Is it time to throw out the oven? Let's figure out whether a mini-oven will replace an oven and how they differ

What is a mini oven?

Modern technology develops so quickly that many do not have time to get acquainted with new products. In fact, mini ovens have been on the market for a long time, but for a long time they were used in narrow circles. Mini-ovens have exploded in popularity thanks to new models replacing the grill, microwave and oven.

The mini-oven runs on electricity. It is small in size and has varied functionality.

Equipment is produced to suit every taste and budget, and is available to all segments of the population, which cannot but captivate. What is true is that the lower the price of a mini-oven, the more shortcomings it has, and the fewer different tasks it can perform.

The range of functions of an average mini-stove:

• Convection. Promotes uniform baking of cake layers, pies and other dishes due to the uniform distribution of heated air.
• Grill. Allows you to cook delicious shish kebab, grilled chicken, deliciously bake any meat and poultry.
• Defrosting. Used to quickly defrost food from the freezer.
• Timer, sound indication and auto shut-off. Makes cooking safe and convenient. After the dish is cooked, the oven will signal and turn itself off.

Advantages and disadvantages

First of all, electric mini-ovens attract people with their size and numerous functions. Let us briefly list the advantages of the device:

• Compact and convenient placement. You can place the mini-oven on a table, shelf, or separate cabinet, or take it with you to the dacha.
• Advanced functionality - timer, auto shut-off, convection, grill and other features.
• Affordable price - there are models costing from 2000 rubles.
• Easy installation. All you have to do is plug in the electric stove and it will work.
• Modern design. The stylish appearance of the equipment allows it to harmoniously fit into the interior.

As for the disadvantages of the stove, there are few of them, and they are all relative:

• Small stove volume. The compact size of the device has a downside. You won't be able to cook a lot of food at once in a mini oven.
• Poor quality models. Some mini-ovens may have such disadvantages as slow, weak heating, inconsistency with the indicated power, poor quality of grates, baking sheets (deformed), and too short a cord. Many cheap stoves get very hot on the outside. If you touch glass or walls, you can easily get burned.

Comparison of mini-oven and oven parameters

Familiarization with the main characteristics and capabilities of the devices will help you make the right choice of a suitable kitchen assistant.

Possibilities

One of the main differences between the two units is their functionality. The functionality of a gas oven is the most limited - it can only bake. Certain types of electric ovens are capable of performing the same options as a mini-oven:

1. Baking;
2. Grill;
3. Toaster.

Dimensions

The mini-oven has compact dimensions, making it easy to place in a small apartment and does not take up much space. Plus, you can take it with you on a trip. On the other hand, the small size leads to a small capacity of the unit, which is why it will not be possible to cook a lot of food at one time.

The oven has large dimensions, which allows you to cook several dishes at once in large quantities. This is very convenient if there are more than three people living in a family. At the same time, you need to think in advance about where to install the device so that it fits harmoniously into the room.

Temperature Hold

The small size of the countertop oven gives it several more useful advantages:

• the device warms up very quickly and maintains the temperature longer;
• food cooks much faster;
• Electricity is consumed more economically.

In this parameter, the stationary oven is much inferior to its compact competitor.

Nutrition

A mini-oven, like an electric oven, works from a connection to the mains. Thanks to this, such a device can be used in houses where there is no gas pipeline. In operation, such units are safer than gas ones. On the other hand, if there is no electricity in the room, it will not be possible to cook food.

Only ovens operate on gas. They are cheap and do not depend on the location of the outlet and the availability of electricity in the house. They have one significant drawback - less safety than electrical products.

A heating element

In devices powered by electricity, there are two heating elements - one located at the bottom, the second at the top. Thanks to this design, you can use different heating modes to achieve different results. If you turn off the top heater, cooking occurs in gentle mode. To get a crispy golden brown crust, it must be turned on.

Gas versions do not have this opportunity - they have only one heater located at the bottom. It heats up the air and begins to circulate in the cabinet area, penetrating into the baked dish.

Timer

Only mini-ovens and electric ovens are equipped with this function. The display shows the remaining cooking time. This makes the cooking process easier and saves the housewife time.

Important! Even if you have a timer, you should not leave the unit turned on unattended for a long time!

