If it’s time to replace or upgrade your oven, one of the first decisions you must make is whether to choose a double oven or a standard oven. In order to decide if you need a double oven, start by thinking about the way you use your oven.
Do you use your oven daily? Does it get a workout around holidays then sit idle the rest of the year? Evaluate your usage to determine if a double oven is right for your kitchen.
Cooking in quantity
Are you the one who cooks Thanksgiving, Christmas and Mother’s Day dinners every year? Does your family tend to eat at home more often than not? A double oven might be perfect for you. With a double oven, you can cook larger quantities of your favorite dishes and have them all turn out evenly done. A double oven eliminates the need to switch dishes from the top to the bottom rack — and sometimes back again — during cooking.
Multiple dishes at multiple temperatures
You can set the two ovens to different temperatures to cook different dishes simultaneously. With a standard oven, there’s usually a tradeoff: One dish gets slightly overcooked, another gets underdone or your side dishes get cold while you wait for your entrée to finish. With two ovens, you can have the side dishes cooking in the top while the main dish cooks in the bottom.
Warming while cooking
Sometimes, timing all the components of a big meal to be finished and hot simultaneously is the toughest part of making a big meal. If you’re prone to making timing mistakes, a double oven might be a great solution. One of the two ovens can serve as a warming zone to keep completed dishes at the right temperatures while the second oven continues to bake, roast or broil the rest of the meal.
Cost
A double oven will be more expensive than a standard oven. Depending on the size and features you choose, the difference can be huge. If you’re the type of cook who prefers the microwave (or take-out menus), the expense probably isn’t worth it. However, if you have a big family, if you like to cook multiple dishes for each meal or if you’re the go-to chef for big gatherings of friends and family, a double oven might be the solution to many of your cooking challenges.
Transform your oven
Find out how to make an existing single oven cabinet work for a double oven.
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