Oven - Neff vs Miele vs AEG

[cunningplan101]

We're looking to buy a single built-under oven and I think I've narrowed it down to these three brands but the different models and versions are still making my head spin!

Our budget for the oven is anywhere between £500 and £1300 ... We'd be willing to splash out if the extra build quality and features are worth it though if they don't make much difference, we'd prefer to not go to the maximum. We will be having an AEG induction hob and extractor.

Does anyone here have a recent Neff/Miele/AEG single oven? Are you happy with it? What features do you like most? How did you make the final choice on your oven - did you go to a showroom where you could actually see it and feel the weight of the door and quality of controls etc before buying?

I'm especially wondering about a steam combi oven - i.e. a regular oven that can also do steam cooking ... Anyone have one of those and how have you found it? We do cook fish and steamed veg a lot.

And what would be really helpful - do you know anywhere in London that has Neff, Miele & AEG models on display?

Thanks!

Not sure how useful this is, but I have had an AEG oven for a few years and it’s been absolutely brilliant. I chose mine (towards the bottom of your prize range) because according to Which it was the most accurate and stable in terms of oven temperatures. Apparently on quite a lot of ovens the number on the dial or the display bears little relation to the actual temperature in the oven. Hot/ cold spots are another thing to look out for, especially if you do any baking.

I’m sure Miele ovens are great, but no doubt come with a price tag that reflects that. I associate Neff more with trendy, but not necessarily particularly reliable ovens. I’m not sure if that is a fair assessment, but do remember seeing quite a few negative Neff reviews when I was doing my research!

I’d recommend taking out a trial subscription to Which. It’s totally worth it if it stops you from buying an expensive oven that isn’t quite what you hoped it would be!

Our Neff oven has a very bad thermostat. Got the engineer out to check and he said there is a 10% tolerance - which explains why I have to put it on 200 to cook things at 180... it doesn’t heat evenly either. Mine is a fan oven about 8 years old.

Thanks both.

@Crazzzycat One of the reasons I'm considering AEG is because of the Which ratings. So that's good to hear yours has lived up to it for you. It's just a shame that the Which ratings are a bit out of date now.

@PantTwizzler I have read a few dodgy reviews of Neff ovens but they do seem very popular.

I know people love the Neff slide-and-hide door but probably less useful for a built-under oven? The one other feature that sounds good is that they have CircoTherm which supposedly allows you to cook things at different temperatures which could be useful as our only oven.

I think really I'm leaning towards AEG. It's just that they seem less popular here compared to Neff and Miele - I guess perceived as less of a 'premium' brand? But the main thing is that it cooks things well

We currently have a 10-year old Ikea oven with a broken grill, so whatever we get is going to be a huge improvement.

I had an AEG oven in the old house - was great & i'd get another.

Whatever you get, for that money ensure it's a pyrolytic self cleaning one.

I had a Neff oven for 15 years and it was brilliant but when I tried to buy a replacement the build quality was nowhere near as good as the old one.

After trailing around various shops I bought a Miele as the insulation and temperature accuracy was so much better than anything else on the market. It also has a triple glazed door.

It was expensive but is so good and hopefully will last a long time.

Almost all my kitchen appliances are AEG, as is my washing machine and my dryer. I’ve not had problems with any of them. It’s all well designed and built to last, so I wouldn’t worry too much about them being less popular here. It just means that you pay a bit less of a premium.

Anyway, I’ll shut up now before anyone accuses me of being an AEG rep 😂

@fairislecable If this isn't too stupid a question, which shops did you trail around? a lot of the dealers for these seem to be high-end kitchen companies that sell their own kitchens ... so I'm not sure they'll be too happy with me visiting their showroom just to look at appliances.

thanks @FurierTransform will make sure

We bought AEG for all appliances last year and no complaints!

DD has an AEG. I’ve attached a picture of it. It seems well built.

I have the Miele as attached. You pay for them but it’s a truly wonderful bit of kit! It’s build quality is above Neff and AEG and it’s just way above an ordinary oven. We pushed the boat out to have it and I wouldn’t have anything else. But.... try and have it at eye level. That’s what it is designed to be.

I went with a Bosch oven. All of my appliances were based on Which Best Buys. Am really happy with my over thus far. It doesn't require pre-heating, reaches great temperatures and cooks really well. Got it for under £400 too.

Thanks @Guymere and @Smallgoon

@Guymere That's AEG's SteamBake oven, one of their mid-range ovens. We're considering their SteamPro which is their top range (though I'm not sure how much difference that really makes). What sets apart the Miele for you? Do you think the build quality will make it last much longer? Or better quality cooking results? If we bought a Miele, it would be one model down from yours I think - the ContourLine h7164b. But it would have to be built under.

I think the build quality of the Miele is top class. It’s a very well made oven. It has precision controls. It’s a bit like a Porsche. It’s well put together and has a German solidity about it. I think the cheaper models are well built too.

I went for the expensive (Mid range) one because it had oven programmes I wanted and the pyrolitic cleaning.

I think DDs oven is mid range AEG. She doesn’t cook much but boyfriend does. It has a meat probe - he’s colour blind. It’s a perfectly decent oven and right for their flat. It’s built under. I just prefer to see what I’m cooking!

I’m completely rubbish and just went with the appliances that that the kitchen company offered which were all Neff. I’ve found them very reliable and have a slide and hide. Also have a separate steam oven which is brilliant

I went for Neff because of the slide and hide - I’m short so reaching for things out of the oven is a bit dicey if the door is in the way. As you say,
possibly less useful in a built under, unless you find the oven door gets in the way.

Happy with the Neff so far. I love the CircoRoast function which is sort of half oven half grill and really helps if you want a crunchy top on something - we had a Neff last oven but one and I’ve missed that function in between. Miele were just ridiculously expensive IMO - couldn’t justify the cost difference, as we are not high end bakers or anything like that!

Miele have a London showroom you can visit (in normal times...)

Miele have an Experience Centre at Abingdon.

I wouldn’t necessarily buy Miele if the overall house isn’t worth it. That’s why DD has AEG and that’s what we have in our holiday house. We have Neff in our London flat. So happy with all but the Miele is much better built - but you pay for that!

We went for a miele oven as the door was cold when the oven was on and we have a toddler who loves running around the house (oven is low level). Great oven and I don't worry about him hurting himself. Apparently they are legally allowed to run quite hot and it's hard to test them/find sales people who know!