Freestanding ovens

Test performance

It’s no good if a product lasts for several decades if it doesn’t work well in the first place. A disappointing product will soon become unloved and unwanted. For this reason, our independent lab testing forms an important part of our overall lifetime score.

Our freestanding ovens test includes:

Oven performance

Using the most appropriate settings for each oven, we:

• cook pizza at a very high temperature for a short time to assess each oven’s ability to crisp and brown the base while evenly cooking toppings;
• roast a whole chicken to assess cooking of non-uniform food;
• bake scones to test how well the ovens do at high temperatures over a short time;
• make meringues to test each oven’s performance at low temperatures for a long period; and
• grill toast to assess speed and evenness of grilling.

Cooktop performance

Using the most appropriate burner or element on each oven’s cooktop, we:

• make white sauce to test performance at low temperatures for a long time;
• cook rice to see how quickly temperature is reduced when turned down and whether a consistent heat is maintained at the lowest temperature setting;
• melt chocolate on a very low temperature setting, checking that it doesn’t burn; and
• make a stir-fry to assess the ability to deliver continuous high heat.

Ease of use

We test how easy each oven and cooktop are to use, evaluating layout, controls and displays, grill and oven racks, doors, handles, and light bulb replacement. We also assess how easy all components (inside and out) are to clean.

Predicted reliability

It’s reasonable to expect a new appliance to remain fault-free for at least the first five years. Our predicted reliability won’t tell you whether your oven will stop working tomorrow, but it does show which brands make models that are less likely to fail.

Owner satisfaction

Satisfaction is important – no appliance should be a source of buyer regret. Appliances with very satisfied owners are more likely to get cleaned regularly and be well maintained. Their owners are more likely to seek repair for faults than look for a quick replacement.

Repairability (coming soon)

Older appliances are more likely to go wrong, but common faults should be repairable. Repairs should be affordable and convenient – parts need to be easy to find at a reasonable cost, instructions should be available, and repairs shouldn’t need hours of expert labour.

We haven’t been able to assess repairability yet, but it’s important, so we’re gathering data and forming a plan so we can start including it in our lifetime scores. It will be challenging. We’ll need to analyse product failure data in our reliability surveys, conduct hands-on inspections to evaluate how easy products are to take apart, and investigate which brands make spare parts available at a reasonable price.