vacuum cleaners and wine coolers are among her favourite tests to date, and her most notable accomplishment is toasting 360 slices of bread in a determined bid to find the best toaster. In her free time, Blossom openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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