When buying a wall oven, keep in mind how you will be using it. If you rarely make roasts or bake very much and you aren't concerned about cooking times, convection probably isn't necessary. Additional broiler settings are especially useful if you frequently broil steaks.

Before you buy a wall oven, you should consider the following:

  • Check sizing. This is especially important to consider if you will be replacing a current wall oven or working within your specific cabinet sizes. You should closely examine the exterior dimensions of a wall oven to be sure it will fit properly in the available space. Manufacturers are good about posting specific measurements online.
  • Consider styling. While not a functional consideration, styling is important to most homeowners. Keep in mind that you'll pay more for a sleek design, and stainless steel costs $250 to $500 more than a black or white finish. Shiny stainless steel tends to show fingerprints more than traditional porcelain finishes.
  • Self-cleaning. This is a popular feature for wall ovens. Some models now come with a variety of options for cleaning, such as deep cleaning or high-speed cleaning.
  • Porcelain coatings and hidden elements save cleanup time. Both features protect the surface of the element from spills, and hidden elements don't contribute to smoke and grease fires as exposed elements can.
  • Consider control placement. Controls that are practically hidden may look great, but they can be less-convenient to use and read.
  • Convection browns food more evenly. Many wall ovens include a convection feature, which experts say improves browning, saves a little time, and produces more predictable results. The downside of convection is that it can limit the capacity of the oven.
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