Wall Ovens

Gas ovens vs. Electric ovens

The first thing you need to decide when shopping for a more conventional wall oven is whether you want an electric or gas model. In an existing kitchen, this is usually determined by what kind of oven you're replacing. If you're building a new home, doing a floor-to-ceiling remodeling job, or have available gas lines, you have a choice. Experts say electric ovens heat more evenly, but gas ovens heat up and cool down faster. Gas ovens are also a bit more energy efficient, particularly when equipped with electric ignition. However, since ovens tend to be energy efficient in general, the difference is only about $25 per year, according to Sears' Appliance Advisor. Electric ovens have a larger capacity and are generally easier to install.

The biggest downside to gas ovens is the potential for noxious fumes, especially in today's well-sealed homes. Gas appliances should always be vented outside, and it's prudent to have a carbon monoxide detector nearby (see our report on carbon monoxide detectors for more information). Self-cleaning cycles, which use high heat in the process, seem to exacerbate the problem. That's why most people prefer electric wall ovens. In addition, most new innovations are for electric ovens, and you'll find more options and sizes available in electric ovens, as well. For that reason, we focus here on electric wall ovens, and model numbers given are for 30-inch models. On our comparison chart , you'll find similar models, along with model numbers for double ovens.

Best wall ovens

These days, most wall ovens have a sleek look that’s popular in home design magazines, and the Electrolux Icon E30EW75ESS (*est. $2,250) is no exception. This stainless-steel single wall oven is also loaded with high-end features, most notably, a convection mode. Convection cooking uses a fan mounted inside the oven to circulate the hot air within the oven. Experts say this makes for both faster and better roasting and baking. Meat is more evenly browned, and large batches of cookies bake more evenly. For other cooking chores, reviews say convection cooking has little benefit, and it does add significantly to cost. Still, if you'd like to speed up your roasting times a bit (but not as much as a speed cooker), a wall oven equipped with a convection mode may appeal to you. Owners posting to That Home Site.com's appliance forums seem to like them a lot.

The Electrolux Icon's other features include a self-cleaning function, electronic touchpad controls with LED display, three smooth-rolling oven racks, a child lock and a porcelain-covered lower element for easy cleanup after spills. In testing, the Electrolux Icon wall oven excels at baking and is also very good at broiling, which is important if you like perfectly seared steaks. Overall, however, the Electrolux Icon wall oven's cooking ability isn't far distinguished from cheaper wall ovens. Of course, with the higher price tag you’re also getting brand name, appearance and luxury image. The double-oven version of this model is the Electrolux Icon E30EW85EPS (*est. $3,370) . Unfortunately, Electrolux wall ovens aren't included in the large owner surveys at J.D. Power or Consumer Reports, so we don't yet have a clear idea of this brand's overall reliability. However, Electrolux also makes appliances under the Frigidaire brand, and Frigidaire wall ovens do have a good reputation for reliability.

The Frigidaire Gallery GLEB30S9FS (*est. $1,350) provides many of the same key features as the Electrolux Icon and it rated almost as well in testing. But the differences are obvious -- the Electrolux model just looks sleeker than the Frigidaire wall oven -- but the Frigidaire costs much less and there is no stainless steel option (it comes in white, black or bisque). The Frigidaire wall oven features convection baking and broiling. There are three oven racks and two different self-clean settings (for speed or maximum cleaning). It also features electronic touch controls.

The Maytag MEW6530DDW (*est. $1,200) is a 30-inch single convection oven that gets good marks in testing -- baking and broiling nearly as well as the Electrolux Icon. This model is self-cleaning, with adjustable cleaning levels for the different types of food buildup. Features include electronic controls, three racks (including a half-rack), four rack positions, an electronic timer and dual controls that keep oven temperature consistent. Compared to the Electrolux Icon, the Maytag just doesn't have that high-end commercial look. While the Electrolux Icon has a discrete, almost invisible control panel, the Maytag has more obvious touchpad controls. The oven window on the Maytag is quite a bit smaller, as well. The Electrolux comes only in stainless steel, while the Maytag comes in black and white. With a stainless finish, the Maytag MEW6530DDS (*est. $1,500) costs about $300 more. The double-oven version is the Maytag MEW6630DDW (*est. $1,950) , with an upper convection oven and lower standard oven. One advantage is Maytag's far-better repair history compared to Thermador, Dacor and Jenn-Air wall ovens.

GE wall ovens also get good reliability ratings. In the latest appliance satisfaction survey at J.D. Power, GE appliances received the highest customer satisfaction scores, and GE Profile ranked third. Whirlpool came in second place. Design-wise, the 30-inch GE Profile PT916WMWW (*est. $1,750) sits somewhere between the Electrolux and Maytag wall ovens. The GE Profile wall oven has a more discrete control panel and larger oven window than the Maytag, but it's not quite as nice-looking as the Electrolux. The GE Profile wall oven is feature-rich, with glass touch controls, several self-clean cycles, a covered bake element, delay timer, proof model, door lock and more. Three oven racks allow for seven possible positions. The GE Profile bakes and broils as well as the Maytag wall oven. It comes in black, white or bisque. The stainless steel version is the GE Profile PT916SMSS (*est. $2,100) . The double-oven version is the GE Profile PT956WMWW (*est. $2,500) , with an upper convection oven and lower standard oven.

