What Oven Set-up is Right for Your Kitchen?
Let's walk through the different arrangements for single and double ovens for the chef and baker in you
Rebekah Zaveloff
29 August 2017
In the classic range setup, the cooktop and oven are combined as one appliance, most often a 30-inch (76-centimetre) appliance with four burners above an oven. The idea of being able to have a separate wall oven (or two!) is pretty exciting for many home cooks thinking about a kitchen remodel.
Are you considering new cooking appliances? Not everyone’s dream setup will work in his or her kitchen, and some appliance configurations work better than others in a given space. Check out the options here.
Are you considering new cooking appliances? Not everyone’s dream setup will work in his or her kitchen, and some appliance configurations work better than others in a given space. Check out the options here.
Double oven
Ovens separate from the cooktop offer homeowners more flexibility with their layout. Also, many people prefer raised ovens rather than having to bend down to use a stove-oven combination. It’s definitely better on your back! If you’ve got room for this arrangement and can find a spot for your microwave, this is a great setup. In a kitchen like this, a microwave drawer hidden on the back of the island is a great solution. The main sink on the island allows for the sleek electric cooktop to be located on the back wall.
Variations: Double ovens typically come in 24-, 27- and 30-inch (60-, 68 and 76-centimetre) widths; the overall heights vary.
Ovens separate from the cooktop offer homeowners more flexibility with their layout. Also, many people prefer raised ovens rather than having to bend down to use a stove-oven combination. It’s definitely better on your back! If you’ve got room for this arrangement and can find a spot for your microwave, this is a great setup. In a kitchen like this, a microwave drawer hidden on the back of the island is a great solution. The main sink on the island allows for the sleek electric cooktop to be located on the back wall.
Variations: Double ovens typically come in 24-, 27- and 30-inch (60-, 68 and 76-centimetre) widths; the overall heights vary.
Stacked double oven
This is the most familiar setup, and most manufacturers carry versions of this appliance. Most kitchen cabinet manufacturers also offer standard tall oven cabinets for this type of appliance. The double oven unit often has one or two drawers below; the appliance is about 25 to 40 centimetres or so off the ground, including the plinth.
Shop for ovens and major kitchen appliances
This is the most familiar setup, and most manufacturers carry versions of this appliance. Most kitchen cabinet manufacturers also offer standard tall oven cabinets for this type of appliance. The double oven unit often has one or two drawers below; the appliance is about 25 to 40 centimetres or so off the ground, including the plinth.
Shop for ovens and major kitchen appliances
Single oven, microwave and warming drawer combo
This arrangement is also pretty typical. It’s terrific if you’ve got room for a tall cabinet. (I like it best next to other tall pieces, like a refrigerator pantry, as shown here.) This setup is also a great way to make the room for all three of these appliances. I even like to do this with a range so you get an extra oven. This kitchen shows this option with a cooktop and an oven below in the island instead, which makes sense for this kitchen.
12 places to put your microwave
This arrangement is also pretty typical. It’s terrific if you’ve got room for a tall cabinet. (I like it best next to other tall pieces, like a refrigerator pantry, as shown here.) This setup is also a great way to make the room for all three of these appliances. I even like to do this with a range so you get an extra oven. This kitchen shows this option with a cooktop and an oven below in the island instead, which makes sense for this kitchen.
12 places to put your microwave
Raised side-by-side single ovens
This is an arrangement seen more frequently in modern and contemporary kitchens. You can do two of these side by side and make the upper and lower sections a pantry.
5 pantry solutions for kitchens
This is an arrangement seen more frequently in modern and contemporary kitchens. You can do two of these side by side and make the upper and lower sections a pantry.
5 pantry solutions for kitchens
In some kitchen designs you’ll see slightly raised single ovens set side by side, alone or with a warming drawer underneath. This can be used as a design element – it gets you a bit of raised, bar-height counter space so you don’t lose all that to a couple of tall cabinets. In this kitchen the design creates a semi-open space with the raised ovens; the framing around the refrigerator unit creates a room partition of sorts.
Base single ovens, alone or in tandem
Another arrangement is a separate wall oven or two in base cabinets. Shown here flanking a range top is a pretty unusual setup. Some might ask why not just do a 60-inch (152-centimetre) range with two full-size ovens and more burners? Sure, that would work, but in this case the homeowner is getting a bit more counter space.
Another arrangement is a separate wall oven or two in base cabinets. Shown here flanking a range top is a pretty unusual setup. Some might ask why not just do a 60-inch (152-centimetre) range with two full-size ovens and more burners? Sure, that would work, but in this case the homeowner is getting a bit more counter space.
A setup with two single ovens side by side with base cabinets also works, and it allows you to keep more counter space as well as opposed to having a tall cabinet. Also, some kitchens just don’t have the room for tall cabinets, which can make a kitchen feel smaller.
A single wall oven set in a base cabinet under a cooktop is also an option, but be careful – not every combination of this setup works with every manufacturer. You need to make sure there’s room for the cooktop to fit above the oven.
Rotisseries are fun accessories for your wall oven. My husband went through Cook’s Illustrated and its multiple chicken roasting techniques: rotisserie, grilled, grilled on a beer-can stand, in a roasting dish trussed and non-trussed, turned and not turned –try it out for yourself and find your favourite method!
Full extension racks à la the kind you get in your cabinet rollout shelves these days are welcome wall oven accessories.
Don’t have room for more than one wall oven? Get two in the space of one.
Steam ovens are a addition to the appliance market. Healthy cooking, moisture without added fat and being able to proof bread are just some of the perks that come with this clever unit.
TELL US
What kind of oven set-up do you have? Share your photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Your Guide to Choosing an Electric Oven
TELL US
What kind of oven set-up do you have? Share your photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Your Guide to Choosing an Electric Oven
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So here's my issue: we are empty-nesters with a small kitchen. I have never used more than 2 burners at one time in all my adult life, so I would prefer a 2 burner induction unit with drawers underneath for pots and pans and a little more counter space than I have with the current range. I cannot bend down and lift up large hot items from the oven, or kneel and reach over the drop-down oven door, sticking my head inside to clean the oven in the range anymore, so I want wall ovens.
I mostly cook our meals with my microwave. Have done 14 lb turkey in a roasting bag in the countertop GE I have had for ages. But I love to bake and want a convection oven. I am having a hard time finding what I envisioned: a convection wall oven with a side opening door, and "any" wall mountable micro big enough to do my Thanksgiving turkey in it. Any ideas for me?
@lcjonroslynpa The only side opening wall ovens of a small size (24”) that I know of are from Gaggenau. Their convection steam ovens are fabulous. On the 30” side, the BlueStar French door ovens are also fabulous. I own one of these.
Thank you Michael B. I want to get this right since hopefully I will be using this kitchen the rest of my life!