What Is The UK’s Best Mini Oven?
In this guide we’ll look at the best mini ovens.
We’ve compared cooking options, capacity, ease of cleaning and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
Mini Oven Reviews
Mini Oven Buyer’s Guide
Whether you’re short of space in your kitchen at home, or you need somewhere to cook your meals on campervan and caravan holidays, a mini oven is a great option. These are designed to do exactly the same as regular ovens, but they are smaller, can easily be stored away, and take up far less space in your kitchen. This makes them hugely popular in student dorms, on holidays or in very small kitchens.
With such a range of mini ovens on the market, choosing the best mini oven for you can be a little tricky. Here’s everything to watch out for when it comes to finding the best mini oven.
Capacity
Smaller, more compact mini ovens are perfect for students as they can easily be used in a small student dorm. While these are great for cooking simple meals, they can’t really be used to cook anything extravagant.
Ovens with a larger capacity can be used to cook complex meals for larger families. While these are great for family holidays, they’ll take up more space and weigh more, making them much less portable. If you lack space in your kitchen, opt for a smaller oven.
Remember that if you buy an oven with a smaller capacity there’s a chance your trays and pans won’t fit in it. If this is the case, buy a mini oven with basic cooking implements included.
Pre Set Cooking Functions
Mini ovens come with a range of preset cooking functions including grill, bake, roast and much more. The ones with more cooking functions will be more expensive but you’ll be able to cook a far wider range of meals. All mini ovens should have an adjustable temperature.
Hob on Top
Some mini ovens will have a hob on the top, often 1 or 2 different size hotplates. These are great for boiling water for pasta or rice, or frying, but they’re not an essential feature. Mini ovens with a hob on top will be more expensive, but you’ll be able to cook a wider range of meals.
Controls
Most mini ovens will have a temperature dial and a timer. The timer will count down and alert you when ready, but some will power down automatically when the timer goes off. Go for an oven with a long enough timer to allow you to cook a range of dishes.
Ease of Cleaning
Mini ovens are generally quite easy to clean, but if you’re cooking something with a lot of grease or a roast for example, you’ll need to put in a bit more effort. A mini oven can generally be cleaned with liquid soap and soft cloth. Ensure you never use scourers as these can damage the finish. The steel racks and trays should be dishwasher safe, and a mini oven with a crumb tray will be easier to keep clean.
Wattage
A good indication of the power of your mini oven, opt for one with a minimum of 800W if you’re going to be using your mini oven on a daily basis. If it’s going to be stored away and only used in emergencies, you can get away with a lower wattage.
FAQs:
How to use a mini oven?
Most mini ovens are very easy to use, with at least 2 cooking methods. The majority will have grill, baking and roasting, while some might even have slow cookers. Essentially, you can use your mini oven just as you would a regular oven – if it has an upper and heating element as well as fan, it’ll cook you food in virtually the same way.
Use a mini oven the same way you would a regular oven. Simply turn it on and allow it to heat up, put in the food and set the temperature or choose your method of cooking. Set the timer and let it do its job!
Remember to put the mini oven on a flat surface and leave a space so it’s not touching the walls or any other appliances. Do not place it on a heat sensitive worktop.
How to clean a mini oven?
Over time, you’ll notice grease and crumbs build up in your mini oven, which can be difficult to clean. To clean it, unplug the oven and remove any parts – cleaning them with warm water and soup.
For the inside of the mini oven, make a thick paste using a little baking soda and water. Use this on any grease, leaving it to sit for a few minutes. Then use a soft cloth to remove the paste and grease. For tough grease, sprinkle baking soda on top of it and then spray a small amount of vinegar onto the baking soda. Leave to soak for a few hours then wipe away with a clean cloth.