A smaller, less expensive convection wall oven is the Frigidaire Gallery GLEB27S7CB (*est. $830) . This is a 27-inch wall oven (the Maytag, GE Profile and Electrolux Icon above are 30-inch ovens), so interior capacity is about 3.4 cubic feet, compared to about 3.8 cubic feet for most 30-inch wall ovens. The interior width is 20 inches, compared to about 24 inches for 30-inch wall ovens. The Frigidaire Gallery gets good scores for baking and broiling. It has a self-clean cycle, three oven racks, an interior light and a door lock. The oven window is very small compared to other wall ovens, and its controls are not as sleek as those of Electrolux. One unusual feature is the Frigidaire's side-hinged door, which makes it easier to access the oven without reaching over the type of drop-down door included on most wall ovens. The Frigidaire Gallery wall oven comes only in white or black. A stainless steel finish isn't an option.

If you're not stuck on having a convection oven, you can save yourself some money without losing other convenience features. The 30-inch Whirlpool RBS305PRQ (*est. $850) features a 4.3 cubic foot capacity, an advanced temperature control system, self-cleaning, a child lock, electronic touch controls and a custom broil feature. There are no major reviews and ratings of this model, however. Still, Whirlpool’s ovens and ranges in general ranked second in a J.D. Powers customer satisfaction survey. It comes in black, white, or you can spend more to get the stainless steel version (*est. $1,050).

The Jenn-Air JJ8530DDW (*est. $1,400) doesn't have a convection feature, but it does have a high-end look, with discrete controls and a very large oven door. The 30-inch Jenn-Air wall oven has about a 4.0 cubic-foot cavity -- larger than most. In addition to self-cleaning and a door-lock, the Jenn-Air has a keep-warm function and a covered bottom element, so spills won't burn or smolder on an exposed heating element. Reviews say the Jenn-Air excels in baking. The catch is that Jenn-Air's repair record isn't great compared to Maytag, Frigidaire, GE or Whirlpool. Owner surveys say that about one in five Jenn-Air wall ovens need major repairs at some point. For about $350 more, you could get the GE Profile PT916WMWW wall oven, which has a convection feature and a nice look.

Important Features: Wall Ovens

When buying a wall oven, there are some primary considerations. 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.

• 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.

• Consider control placement. Controls that are practically hidden may look great, but they can be less convenient to use and read.

Steam ovens

Professional chefs have used steam ovens for years to produce moist, tender meat and crusty bread with a soft inside. Home steam ovens are just starting to appear on the market. This new kitchen appliance claims to cook food more healthfully. These ovens use a combination of steam and traditional radiant heating to penetrate deep into food, melting the internal fats, while still leaving the food moist. Consumer Reports tested three steam oven ovens. Editors say that claims that steam ovens cook healthier food are unfounded. Steam ovens are also smaller than regular ovens. Some are countertop models about the size of a microwave, and others are wall ovens.

The Miele Navitronic DG4080 (*est. $2,150) is a convection steam wall oven that has an interactive menu system. This wall oven is only 24-inches wide, and since part of the interior is occupied by the water reservoir, interior capacity is only about the size of a large microwave. Sharp has a countertop steam oven, the Sharp AX-700S Superheated Steam Oven (*est. $1,300), but its capacity is only 0.9 cubic feet. In tests, no steam oven produced food that was better tasting or healthier than food cooked in a conventional oven.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)	Details from Amazon.com
4	GE and GE Profile (*est. $580 to $4,250)	details
2	Maytag (*est. $550 to $2,250)	details
2	Thermador (*est. $1,130 to $5,220)	details
2	Whirlpool (*est. $750 to $1,650)	details
1 each	KitchenAid , Frigidaire , Miele , Maytag , Viking , Electrolux , Bosch , Stove Genus, Kenmore

In tests, most wall ovens perform within a fairly narrow range of good to excellent when it comes to baking and broiling. However, there are larger differences in reliability and capacity. Although homeowners and experts like convection cooking, the necessary convection fan takes up some of the interior capacity, so convection ovens are a bit smaller. In addition, while design and appliance enthusiasts like high-end brands such as Thermador, Viking and Jenn-Air, these brands are historically more trouble-prone than Kenmore, Maytag, Frigidaire, GE or Whirlpool ovens. Electrolux wall ovens have a high-end look, and although we did not see specific reliability ratings for Electrolux, this company also makes the Frigidaire brand, which does have a good reputation for a lower occurrence of repairs.

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