Safety

The safety of using the device is influenced by the design features and additional capabilities of the models:

1. High thermal insulation will prevent the device from heating up from the outside, which minimizes the risk of burns;
2. Locking the doors of switched on equipment will also help prevent injuries;
3. Only use suitable utensils to avoid damage.

What is an oven?

An oven or oven is a familiar device for many for preparing pastries, baked meats and all kinds of casseroles. Very often combined with a hob - stove.

The oven can run on natural gas or electricity. This is a universal technique designed for preparing main dishes.

In fact, a gas or electric stove is sufficient to meet the needs of a large family. It allows you to cook in large portions, boil and fry if you want, or bake in the oven if you want. In addition, for many, the oven is indispensable for sterilizing jars. If desired, it can replace a fruit dryer, multicooker and other cooking equipment.

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Advantages and disadvantages

Progress does not stand still, and ovens keep up with the times. Yes, they are bulky, but they are also reliable and can be quite functional.

Pros:

• Large selection of gas and electric ovens.
• Good capacity, allowing you to cook several dishes at the same time.
• Reliability – the equipment lasts for many years.
• Safety. As a rule, ovens are equipped with thick glass and walls that remain at a comfortable temperature during cooking.

Minuses:

• Not every oven bakes well. Problems are especially often found in gas ovens - the bottom of the baked goods burns, the biscuit does not rise, and in general the dishes do not turn out as tasty as we would like.
• Impressive dimensions. Before buying an oven, you need to think about where and how to place it. Many people integrate technology. But in any case, it takes up a lot of space and can be inconvenient in a small kitchen.
• High fees for additional features. Ovens with advanced convection, timer, grill and defrost are several times more expensive than simple stoves.
• Difficult installation. Only specialists should install gas ovens. And electrical appliances as powerful as an oven can hardly be installed independently. According to the rules, it must have a separate power line from the electrical panel and a power outlet.

How to choose?

Seeing all the variety of mini-ovens, it is not so easy to decide on the required model. After all, among them there are a lot of good specimens, distinguished by both low price and decent quality. At the same time, some people want to buy an oven primarily for baking, while others care about the dimensions of the device. However, there are a number of criteria by which, as a rule, the choice is made.

One of the main parameters is the volume of internal space. Of course, the larger oven capacity will allow you to cook dishes for more people.

However, if it will be used infrequently for this purpose, then it is better to pay attention to more compact models. In addition, a small volume will save on electricity

Typically, a stove is chosen based on the fact that a capacity of 10 liters is sufficient for two people, and 20 liters for four people. Ovens with a capacity of up to 45 liters are perfect for those who like to frequently organize large-scale celebrations. When everything becomes clear with the volume, you should move on to the operating modes of the furnace. It is desirable that the upper and lower heaters can be turned on both together and separately. This allows for more even baking. It’s convenient when you can add power to the top heater to make the crust more beautiful. But for frying, it’s better when you can turn on only the lower heating element separately.

Additional features may vary by model

The presence of forced air rotation is very important. This allows the oven to heat more evenly

The fan is responsible for this function. Convection ovens can cook food much faster, saving time. Defrosting also reduces cooking time.

If your oven has a thermostat, you can control the temperature. This function is not available in the simplest appliances, which are suitable for preparing a limited number of dishes. However, over time, more and more manufacturers are introducing this option into devices. The requirements for the inner surface should be higher, since it must be resistant to mechanical stress, high temperatures and easy to clean. Modern stoves tend to fit all of this and last for many years.

The power depends on the size of the oven and it is quite normal that the larger it is, the higher the electricity consumption will be. Medium models often consume from 1 to 1.5 kW. It is also worth considering that higher power allows you to reduce cooking time. The presence of additional baking sheets and trays makes working with the oven more convenient. There are models that notify with sound that the dish is ready.

It is important to pay attention to the controls, which can be mechanical or electronic. In the first case, you have to set the temperature yourself and control the cooking. As a result, you have to constantly be near the stove, which is not always convenient.

The electronic control system frees you from all this. However, when such control fails, it will be more difficult to repair.

As a result, you have to constantly be near the stove, which is not always convenient. The electronic control system frees you from all this. However, when such control fails, it will be more difficult to repair.

Safety when working with the stove is very important, so it is worth checking how hot the stove body gets. It is optimal if the temperature of the external surface does not exceed 60 degrees. Price is another important parameter. For some, a certain stove model will seem too expensive, while others will consider that the price-quality ratio is optimal and ideal for the kitchen.

