If you regularly cook several dishes at once, start by looking for a built-in oven with a fan-assisted setting. Then check how the exact model performs in multi-level cooking tests and how accurately it controls temperature. If you’re replacing an oven, first check the dimensions of the housing, ventilation requirements and electrical connection. Steam, AirFry and pyrolytic cleaning may suit other needs, but they don’t prove that an oven cooks more evenly.
If you often have several dishes in the oven at once, look for a fan-assisted setting and multi-level cooking results for the model you’re considering. Que Choisir assesses these separately from the simple number of settings advertised.
If your kitchen is already fitted out, measure the housing and compare it with the new model’s installation diagram. Also check the ventilation requirements and electrical connection before choosing any extra features.
If you use your oven often, compare the cleaning systems and energy consumption figures as well as the cooking settings. Pyrolytic cleaning or a large capacity alone won’t tell you how evenly the oven cooks several dishes at once.
First, check that the oven can be installed. Then assess how it cooks on several levels, before comparing cleaning features and additional settings to suit the way you cook.
| Criteria | What to check | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|
| Even cooking on several levels | Look for a fan-assisted setting, then check test results for the exact model covering multi-level cooking, temperature and preheating. | If I’m cooking several dishes at once, I want to avoid one area of the oven affecting the results for every dish. Around 42 % of consumers prioritise even cooking on several levels. |
| Fitting the oven in your kitchen | Compare the usable dimensions of the housing with the installation diagram; check the ventilation requirements and electrical connection. | If you’re replacing an oven without modifying your kitchen, the new appliance needs to fit the unit and the electrical installation. This is the main concern for around 33 % of consumers. |
| Maintenance and useful features | Compare the cleaning system and energy consumption figures; check whether steam or AirFry settings would genuinely be useful for the dishes you cook. | If I use my oven frequently, I might prioritise easier maintenance or a feature I’ll actually use. Around 25 % of consumers prioritise these practical considerations. |
A stated size of 60 × 60 cm doesn’t tell you the dimensions of the housing required. For example, Electrolux France specifies a housing measuring 590 × 560 × 550 mm for the LOH3C00BK. These dimensions apply to this model, not to every oven of the same size.
Measure the available height, width and depth, then compare them with the installation diagram and its ventilation requirements.
If the oven doesn’t fit, you may need to modify the unit or be unable to install it as planned.
A fan-assisted setting is useful when cooking on several levels, but its name doesn’t tell you what temperature the oven actually reaches or how stable it is. Que Choisir assesses these criteria separately from cooking results.
When comparing models, look for test results for the exact model and for cooking on several levels.
These settings suit particular types of cooking, but their presence doesn’t prove that several dishes will cook evenly at the same time.
Choose them if you expect to use them, after checking that the oven will fit and reviewing its multi-level cooking performance.
Bosch Électroménager France offers built-in ovens with a range of cooking settings and cleaning systems.
The range includes built-in ovens with fan-assisted cooking and various cleaning options.
Whirlpool France offers built-in ovens with fan-forced heat, as well as models with several cleaning systems.
Smeg France offers built-in ovens in 45 cm, 60 cm and 90 cm sizes, depending on the range.
These two built-in ovens illustrate the choice between a model with 3D hot air and a multifunction model with pyrolytic cleaning. For both, you’ll still need to check that the exact model fits your kitchen and how it performs when cooking on several levels.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a fan-assisted setting to cook several dishes: the product title lists 3D hot air and a capacity of 71 L. The “Double oven” wording in the title doesn’t match the description of a single compartment, so confirm the configuration before buying. Also check the installation dimensions and connection requirements against your kitchen, and look for multi-level cooking test results for the HBA514BB3.
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Consider this model if pyrolytic cleaning is important to you in a multifunction oven. The product name lists a capacity of 71 L and an A+ rating. Before choosing it for cooking several dishes at once, check the FI4485PIX cooking results and consult its manual for the housing dimensions, ventilation and connection requirements.
No. The advertised size alone doesn’t confirm that it will fit. Measure the usable housing and compare it with the dimensions and ventilation requirements for the exact model. For example, Electrolux France specifies a housing measuring 590 × 560 × 550 mm for the LOH3C00BK.
Check the requirements in the oven’s manual and the circuit it will be connected to. Promotelec lists ovens among the appliances supplied by a dedicated circuit in a French kitchen. If you’re unsure about your existing installation, have it checked by a qualified professional before fitting the oven.
No. A fan-assisted setting is suited to this type of cooking, but it doesn’t guarantee that the appliance will maintain an accurate temperature. Que Choisir assesses preheating, temperatures reached and cooking on one or several levels, among other things. Look for results for the model you’re interested in.
Choose based on how often you use your oven and how you want to maintain it, without confusing cleaning with cooking performance. Check the system on the exact model: some ovens combine pyrolytic cleaning with hydrolytic cleaning assistance, while others use catalytic cleaning.