If you have a built-under single oven...

[Willdoitlater]

....how much space do you have in front of it to open the door and stand putting stuff in or out? And do you think its enough?

Anyone know what the absolute minimum required distance in front of a standard built under single oven is?

We have a slide and hide oven where the door slides underneath. Great if you have a compact space and no leaning over the door.

@Subbaxeo is it heavy or awkward to pull up/down?

It’s the height of the door plus feet length plus a bit extra because as you lean forward your bum goes backwards!

Can you not feed the oven from either side?

@tanstaafl well, can I put stuff in/out from the side? I'm moving from a built in with plenty of space in front, to a built under with very small amount of space in front. Only other experience is with cookers with side opening oven doors about 100 years ago! So any help with understanding the physical movements and amount of space required appreciated.

And to pre-empt the obvious question: no, I can't just go in a shop and try it.

We had a built under in my last house, the neff slide and hide is very smooth and light to handle. Loved it. They have them on Bake Off. I’m delighted to find the new house we’ve just bought has one too! They are pricey but Neff have a patent so you can only get them from that manufacturer.

To be fair I just tried only standing at the side for ours and no, you have to be in front to some degree.

The previous owners must have managed (unless this is a new build)
, Do you have a problem with the space that they didn’t ?

@tanstaafl I'm was hoping to move the oven to a part of the kitchen which is much narrower and would also change from built in to built under. That would solve one problem but create another I think. Could solve problem by getting an oven with a side-opening door, but mumsnet has already given its opinion on that!

I don’t understand the difference between built in and built under, other than under must mean under the worktop ?

Just had a play with my Neff Hide and side, and by moving a chair varying amounts, I reckon you need at least 80cm front clearance to get things in and out easily,

@ButForTheGrace That is exactly what I to need to know. Thank you so much for going to the effort of working it out.

I love my side opening oven door. Just saying.

Don't they say a kitchen island should be at least a meter away from other units? I would imagine that's what you should aim for.

@TheSandgroper the collective wisdom of mumsnet was worried that a side opening door can swing back onto you. How do you prevent this with yours? Is it incredibly stiff to pull open and closed so the door just stays in whichever position you open it to? TBH until I moved to my current home I'd always had gas cookers with side opening doors and never had a problem, but I'm older now and wonder if I used to do some clever manoeuvre I couldn’t manage now.

@Willdoitlater I don’t have that problem. Perhaps my cabinet maker took it into account - who knows. If anything, it will open all the way.

Mine is St George. An Australian company which I think is now gone to God. The cabinet makers commented on the firmness of the closing door. It makes a very satisfying thunk but I don’t find a problem opening it at all.

I use the lower half size all the time. I have it low because it has to last a long time and if I eventually need to, I can manage from a chair or something. And the top oven is ergonomically comfortable to use with heavy casseroles and the like.

Both doors stay where I put them.

Is this helpful?

@NotMeNoNo yes, ta