Everything here is very individual, but it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the models you like in advance to make sure you don’t have to overpay. Before making a choice, it would be a good idea to read real customer reviews in order to better understand how well this or that oven corresponds to the stated benefits.

For an overview of electric mini-ovens, see the following video.

What is the difference between them?

Both an oven and a mini-oven are usually purchased for one purpose - to bake food and prepare pastries. Both types of technology are capable of solving the problem. But you need to understand the difference between them:

• The mini-oven is small in size. There are mini-stoves with a volume of 8-9 liters. While the volume of a standard oven is 50-70 liters, and maybe up to 162 liters.
• Mini ovens usually run on electricity, while ovens come in both electric and gas.
• Ovens are most often supplemented with a hob, while mini-ovens only bake food.
• Mini ovens have more diverse functionality at a lower cost.

Table with characteristics for comparison

Many mini-ovens are as efficient as full-size ovens. At the same time, they consume significantly less electricity.

To prepare meals for 1-3 people, it is more profitable to buy small stoves. When baking 1 kg of hot wings in a large cabinet, a significant portion of the electricity is wasted simply to heat the air.

Comparison of mini-oven and oven in the table:

Good to know. Mini ovens come with burners. Example – Ariete Bon Cuisine 600, Rolsen KW-2626HP. They can completely replace an electric stove. You can bake inside the cabinet, and stew, boil and fry your favorite dishes on top.

Which is better to choose?

Essentially, a mini oven is a compact version of a standard oven. Both types of technology have strengths and weaknesses, and are best suited for different situations:

• An oven is better for a home where you cook a lot and often.

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• A mini-oven is better suited for a country house, a small apartment, a single person or a married couple.

Advice. If the family is large, you can choose a large electric oven with a volume of 40 liters. It is more compact than an oven, and at the same time can accommodate a whole turkey.

Oven or electric mini oven?

So, let's figure out what a mini-oven or electric oven is and how it differs from an oven. What are its advantages and, conversely, disadvantages, compared to an oven.

The main difference is volume. Mini-ovens are compact tabletop devices that can be placed anywhere in the kitchen at home or in the country. You don’t need to dedicate a whole cabinet for them; a mini-oven can be placed on a countertop or on a shelf in a closet. They have less power than ovens, so they do not require heavy electrical wiring.

The main advantage of mini-ovens is that, in addition to their main functions, they can replace devices such as an oven, toaster, and grill. At its core, a mini-oven is an ordinary oven with additional functions, such as grilling or the ability to defrost food. But besides this, this device has a huge number of functions that significantly simplify the process of cooking.

Which is better according to reviews?

Judging by the reviews, people who abandoned the oven in favor of a mini-oven are generally satisfied. Comments from discussions on the forum:

Oleg:

“I worked in a household appliances store for a long time. A mini-oven is something like an oven, the size of a microwave. The functionality is good, provided that there is convection and grill. If you cook in small portions, for 1-2 people, then it will come in handy.”

Alexei:

“For a small kitchen, a mini-electric oven is what you need. I threw out the oven as unnecessary. I put a washing machine in its place. I didn’t notice any difference between the oven and the stove. But I saved a lot of space. I also need to take the microwave to the dacha. Although the food takes longer to heat up in the oven, it does so evenly and without an unpleasant hum.”

Mikhail Klyuchikov:

“Electric ovens have always been better than ovens, especially gas ovens. I am the happy owner of a “Cedar” mini-stove. Domestic manufacturer, by the way. Very simple in appearance, with two trays and without any regulators. Cheap, but has been working for eight years. He bakes cakes for Napoleon perfectly, all kinds of cookies, potatoes. And how delicious the carp is in it!! You'll rock. In general, you can make any delicacies.”

Lera:

“We bought a good electric stove. Yes, there was more space in the oven, but who needs it. We are completely satisfied with the volume of the mini-stove. The dishes there come out better than in a restaurant. You can even imitate a “Russian oven”. I cook in clay pots - in the morning I throw in the ingredients and put them in the oven, I come home from work, and a delicious dinner is ready.”

Advice. In order not to encounter negative aspects during the operation of the equipment, you should familiarize yourself with the ratings and customer reviews for specific models.