2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33
When arranging a kitchen, most housewives try to keep as much free space as possible. A compact appliance such as a small oven can help with this. This device is not only small in size and light in weight, but also easily installed in apartments and summer cottages.
Peculiarities
A small oven differs from the usual large counterpart only in size. Whenever possible, it is as good as a standard oven to perform various functions. The set includes a baking sheet with a wire rack.
It is much easier to place this electric appliance in the kitchen space. This is due to its compactness. It will look great both on the table and in any niche of the kitchen set. However, the installation must take into account the need for free air circulation. For this, gaps are left on all sides of the oven.
Manufacturers offer a large selection of mini ovens in various colors. This variety facilitates the process of choosing this technique for a particular style of interior. So, the common metallic color will go well with the techno and hi-tech styles. And white appliances are suitable for a classic room design.
It is worth noting the rather high level of safety of the mini-oven, which is ensured by good ventilation and a well-thought-out cooling system.
Modern small models have all the additional functions you need. So, using a small oven, you can defrost food and reheat food. And for use in suburban conditions, there are models that are additionally equipped with two or more burners, which are an excellent alternative to the usual large gas or electric stove.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of a small oven is that it is shallow. Even housewives, who, due to the small area of the kitchen, cannot supply a standard stove with an oven, with its help they will be able to create culinary masterpieces. In addition, this equipment operates from a regular electrical outlet, so it is easy to install it in any kitchen.
But this technique has other advantages as well:
- low cost;
- quick preparation of even complex dishes;
- ease of movement;
- energy savings.
For a small family, a mini-oven is quite enough, since there is no need for large dishes. Its capacity corresponds to 2-3 servings of one dish. In addition, the smaller internal volume allows food to cook faster with less cooking energy. The fact is that a small space heats up much faster, and less time is required for cooking.
But there are also disadvantages to this technique. The main one is overheating of the device during long-term continuous operation. This is especially true for inexpensive models. Therefore, when cooking, you can burn your hands on the outside of the oven.
And another significant drawback is hidden in the small capacity. In order to prepare a festive dinner not only for the family, but also for the guests, you will have to spend a lot of time. In addition, it will generally not be possible to cook several different dishes at the same time in it.
How to choose?
In order to choose a small oven, it is necessary to decide not only on the external design, but also on the functionality of the appliance. Studying its technical characteristics, you should pay attention to the following cabinet features:
- energy consumption class;
- independence of modification;
- internal volume of the device;
- the presence of handles for transportation;
- the presence of a pyrolysis function;
- compliance with the price and a set of useful functions.
In terms of efficiency, mini-ovens are divided into several classes, which have a letter designation. Class A and B appliances consume the least amount of electricity.
To organize the kitchen space in the most rational way, it is better to choose an independent type of appliance. In this case, it can be installed anywhere, since there is no hob on it. If desired, they can be combined, but separate installation is also possible.
As for the capacity of the inner chamber, you can calculate it yourself. According to statistics, to prepare a portion for one person, a space of 8 liters is required. By multiplying this figure by the number of households, you can get the optimal size of the inside of the cabinet.
In order to make it easier to move the device during transportation (for example, to the cottage), the handles on the sides are simply irreplaceable. In addition, they will help to manipulate the oven with a minimum risk of falling and breaking.
If we talk about the cost, then it directly depends on the number of device options. When the mini oven is equipped with a microwave function, as well as a spit and grill, the cost can be quite high. However, such an expensive functionality will pay off with a wide variety of delicious dishes.
There are also cheaper options that assume only the basic functions of the device. Sometimes a simple model is enough if there are no avid chefs in the family.
In some cases, cleaning a small oven after cooking a greasy meal can be tricky. With the pyrolytic cleaning function, this task will be greatly simplified. The essence of the process is to heat the inside of the oven to a temperature that burns out all impurities. After turning off and cooling the device, it is enough to wipe it from the inside with a damp sponge or microfiber.
As for the dimensions of built-in ovens, their width may vary depending on the model and manufacturer, but the height is usually standard - 45 cm. Therefore, if a kitchen set is made to order, then a place for placing a mini-oven can be foreseen in advance.
In addition, when choosing, you should pay attention to the number of glasses in the door. There are models with one or two glasses on sale. In the first case, the door heats up too much, which threatens with burns, in the second, the temperature is acceptable.
Equally important is the presence of convection and a timer, even if this is a budget model. Given the level of development of modern technologies, you should not go back to the past. Moreover, this may threaten the overcooking of the dish or insufficient readiness of its inner part.
Operating rules
In order for the service life of a mini-oven to far exceed the period of its warranty, it is necessary to follow the rules of use and care. To do this, first of all, you need to make a high-quality and reliable connection to the network. In this case, it is desirable that other household appliances are not plugged into the outlet being used. The connection point must be in good working order, the contacts must not spark. Also, do not install a mini oven next to water. Moisture can cause short circuits.
As for proper and constant care, it can be done in several ways. To clean the interior surfaces, you can use one of the many special detergents on the market. But there is another option, which assumes the presence of a cleaning function in the device itself.
Top Models
Some modern mini ovens have already gained recognition among housewives.
For example, the best in terms of combination of functionality and price is considered to be the equipment of the German company Neff, more precisely, the model B15M42S3EU.
This luxury class technique has an excellent set of functions:
- preliminary defrosting;
- heating food;
- double-circuit grill.
The door is equipped with three glasses that reliably keep heat inside without overheating outside. During continuous operation at full power, the door temperature does not rise above 40 degrees. Thanks to the two heating circuits, you can cook two dishes at the same time in it. At the same time, the temperature for each dish is different.
In addition, the mini-oven is excellent for energy saving (class "A"). Considering that the technique sometimes has to work for several hours, this characteristic is very much in demand.
Among the expensive devices, the Italian model Smeg SC45MC2 can be distinguished. It combines the functions of an oven and a microwave. With its small dimensions, its capacity is 34 liters. It can be called the "Cadillac" among mini ovens, as it has almost all known functions:
- information panel (10 modes);
- grill with convection;
- fast cooling;
- sound notification;
- auto shutdown when opening;
- childproof control lock.
This multifunctional mini oven can cook almost anything and will become an indispensable assistant in the kitchen.
Whichever model is chosen, a small oven will become an indispensable assistant to the hostess in the space of a small kitchen. After all, it combines small size with versatility.
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