How many ovens do you have?

[Crumbelina]

First world problem alert!

We're in the process of designing a kitchen in the forever home and I'm planning to have one full size oven in a tall unit, with a combination microwave oven and warming drawer in another tall unit (as per the picture).

I'm planning on doing a lot of hosting including Christmas dinners and possibly catering for up to 10-12 people at a time. With this in mind, would this configuration be enough or should I opt for two single ovens and one combination microwave/oven/warming drawer in 3 tall units. DH thinks I'm insane to want this many, which is fair enough.

Can I ask what oven configurations you have and if it's enough for you? Do you wish you had another oven or do you rarely use a second or third oven? We've ruled out a range cooker as I prefer the look of a built in oven (e.g a Neff)

I've only got one tall unit in our new kitchen (apart from built in fridge freezer) so have got an oven and microwave oven.
I'm happy with my decision but it's not in yet 😂

I have two single ovens, one microwave which is also an oven and a warning oven, and a steam oven. Too much ? Maybe, but it's nicely balanced and I've always enough room.

2 full sized side by side ovens, and a wall mounted microwave in the utility room (off the kitchen). Family of 5, but entertain quite a lot, definitely wouldn't go back to a single oven.

The only thing that I'd be wary about is the reliability / effectiveness of combi microwave ovens. They generally all get pretty poor reviews.

We cook fairly regularly for 20-ish (including Christmas dinner) with one standard-size oven and a separate microwave and that's fine. The bit that gets inconvenient is only having four hobs. An extra hob or two would make much more difference than an extra oven.

2 ovens (one big one small) + a microwave

I've got 2 good size ovens & separate grill in range cooker and separate combi microwave.

I use the second oven whenever I do a roast dinner (even if just for me and DC) as it means the meat can continue to cook at a lower temp while I put the temp up on the first oven for the Yorkshires, roast veg etc. I love it.

If you've got the space definitely go for 2/3 ovens.

One single oven and no microwave.

Two full size ovens side by side and a separate microwave. We were going to have a range but preferred the idea of no crumb collecting gaps!

I have a range cooker, it has two ovens, seperate grill and slow cook.
I don't like counter top microwaves either, we built our micro into the wall between the kitchen and utility room.
Even when it's just DH and me at home I love the combination. I use the slow cooker a lot.

Three oven electric Aga with AIMs and a single oven Neff for summer.

If you can, revisit the plan and put another single oven in. We have your configuration, which is fine for us as only max of 4. Colleague has larger family and really needs the second full size oven.

Hmm, reading your responses I'm definitely being swayed towards having an extra oven as I doubt I'll regret it. DH will be but I've waited almost three years for this kitchen with a microwave/ combi oven and a portable induction hob.

Bouncy, no danger of not being able to include an extra one - my kitchen currently looks like this!

Sorrels, I love the colour of your kitchen units! We're hoping to have something very similar. I wanted to have a DeVol kitchen in pantry blue but their prices are way too expensive for us.

We had originally planned for a built in oven, with a built in combination oven/microwave and warming draw alongside as per your picture above.
However, when we came to buy the combination oven/microwave we found that:

1. They were crazy expensive
2. Both the oven and the microwave were compromises

..so we opted for 2 full sized ovens in the end and a separate microwave.

Much cheaper and actually has been a godsend. Super handy to be able to cook things on 2 separate temperatures simultaneously. Also one oven can double up as a 'keep warm' oven - so very flexible.

If we were designing another kitchen in the future, we'd definitely go for 2 full sized ovens.

Nothing to do with cookers, @Crumbelina, but your kitchen looks identical in size and shape to ours. We have a range cooker with induction hob.

I currently have one built in oven and a combi microwave. Having gone from a big range cooker and a combi microwave in our previous house I find I am really missing having the extra oven space whenever i am cooking for a lot of people. Get two ovens.

My kitchen is old now but I have a standard size built in convection/fan oven, with a combination microwave/grill/convection oven on top.

I have often cooked Christmas dinner for 12 with those, and found it fine. I use the smaller oven a lot - it's plenty big enough for most things inc. e.g. a large roast chicken.
For the usual Christmas dinner with a big turkey, I'd time it to be ready at least an hour before sitting down, wrap it in foil with a couple of tea towels on top to keep warm. Plenty of room then for potatoes, pigs in blankets, etc.

If space is no problem then I can see that 2 big ovens plus microwave would be good. If space is limited then although combi microwaves are expensive I do think they're worth it.

Another vote for 2 ovens and a microwave. This is what I'm going for.

Be careful with the more expensive built-in combi microwaves: bizarrely the microwaving functions can actually be quite lacking.

We put in a new kitchen last year and fitted a six burner range which has two ovens and a grill. We also have a separate mircowave. Previously we had a single oven/grill, 4 burner hob, and microwave.
I find that's enough for our needs. We are a family of 4 but regularly have friends for dinner and several times a year will host 20-odd. I've found having 6, rather than 4, burners and extra counter space has made the biggest differences to the ease of hosting.

If you have the space deffo go for 2 full size ovens plus the combi.

We only have one oven, but have a separate grill. I once lived in a (rented) house with a single oven which allegedly also grilled. First, the grilling was rubbish, second, I need to use both at the same time. Would your combi oven also grill?

I have exactly your combination in your first photo.
I use both regularly.

I have very very occasionally not had enough space, but cater for 8/12 once or twice a year.

Crumbelina Thank you! Our units are Second Nature Fitzroy painted (Hartford Blue) from Units on Line.

I've got two ovens, a steam oven and a built in microwave.

Oh no, Buttwing! Don't start tempting me with a steam oven!

Miaow, we've been the same previously. I've never owned more than one oven and our new kitchen is only going to be big because DH and I have taken on the builder/project manager role and renovated the rest of our house ourselves over the past 3 years (which has almost broken us!).

Sheepy, our combi oven would have a grill as well but I'm definitely noting comments above about how expensive built in combi microwaves can be and the lack of value for money.

I think I'll plan out the units in the extension a bit later with masking take and see how much the run of units encroaches across the room but I'm definitely leaning towards 2 single ovens and a combi. Another reason I can't have a range is that we're not having a gas supply in the kitchen (mainly as it was too much hassle). Will definitely go for an induction hob though - I love them (and how easy they are to clean).

I've also noted that Harry and Meghan are having a spring wedding so DH needs to work to this date so I can host a boozy party in my finished kitchen extension. He was very at my announcement.