Gas Wall Ovens

Gas ovens are less common but still have their fans

The vast majority of today's wall ovens are electric but users who are replacing an existing gas oven may prefer or need a gas model. According to experts, gas ovens generally do not heat as quickly or evenly as electric ovens. Gas ovens are naturally hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, so food cooked on multiple racks must be rotated regularly for even browning. On the plus side, gas ovens are less likely to dry out food than electric ovens without a convection fan. This makes them a good choice for roasts, dense and moist cakes and heavy casseroles that need to be kept moist.

Because gas wall ovens are far less common today than electric ones, they have not been included in any professional tests. However, we found excellent user reviews for the Frigidaire FGB24L2AS (*Est. $650) . At 24-inches wide, this single wall oven is smaller than most electric models. It has a capacity of 3.2 cubic feet with a separate broiler tray and touchpad controls. A self-cleaning cycle and a convection fan are not available on this Frigidaire, which is backed by a one-year warranty and comes in white or black; stainless steel is available for an extra $150 or so.

We found more than 35 user reviews for this wall oven at AJMadison.com, plus several more at Buzzillions.com, and nearly all of them are positive. For most users this oven's small size seems to be a plus as it fits into existing wall oven spots (for those replacing what they already have), but some users express dissatisfaction that the oven is not wide enough to accommodate a large roasting pan or a full-size cookie sheet. We also saw several complaints about the gas hookup, which is in an awkward spot making the oven tricky to install. Users generally seem pleased with this oven's performance and say it is a great value.

Another smaller gas oven that gets good feedback from users is the Maytag CWG3100AAB (*Est. $750) . This 24-inch wall oven has a 2.7-cubic-foot capacity, a separate broiler tray (with the broiler pan included), touchpad electronic controls and a delay-start feature, which allows you to program a start time for cooking. This oven is available in black, white or (for an extra $200 or so) stainless steel. It comes with a one-year warranty.

We found more than 40 reviews for the Maytag CWG3100AAB at Buzzillions.com. As with the Frigidaire wall oven, this oven's smaller size is a positive for most users replacing an existing wall oven. Its quick heating and simple controls are also popular features and several owners note it is easy to clean, despite the lack of a self-cleaning cycle. Though a few users complain that the oven looks cheap or seems flimsy, only a few report actual durability problems. Two users indicate a problem with the electronic display panel, and one reports the entire unit failed two weeks outside of the warranty period.