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

At first glance, the idea of ​​replacing the oven with a compact electric stove seems tempting. It will heat up food, prepare delicious dishes, and won’t take up much space. But we advise you not to rush to conclusions. When choosing which is better, an oven or a mini-oven, you should take into account the intricacies of the technology and study all its pros and cons.

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.

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.

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.

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 frequently.

• 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.

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.

Questions and answers

Are there gas mini-ovens?

Yes, but the choice of models is very limited. The most famous gas mini-oven is Gefest PG 100 K19. Its volume is 19 liters, the power of the gas burner is 1.7 kW. The device is also equipped with two burners. The stove can be powered by a gas cylinder or a household gas line. Has gas control. The cost is about 7,000 rubles.

What to look for when choosing a mini-oven?

Spaciousness, functionality, power and safety. You especially need to be attentive to the last two points.The indicated power in mini-ovens may not correspond to the actual one, and the walls can become very hot, which can lead not only to burns, but also to damage to furniture. It is better to give preference to models from proven brands that value their reputation: REDMOND, Moulinex, VVK, Panasonic and others.

The answer to the question, which is better, an oven or a mini-oven, is not as obvious as we would like. The latter has undeniable advantages - compactness, functionality, ease of use. But at the same time, you won’t be able to cook in large portions in an electric oven, and if the load is high, it risks breaking down after a few years. A mini-oven can easily replace an oven only if the family is small and baked dishes are prepared infrequently.