During testing in our laboratory, we prepared a variety of dishes: from pies and casseroles to meat and fish, and experimented with sous vide and cooking in pots. The aromas filled the entire laboratory, causing hungry employees to flee with plates, posing as testers. However, real testing professionals assessed not only the appearance, aroma and taste of the dishes, but, above all, the convenience, ergonomics and quality of operation of the ovens. The result was the formation of a ranking of the best five ovens of 2023, including models of different budgets and designed for different needs. Let's move from simple to complex and present you with the top five models.
Lex EDM 072 WH: low cost, elegant appearance, excellent operation of all necessary modes
The economical model from the White series harmoniously combines the style with a white hob, hood, built-in microwave, sink and mixer. A 36.6 month (non-temperature) warranty is provided to provide replacement equipment if prompt on-site repair is not possible. The oven with a capacity of 60 liters is equipped with mechanical control (3 rotary non-recessed switches, including a timer), various heating modes (upper heating element, lower heating element, upper + convection, upper + lower, defrosting) and a temperature range from 50 to 250 degrees. This allows you to use the oven for a variety of culinary tasks, such as baking, simmering, drying and preparing meringues. The oven door is removable, double glass, the inside of which can be removed. It is important to note that the door does not fall down when opened and is fixed in any position. To prevent overheating of furniture near the oven and to ensure better heat retention, tangential cooling along the contours is used.
This model does not have additional luxuries such as telescopic guides or pyrolytic cleaning (easy care is provided by special enamel that easily removes steam-softened dirt). However, it does an excellent job of baking both airy puff pastry and large pieces of meat. Having tested this oven and cooked four dishes in it, each of which was rated “excellent”, we found only minor differences in temperature at different points on the baking sheet and a slight overestimation of the set temperature, which had virtually no effect on the quality of cooking.
Candy COS625XLS: style, convenience, even baking
This built-in oven belongs to the Saga range, which includes 6 models with slight differences in functionality. The Candy COS625XLS has a 70 liter capacity and a classic design with brushed stainless steel, recessed controls and a digital display. From the first minutes of testing, it becomes obvious that, despite its simplicity, this oven is ergonomic: the manufacturer has provided for comfortable use and the absence of irritating moments. For example, the Soft Close system ensures smooth closing and opening of the door, the front panel is almost fingerprint-free, and removable telescopic guides allow you to place dishes on five levels. The inner coating of the oven is made using the pyrolytic cleaning method.
This model is equipped with all the basic functions of a modern oven: grill, convection, several automatic modes (pizza, defrosting, steam cleaning, etc.), an indicator that the set temperature has been reached, and a sound timer that can be used regardless of heating, for example, as an alarm clock. Cooking times and durations can be set using a timer, and the control panel can be easily locked for safety.
After preparing a variety of dishes with different textures, we were completely satisfied with the results. Measuring whether the baking tray was heated to a given temperature and the spread of values over its surface gave almost ideal results.
The lower temperature limit is 50 degrees, the upper limit is not specified by the manufacturer (you can simply set it to maximum), but our temperature probe detected a temperature of 250 degrees, which is its limit. This way, the oven will definitely reach that temperature, and possibly exceed it.
The low noise level and excellent thermal insulation of the Candy COS625XLS case could not go unnoticed: it provides comfort and safety. In general, the model made a very favorable impression: it is not only beautiful and effective in cooking, but also easy to operate, providing a high level of safety for the user.
Samsung NV7B5645TAK: two-level cooking technology, sous vide and remote control
Ovens from the Bespoke range, including the model we tested, feature innovative Dual Cook technology, which allows the two parts of the oven to be used independently of each other, although with some restrictions. This oven has as many as 40 automatic programs, but when you activate the cooking function at different levels, only 10 are available, including 5 on top and 5 on bottom. For double cooking, two convection fans with ring heaters are installed and separate the two zones of the tray.
A great feature is the Air Sous Vide mode for sous vide cooking, where the temperature can be adjusted to within one degree. The oven has a capacity of 76 liters and a sleek and modern appearance with black glass and a catalytic enamel interior.
