5 Reasons You Need a Second Oven
If you’re an avid cook or baker, two ovens will offer you more flexibility and capacity than a single one. You won’t have to scratch your head or stamp your foot while waiting for meals to cook during holiday feasts or when you have friends over for dinner.
Therefore, whether you settle on a double oven or a double wall oven, your cooking experience will never be the same again.
Here are five reasons why you need a second oven:
1. Two Ovens Will Save You Time
Time is a precious commodity in our fast-paced world. It is always a headache preparing multi-course meals (that your family will love) when you have minimal time to do so. And how about that special Christmas dinner that requires hours of preparation?
In such cases, two ovens will allow you to cook more meals simultaneously and save on time. And you won’t have to reheat your already cooked food in a microwave if you’re doing batch cooking since you can let one oven be in the warming mode.
With two separate compartments, a double oven is a game-changer in a modern kitchen. The appliance carries the capacity of two ovens while using the space of a single-oven range.
On the other hand, a double wall oven provides twice the capacity of a single range and extra features. Unlike the conventional oven, this inbuilt oven features a fan that circulates hot air to facilitate convection (evenly distributed) cooking.
2. Two Ovens Allows You to Use More Than One Cooking Method
A double oven allows you to customize your meals by using different cooking modes. And these technique options will depend on your type of double oven.
For instance, if you have a double-oven range, you can bake your strawberry and cherry pie in the smaller, top compartment while roasting your meat in the larger bottom one. So, you won’t have to worry about overcooking or undercooking any of your meals due to miscalculated temperatures.
3. A Second Oven Helps Prevent Cross-Contamination
If any of your family members experience food intolerance or allergies, you know how essential it is to keep some foods (flavors) from their vicinity. If one of them has celiac disease, you wouldn’t want any ingredient with gluten coming into contact with their gluten-free meals.
Moreover, have you ever found some ‘stray’ flavors in some oven-cooked food? For instance, did your sponge cake smell like fish after baking them simultaneously in the same oven?
With two ovens, you no longer have to worry about flavors commingling. Therefore, you can prepare several meals separately without sacrificing your time.
4. Two Ovens Are Perfect for Large Families and Gatherings
Food preparation can be daunting for large families. While quality is a significant consideration, you’ll also want the quantity to be proportional to your family’s size.
Furthermore, preparing a fine meal for everyone can take several hours, especially when you have more than one dish on your menu.
Thus, two ovens come in handy when prioritizing quality and quantity. Hence, you won’t break a sweat when preparing gourmet meals for your large household. Additionally, you won’t have to worry about keeping your visitors waiting if you’re a generous entertainer.
5. More Capable Ovens Means More Value for Your Money
Although installing a double oven in your kitchen can have a toll on your finances, it is a wise investment. Most double ovens utilize innovative technology and have advanced features, including multiple cooking modes, self-cleaning and electronic timers.
Therefore, they’ll revitalize your cooking experience, making it more convenient and hassle-free. Moreover, you’ll have more time to attend to other crucial matters.
And installing a double wall involves upgrading your kitchen to add a modern touch. Therefore, your home will have a higher market value.
Can I Benefit From a Second Oven?
You can benefit from a second oven if you frequently prepare multi-course meals for a large family or friends. Moreover, two ovens will be advantageous when you want to prepare two (or more) dishes that require different temperatures.
So, you won’t have to juggle calculating their ideal temperatures and switching tray levels.
And with a double oven, you don’t have to incur additional installation costs. Therefore, you’ll benefit from extra cooking capacity without remodeling your kitchen.
Nevertheless, having two ovens is beneficial when you get the selection process right and maximize their extra features. Therefore, you’ll have to consider a few factors before getting yourself a double oven.
These include:
- The available space – If your space is not more than 30 inches, a double wall oven wouldn’t be an ideal option. So, you’ll have to choose between a single-wall or double oven.
- Required cooking capacity – Double ovens have an extra cooking capacity. However, the stated capacity can be smaller than the actual one. Hence, it’s best to confirm if the oven’s actual capacity meets your needs (or preferences).
- Your cooking routine – How often do you cook or bake? You don’t need a double oven if you’re rarely in the kitchen or only bake when hosting some guests (like once per year).
Do You Need a Second Oven?
You need a second oven if convenience, flexibility, and time-saving when preparing meals are your priorities. However, family and food preparation dynamics vary. Hence, two ovens wouldn’t be the best match for everybody.
However, you won’t need two ovens if:
- You have a small family and don’t cook often – A double oven won’t be a wise investment since you’ll rarely use the second oven.
- Have back problems – The lower compartment of a double oven is closer to the ground than in a normal single-oven range. So, you’ll strain and hurt your back when loading and offloading your meals.
- You are on a tight budget – Double range and double wall ovens are pricier than single oven ranges. Moreover, it might cost you a fortune to remodel your kitchen to install a double wall oven.
- You regularly do bulk baking – You don’t have to pre-heat (and use) two ovens as a single oven has multiple shelves to accommodate several baking trays.
- Have auxiliary appliances – Some appliances, including microwaves, toasters, grills, and rotisserie burners, are sufficient for people who don’t bake or cook often.
Two ovens can be great to have, but this is a little too much cooking capacity for many households. Always consider your cooking habits and needs before investing in a second appliance.
Do You Have Space for a Second Oven?
Many households don’t have space for a second oven and can benefit from a double-oven range, which averages 36 inches (91 cm) and often fits in the openings meant for standard single-oven ranges. Otherwise, you might have to renovate your kitchen to make space for a second appliance like an oven.
Nevertheless, you won’t be that lucky if you wish to have a double wall oven as it’ll require more space. And more room means remodeling your kitchen and incurring hefty renovation costs. Moreover, it requires sacrificing some storage space that you could’ve had in your kitchen cabinets.
Therefore, measure the size of your kitchen to determine if it can accommodate your preferred double oven before buying one. You can also consult a designer on whether your kitchen’s layout would accommodate two ovens.
Knowing the available kitchen space will help you determine the ideal type of double oven, including:
- Freestanding double oven
- Built-in double oven
- Slide-in double oven
Therefore, you’ll make a more informed decision when making your purchase.
Note: Your double oven doesn’t strictly have to be in the kitchen if you’re limited on space. You can transform your pantry or basement into a cooking space if you can spare some room there.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.