If you have 2 single ovens, do you use the 2nd one very often?

[Murtette]

I thought we'd finalised our kitchen design and had decided to go for a tower double oven with a warming drawer underneath but we're having last minute second thoughts (not ordered the kitchen yet so its a good time to have them) as there is no work surface adjacent to the oven so you have to take a minimum of three steps across the kitchen (and therefore across the path of rampaging toddlers) to get to a work surface. We'd convinced ourselves this would be OK but, really, is it worth the risk of colliding with a young child whilst carrying a massive, hot casserole? Both are likely to get splattered with the contents of the dish, if not the hot dish itself.

So, our options are under the counter options. We could go for a double under counter oven but, obviously, neither oven is that big. We have the room to go for two single ovens side by side but that seems excessive. If you have that set up, how often do you use both ovens? I'm thinking Christmas would be it. However, I'm conscious my DC are 3yr and 5mo and most friends' DC are all under 5 at the moment so, if we have a big get together, I can feed them out of the two casseroles I can squeeze in & surround with jacket potatoes whereas when the friends' DC are older & have bigger appetites, this may not work.

Any advice gratefully received!

Thank you

[OddBoots]

When faced with a similar decision we bought a combination microwave which functions as our second oven, this works well for us although I have got a small cheap second microwave in the futility room for those rare occasions we need both ovens and a microwave.

[Cheddars]

Our 2nd oven doubles as a grill but I do use it as an oven quite often. It's above the main oven so gets much hotter. It's great for doing things that need a hot oven like roast potatoes while you slow cook a joint underneath.

The main oven is a normal size oven with a smaller oven/grill above so no problems with size.

[AndrewD]

We're afamily of 4, cook lots and have guests often.

We have a range style oven that has a fan oven on the left and a conventional on the right. The fan oven is used on it's own about 95% of the time. We also have a combination oven microwave for when there's food cooking and a cake to bake. That probably takes up the slack. The right hand oven is very infrequently used. As you thought, possibly only at Christmas and even then most years we're not entertaining.

I would have preferred to get a single oversized fan oven and then have the microwave convection oven combo as back up.

I would guess you would regret not having the second oven a few times a decade!

I think the layout/safety question is much more important. Can you get one of those pull out shelves that can act as a surface for hot dishes coming out of the tower oven? If not, I would say go for the configuration with a surface closest to the oven. Kids tend to realise pretty quick not to touch the oven door when it's on.

[StuckInTheFensAwayFromHome]

Had the tower style double oven before and I really miss it now I just have a single. Means that plates can go in the top one and gently warm if you're cooking something in the other one. Can grill even if you are cooking something else, e.g. the top of cauliflower cheese while roast stuff is in the main oven.
Also I really prefered the height of it - so could easily look in to see how things are cooking or baking, as well as comfortable for taking heavy casseroles in and out/giving them a stir.
If space is a premium then I could live without it, but in my ideal kitchen its there.

[Florence37]

I have a Siemens main oven next to a combi steam oven with warming drawer underneath. They look great and cover all my needs. I actually use the steam oven most.

[ImperialFireworksInMyKnickers]

To me the height of the tower oven outweighs everything else, I love not having to bend down to use it.

[fresh]

We have a combination microwave as our second oven and I wouldn't be without it - we use it as microwave and conventional oven as needed. Plus it saves worktop space as we don't need a separate microwave. However, I don't think I'd want a below-counter microwave - ours is in a tower above the main oven.

[BigBirdisSaved]

I would choose safe worksurface over second oven any day of the week. Which are you going to use more, putting stuff on the counter or using two ovens?

[GuinevereOfTheRoyalCourt]

Another vote for a combi as a second oven. I've had this set up for 10 years now, and think it's a fantastic solution. Only downside is that combi ovens are expensive compared to conventional.

I'm quite well versed in screaming at the top of my voice "Get out the way this instant" if a small child decides to cross my path when I'm taking a casserole out the oven. At least I'm standing upright and not bent down under the counter so I can walk round the "obstacle" if necessary, though.

[IvanaHumpalotCountDracula]

I've got 2 single ovens stacked one on top of the other. I chose the Neff slide a way doors as I think the open oven doors are a hazard, and the telescopic rail.

We use both ovens a lot, Sunday roasts and when we have large amounts of people over. Also, when different dishes need different cooking temps.

[Katisha]

We have two single ovens side by side with a big hob over the top. One oven is gas and one is fan electric.

I wanted a gas one as I was used to it but I now never use the bloody thing as it's a "continental style" one that has the flames at the bottom and it burns cakes. I just havent got used to it. Tends to get used as overflow oven at Christmas and otherwise is a glorified roasting tray cupboard.

Looks good though. ANd never needs cleaning...

[MulledWineOnTheBusLady]

They really come into their own for roasts etc, so it depends how often you do them. I used to do a roast every week with two ovens but it's so much more of a faff now with timings and changing trays around in the one oven that I don't bother.

[Murtette]

Thank you, everyone, for your collective thoughts. I think we're going to stick with the tower. I hadn't thought of the combi oven but that will solve my "where to put the microwave" issue and the neatness of it will justify the cost (I tell myself!)