Educate me about ovens

[Willdoitlater]

Planning new kitchen and wondering about ovens.

All the single ovens I've seen are described as 'built-in'. None are 'built-under'. The last time I was looking there was definitely a distinction. Are they universal now?

Why do most ovens have a drop down door (like a dishwasher) rather than a side hinge (like a fridge). I fancy a side opening but obviously no-one else does, so what am I missing?

How do I grill the top of an omelette in its frying pan, if all the ovens are closed door grilling now?

What else do I need to know?

I my only kitchen, I loved the way my oven door slid underneath so access was so easy. They’re made by Neff.

*only=old

Eeeek I had forgotten all about the oven I had as a student. It had a side opening door and I badly burnt my leg as it didn’t stay open and swung back into me.
Single ovens can be built under or built in, there is no distinction. Double ovens that are built under are slightly smaller than built in eye level ones.
Just flip the omelette??

@tryingtocatchthewind Ta for that info. I used to have an old gas cooker with a side hinged door and I cannot remember at all how I kept the door from swinging back. If I have to rely on having a level floor I have no chance. BTW There is no 'just' in flipping an omlette, its 'flipping' hard!

In fairness I can’t make an omelette to save my life, they just end up looking like scrambled eggs. Oddly I can make fabulous pancakes though!

@tryingtocatchthewind Ta for that info. I used to have an old gas cooker with a side hinged door and I cannot remember at all how I kept the door from swinging back. If I have to rely on having a level floor I have no chance. BTW There is no 'just' in flipping an omlette, its 'flipping' hard!

I bought a smeg under counter oven with a separate grill above it
It's great 👍🏻

Side opening oven doors tend to be on range cookers
Smeg range cookers have side opening doors

We found a Bosch single oven that lets you grill with the door open. It was a built in though.

Built in can be built in anywhere. If you want to grill in it, eye level mounting is best. Checking on your cooking is easier too. Look for various programs on the oven and it should be versatile and easy to clean. Build quality matters to me. I like an oven to feel solid with a door that closes smoothly.

The best ovens are Miele. Extremely well made and bigger inside than some. The Neff hide and slide are smaller inside due to the door sliding under the oven. Gimmick really. Much better are telescopic shelves - Miele have these. You don’t put your arms in the oven at all. You just pull out the shelf which sits over the open drop down door. Side hinged doors are found on commercial ovens but not residential ones.

Bosch, AEG and Miele are decent ovens. Don’t buy loads of features you won’t use. However pyrolytic cleaning is wonderful.

We found a Bosch oven that lets you grill with the door open. That was a built in single oven though.

Built in can be built in anywhere. If you want to grill in it, eye level mounting is best. Checking on your cooking is easier too. Look for various programs on the oven and it should be versatile and easy to clean. Build quality matters to me. I like an oven to feel solid with a door that closes smoothly.

The best ovens are Miele. Extremely well made and bigger inside than some. The Neff hide and slide are smaller inside due to the door sliding under the oven. Gimmick really. Much better are telescopic shelves - Miele have these. You don’t put your arms in the oven at all. You just pull out the shelf which sits over the open drop down door. Side hinged doors are found on commercial ovens but not residential ones.

Bosch, AEG and Miele are decent ovens. Don’t buy loads of features you won’t use. However pyrolytic cleaning is wonderful.

I fancy a side opening

There are plenty of commercial ovens that are side opening but I'm guessing you wouldn't want a commercial oven (plus, they're usually quite expensive as well)

The only domestic oven I've seen with a side opening door is Beko. An example is here:-

www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/bif22300xr/beko-bif22300xr-built-in-electric-oven

How do I grill the top of an omelette in its frying pan, if all the ovens are closed door grilling now?

The same as you always do. It's not that you are not allowed to grill with the door open, it's just that it keeps things hotter inside.

We have a Miele oven (by the way, as pp said, they are very good albeit relatively expensive) and this is what it says in the instruction manual about the reasons for keeping the door closed while grilling:-

Grill with the oven door closed. If you grill with the door open, hot air will escape from the oven instead of being cooled by the cooling fan. The controls will get hot.

You can get an omelette pan which goes under the grill with the door closed. It’s safer to have it closed. It’s really no big deal. If at eye level you can see what the grill is doing.

I do think with Miele the build quality is up a notch from Neff, Bosch and AEG. My DD has a nice new AEG which she bought at a brilliant price from John Lewis. The current price is very high! So always look for bargains!

Talking of ovens, (I'm planning a new kitchen). Is there any real point to a double oven? Currently got one, scarcely use the smaller oven and I would prefer the microwave to be built in. Am I cutting my nose off if I only have a single oven?

I have two ovens and a microwave oven. Depends on how many you cook for and how often. I couldn’t do Christmas lunch in a single oven but for an ordinary meal I can. One oven often means only one temperature so the slow low temp isn’t compatible with the fast intensive bake. That might not matter but I find two invaluable.

Lots of ovens will now turn the grill off while the door is open (“safety feature”) so you really can’t grill with door open. You will need a pan that can go entirely in the oven eg cast iron.

I have a Neff slide n hide. It’s ok - I’m short so I do find it useful to be able to stand very close to the oven rather than reaching in past the door. But I agree telescopic shelves would do the same job.

I hate cooking. An oven is only good for pies.

So I guess just the one will be fine!