The oven door with double glass is equipped with an automatic closer, telescopic guides can be installed at different levels, and controllable lighting helps you monitor the cooking process. Functions include Air Fry for crispy cooking with minimal oil, Professional Fry, Keep Warm, Warm Warm and Defrost.
The oven can be controlled remotely using a smartphone, and the smart control feature allows you to send the desired settings remotely via the app, which is convenient for many users. It is also worth noting that auto modes are suitable for light weight products, which can be a slight drawback in use.
The results of the practical tests were impressive: the oven demonstrated excellent performance both when preparing ordinary dishes such as casseroles and fish and vegetables, and when testing the Dual Cook system and the sous vide mode. The measurements confirmed the stability and uniformity of heating, as well as the effective thermal insulation of the body of this model. Dual Cook not only allows you to cook at different levels, but also saves energy when only half of the chamber is used to cook one dish.
Garlyn GBO-1000: skewer, temperature probe, three-layer glass door
This mid-budget model is ahead of many more expensive ovens in terms of quality, ease of use and functionality. For example, the presence of a skewer and a temperature probe is not just a formal element — they provide ease of use. Ten cooking modes prove optimal for cooking most dishes, and a temperature range of 50 to 250 degrees is standard. According to the test results, the oven performed excellently in the baking process.
We paid special attention to the turbo grill + spit mode, where we cooked a whole chicken on a spit, and placed a baking sheet with vegetables on the lower level — the result was impressive. Using a temperature probe, we baked the turkey fillet, which resulted in a tender, well-cooked dish without drying out the meat. We also appreciated the presence of modes for cooking pizza, defrosting, and preparing dishes with a crispy crust with minimal use of oil. The convection fan is used in several modes, which also adds flexibility in use.
The Garlyn GBO-1000 has a capacity of 68 liters, and internal guides make using the oven convenient. The removable triple glass door provides excellent thermal insulation. The door is another advantage: it opens and closes smoothly, fits tightly and is held ajar. Oven care is simplified due to the presence of removable catalytic panels on the back and side walls. In addition, containers can be placed on five levels.
The oven is controlled using a touch interface: there are no analogue switches, only touch buttons and a display. The display shows the selected mode and the current temperature inside the oven, although some measurements showed some inaccuracies, unfortunately.
In general, the oven left a very positive impression: neat assembly, the presence of all the necessary modes, as well as thoughtfulness in every detail both for preparing dishes and for caring for the device. The only thing that could be noted is that the temperature range starts at 50 degrees rather than 30: this may not be sufficient for preparing yogurt and proofing the dough.
Haier HOQ-F6CASGB: maximum culinary capabilities and user convenience
This 72-liter model was called the “dream oven” in the review, and the testers had, as the song goes, five reasons for this.
The first is an expanded set of programs. In addition to the usual heating, convection, grilling, convection oven and defrosting modes, steam cooking programs (manual and automatic steam supply), bread baking (including dough proofing), sous vide, as well as several automatic programs for baking meat and poultry have been added. It is important to note that the model is equipped with a temperature probe, which allows you to achieve the exact degree of baking required for each dish.
The second is the thoughtfulness of the design for ease of use, safety and care of the oven: the presence of telescopic guides (they can be fixed on two levels), 6 levels of food placement, catalytic and steam cleaning, a removable door with triple glazing, smooth closing and opening, as well as the ability fixation in the slightly open position (two glass doors can be removed for easy cleaning).
The third is convenient and intuitive control, where the central element is a turn-and-push handle. This knob is used to adjust operating modes, set time and temperature, and confirm selected settings. All selected settings are displayed on the display, and the touch buttons located next to it and with the handle serve for additional cooking settings and selection of other functions such as steam supply, setting a timer and locking the control panel.
The fourth is the results of our practical tests, which turned out to be brilliant, even when preparing quite complex dishes. Spoiler alert: the oven is great for making homemade bread! In addition, the measurement results confirmed uniform heating of the chamber.
And finally, fifth: the ability to adjust the cooking temperature up to a degree, which can be important for those who are seriously interested in cooking and love dishes using sous vide technology.
Electric built-in ovens provide quick and tasty cooking, but not all of them stand out for their convenience and quality. The models presented in this review can be recommended as tested and showing the best results in 2023 — of course, only among those that passed our tests. There were quite a lot of them!