Thoughts on ovens

[Anjelika]

Getting a new kitchen fitted this year. Currently have a Neff built in double oven and a standard microwave out on the worktop.

Was going to go for another Neff built in double with a built in Neff microwave but kitchen designer is suggesting a built in single oven with a built in microwave/combi and warming drawer. The 2 units would sit side by side. We use the microwave daily so need it to be accessible as well as easy to operate and I fear the combi one will be difficult to operate and not as powerful.

Other option could be a built in double oven with current microwave in a cupboard which we used to have in a orevious house.

Any thoughts oh wise people of Mumsnet? The reason the kitchen designer is suggesting single + combi is because he thinks a double with microwave next to it will look uneven/unattractive.

We hardly use our microwave so it's in our large cupboard. We have a built in double oven.

I have just had a new kitchen installed and swapped my Neff double oven for a Neff single oven and a combination oven/microwave in stacked formation.

I am not a keen cook (I do cook and bake but mainly because I have to!) but so far it is all working out very well indeed.

Oh, I've put my old worktop microwave in the utility room, just in case...

I've used combi mic

Wrong button there. Have used combi microwaves for years - stand-alone, so no idea about the Neff models - and bloody love them. Default mode is usually microwave, so if you simply push for a couple of minutes operation that's what you'll get. It'll operate at full power unless its actually in combination mode which will indeed make it less powerful ime than solo microwave. Totally love combi mo

We have 2 Neff single ovens with a Neff Combi Microwave & warming drawer between them. Use the microwave all the time - but only as a microwave, have never used any of the other features (If I could have got a built in Neff microwave with no other features I would have but wasn't available!)
As a microwave it's fine - easy to operate and just as powerful as last microwave. However I don't know how it would work as a normal oven.

Clumsy fingers syndrome? Combi is great cooking from scratch, I use it a lot to soften up various veggies - squash or cabbage among others that would take forever if you just roast them. Some 20 min combi with microwave will make all the difference.

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like it will work OK for us. @FuzzyPuffling DH is planning to do exactly that, just in case 🤣🤣

The kitchen is a working room, it has to be functional and suit what you do in the kitchen. Who cares if it looks uneven?

@Anjelika

Thanks for all the replies. Sounds like it will work OK for us. *@FuzzyPuffling* DH is planning to do exactly that, just in case 🤣🤣

To be fair, I have used the old microwave.

I put something in the combi oven and then needed to microwave the broccoli!

I'll get used to it all eventually!

We have exactly what your kitchen designer has suggested, but
i went for a double warming drawer. Fitted 6 months ago.

The combi is easy to use as a microwave, it’s 2 more presses than just using a microwave. We are used to it now. The only time I wish had separate microwave is when both ovens are full and you just want to quickly heat something up or melt some chocolate or something.

I love having the 2 ovens. The double warning drawer means you can load it up with serving dishes, plates etc. I really like it.

We cook a fair amount, quite often have family round for big meals and it all works well.

The neff ovens also do all sorts of clever things but i haven’t read the instructions properly yet….

The double warming drawer meant a bit of a gap that the kitchen fitter put a drawer in, we used for oven glove and trays.

Does the warming drawer work even with neither oven on? For example, if we were cooking Spag Bol we'd use the hob only but warm the plates in the microwave. I'm hoping the warming drawer might be able to do that instead.

Yes warming drawer entirely separate appliance. Ours has 3 settings so you can slow cook in it too….

We have a double oven, with a combi microwave mounted above it so the "looks uneven" issue doesn't arise: it's just one single column of machines.

The combi works fine to be honest. We checked out the instructions for each one online to make sure we could start it in solo microwave mode by just pushing "start" for increments of 30 seconds, because that was how we always used the previous freestanding solo microwave we had.

@CasperGutman That's s as other option I guess. I think the microwave above our current double oven would be a bit too high to access easily. I have looked at instructions too to try and work out how easy the combis are to operate as a microwave. I think it will be a bit more faffy but hopefully we'll get used to it.

@Anjelika they're in a purpose-built "double oven plus microwave" housing from DIY-kitchens (link below), so the oven is a bit lower down than it would usually be. I don't find the microwave too bad. If anything, I'd say the compromise is that the oven is a little lower than it ideally would be, but it's still much better than an under counter oven.

www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchen-units/appliance-housings/double-oven-and-microwave/600mm-600mm-double-oven-plus-microwave-housing-unit---1970-high---total-height-2120-including-150-legs/wp17471/#.Ydbz42jP1aQ

I have 2 single ovens, side by side, with a freestanding microwave which I can hide if I need to. It's a very modern kitchen so looks well balanced.
I would say, though, check out sourcing/supplying your own appliances. I got a vastly better deal in mine by sourcing with AO and using vouchers where poss. Also, you have a wider choice going elsewhere as kitchen companies tend to have limited selections which aren't always efficient and almost never cost effective

@CasperGutman thanks for the link. I think we are getting more comfortable with the idea of a single oven and a combi/micro now. I like the idea of having the slide and hide door as well as a warming drawer.

@BlissfullyIgnorant we have been given a really good price for the single Neff oven from the kitchen shop and they price match vs the others. They can't source a Bosch built in dishwasher though so we need to get that ourselves.

Hi OP - just be aware that the controls on Neff microwaves (including the combi oven one) are a bit of a faff. You don't have buttons/presets, and have to use touch arrows to move the timer up and down. It's fine for us, but I know other people find it a bit awkward.

That said - I love our Neff appliances, and I would replace with the same in an instant if I needed to.