Cooking temperature
The cooking temperature range allows you to understand which special tasks are subject to the oven. The lower temperature from which the oven starts heating, usually, is in the range of +30 to +50 ˚C. So, for example, the minimum heating temperature at
+30 ˚C allows you to defrost products. Models with a minimum of
40 ˚C and
50 ˚C allow you to heat ready meals, heat tableware (before serving), dry crackers, etc.
Number of automatic programmes
The number of preinstalled cooking programmes stored in the oven's memory — usually designed for a specific dish or just
a defrost mode. If you have the appropriate programme, you do not have to keep track of the time, manually change the temperature and rearrange the dish in the oven — just put the ingredients there and start the programme, and the device will do the rest on its own. At the same time, unlike individual cooking modes (see above), the programmes are more complex — they provide changing temperatures, turning on special modes, turning off when time has elapsed, etc. The larger the set of automatic programmes, the wider the possibilities of the oven; their number in modern models can be in the tens. On the other hand, such programmes cannot be changed at will, so if you need both creativity and maximum convenience, you should pay attention to models with the ability to record
custom programme in memory.
Number of door glasses
The number of layers of glass in the viewing window of the oven door.
Modern models, usually, have from 2 to 4 glasses. The
more glasses, the less heat loss and the more economical the oven, but this parameter also affects the cost.
Door closer
The presence of an
automatic door closer in the design of the oven.
Such a device is responsible for pulling the door when closing, and in some models, when opening. The idea is that the user does not need to close/open the door completely — just pull it to the right place, and then the door will be smoothly brought to a fully open or closed state by the door closer. Such a system performs two functions. Firstly, it reduces to almost zero the risk of leaving the oven not completely closed (which is fraught with various unpleasant situations): the auto-closer is usually able to attract even a fairly wide open door. Secondly, such a device provides a very smooth opening and closing, without shock, which has a positive effect on the service life of the entire oven.
Guides
Type of guides for installing baking sheets that are used in the oven.
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Frame. Classic guides have the form of slots with protrusions in the side walls of the oven. This design is simple and inexpensive. However, it is not very convenient — when removing baking sheets, you have to pull your hand into a heated oven, which means you will need a mitten or potholder. And the extraction itself may require effort, especially if the guides are dirty and the trays go tight in them.
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Telescopic. Retractable guides on which the baking sheet “leaves” the oven, usually, immediately when the door is opened. Such devices are more convenient than frame ones, but they are more expensive and not suitable for all situations (for example, sometimes to check a dish you only need to open the lid without pulling it out). Therefore, in most models,
telescopic guides are only on one level. But
telescopic guides on two levels or even
three levels already classifies the device as a top segment.
Country of origin
The country in which, according to the manufacturer, this or that model is manufactured. Even though most of the capacities are concentrated in
China, European factories for the production of household appliances have not disappeared. And certain models can be produced on them. In general, such a division into a Chinese or European factory (
Germany,
Italy,
Poland,
Turkey) should not particularly affect the quality of products, but still the stereotype of a reliable European assembly is present in us. However, it is possible that the model may have a country of manufacture, for example, Poland, and in the store under the same article, you will meet China.