What's so great about eye level ovens?

[Wetherby123]

Designing our kitchen and everywhere I look i see eye level ovens. I feel like i prefer the under counter but what am I missing?

Out of reach of children- Just my children that are more likely to walk into the open oven door at head height or try put hands up then? At least with under counter I'm a physical barrier

Space for drawers under hob- what's with all the kitchen designers putting cutlery under the hob? Last thing I need when cooking is people constantly trying to get in for a spoon etc.

Less bending- This one I get, but people managed for decades. Counter argument. Isn't it easier all the cooking appliances being in a direct line? When you get something out of the oven you can rest it directly on hob without walking about

Then there is the obvious reduction in worktop space that comes with eye level

I hated mine I’m just too short

It may depend on an individuals height?

You can modify the height - eye level for 5ft 10 is not eye level for 4ft 11.

I have one fitted to my preference - so the door opens to more or less at my waist.

It is a little higher than our counter tops which we modified to our hip height. It works well.

We have space on both sides to put the hot dishes down.

It works very well, and it is safer in my opinion - no dripping etc.

Safer for heavy dishes - our main oven is from my waist height upwards. The top oven is bigger than would have fitted under the counter.

I don't understand microwaves up at eye level I think that would be really tricky with hot stuff. But an oven in a tower is really good, far better than bending down all the time.

I’m not sure how high some of these ovens are! Mine’s a double oven and I don’t lift anything up high to put things in, it’s the perfect height. I’m 5’7”

Ice got one of each
Much prefer the eye level
The builder measured me to get it right.
Children far more likely to touch the lower door/ knobs on the lower ones
I love just being able to see at a glance not bending down .

I burn myself less often on the oven shelves when reaching in since going to a high oven, maybe because I'm tall but I prefer it.

I've used all types of domestic ovens: low down, half way up, eye level, above eye level. It is all about how you can lift safely at your time of life. Personally I now prefer main oven in line with worktop, grill/small oven over that, drawers beneath both and above grill. I have also had a fridge under worktop that did not have shelves but drawers that did not spill into lower areas and could be removed for cleaning with disturbing other areas. Only have what you can easily cope with.

I love wall ovens, would never go back to under counter ones. Can see what is happening in the oven on wall

My double oven sits a few inches below worktop height, with pan drawers below and a cupboard full of baking tins above. It’s the perfect height.
Induction hob has a cupboard below with baking dishes and Le Creuset casseroles etc.
Ive just realised that one of the reasons I prefer this set up is that I don’t have to stand in front of a hot oven when using the hob.

I can’t understand why you would want an under counter one. The level is so much easier as there’s no bending down and lifting. So much easier to clean as you don’t need to get down on your knees.

We have x2 eye height (ish) with doors that open and tuck in. They are great. Easy to see things coook, not stooping to pick up hot or heavy trays etc.

Much prefer our oven in the wall unit. But it’s not eye level, that would be too high! The bottom of the oven is about the same height as the worktop so it’s really easy to move heavy dishes in and out without bending. (It’s a 1.5 oven but we don’t use the top oven very much tbh except at Christmas). Underneath is a drawer for baking tins and above is a cupboard for things we use less often.

I like not having to stand in front of the hob with a hot oven at my legs.

Also DD likes to bake, so she can get on with her baking whilst I am cooking at the hob, and I don’t have to get out the way for her to take things in and out.

We don’t have a cutlery drawer under the hob, that would be annoying - we have a utensil drawer (so the things you would be using when you cook anyway) and also cooking ingredients.

Personally it’s brilliant if you’re older with back problems. PS: thanks for some of the most mumsnet answers ever - hate eye level can’t wait to go back to a range oven. 😀

You don’t lift anything higher to a wall mounted oven as some are saying. My oven is carrying height! Maybe a bit higher for top shelf. I do have a combi oven above and yes, that’s higher, but I don’t put a big casserole or the turkey in it.

Ive only had wall unit ovens for 45 years but I also have an under counter one. (3 ovens here). I find I tend to use the wall one most.

Under the ovens I have a big pull out 2 tier drawer for roasting pans and baking trays. Under the other oven (under mounted) are my casserole dishes and gratin dishes etc). I have separate cutlery, utensil and crockery drawers. I’d certainly just have wall mounted and no one has ever run into the door when open but, if it’s open, I’m near it!

I have two ovens stacked on each other. There is room below for a very big drawer, in which I keep baking tins and cake tins. Not stuff people generally want access to while I’m cooking. It’s great having the ovens a bit higher up, for those days when my back aches, it’s really helpful.

I have the Neff hide and slide one too. Love it. Much prefer having higher ovens.

We have two, mid-hight and high with a cupboard underneath ... But I didn't notice until the kitchen went in (my bad) that the top one is really too high for me to use safely. No problem for DH though.