Built-in ovens: How we test
Only the best ovens manage even heat across both shelves of cakes
Oven temperature
To check that heat is evenly distributed throughout each oven, we use the British Standard small cakes test (BS EN 60350:1999, Clause 8.4.2, if you’re looking for it in the library). For each cake on the two full shelves, we ask: is it well-risen, uniformly cooked and an even golden-brown colour? The best ovens can give us 24 yes answers.
Grilling performance
Grills come under scrutiny too, but this time with toast. We covered the top tray with crustless white bread to see the size and evenness of the toasted area. Some only manage about 50%.
Some grills fail to toast evenly - our toast test separates the good from the bad
Temperature probe
We also check the basics, measuring how long the oven takes to preheat to 150°C, 180°C and 200°C, and checking the accuracy of its temperature controls.
Ease of use and cleaning
Practical tests rate the oven doors, shelves, controls and features. We also spread a mince and gravy paste on the oven base and one panel, margarine on the other panel, and bake them at 180°C for 30 minutes. We then check how easy the ovens are to clean by hand, and using the catalytic or pyrolytic functions if the oven has them.