5 of the best freestanding ovens in New Zealand

The stylish Ambiente Line K 128 F wood-burning stove, clad in black enamel, brings all the effortless grace of an antiquated feature with a surprising amount of modern functionality. Precisely crafted with high-quality materials, its natural charm is matched by its sturdy and robust build. Some of its many features include a viewing window, an easy-care ceramic hob, a large-capacity roasting oven with temperature display and an effective pollutant reduction system. This bold wood-burning oven is a great point of difference for any kitchen with its traditional style and unique look that doesn't come at the expense of convenience.

The Falcon Special Edition Elise Luxe Range Cooker is the perfect option for inspired cuisine combining sophisticated French aesthetics with professional appeal. Featuring a stylish Antique Brass trim, this large freestanding oven is perfect for home cooks and novice chefs alike. Its chic design includes an easy-clean induction hob, a removable griddle, two large-capacity ovens, a dedicated deluxe glide-out grill, and a storage drawer. The left-hand multifunction oven offers seven functions, while the right-hand fanned oven provides one. Additional features include catalytic liners, separate full and half grill functions, five hotplate cooking zones, three low-temperature settings, and a powerful central cooking zone of 3.20 kW. In terms of versatility and style, they don't come much better than this.

The Classic Series 5 Freestanding Cooker offers the best of both worlds with a dual-fuel system, combining a gas cooktop with a wok burner and a seven-function convection oven. Its five-burner gas cooktop provides precise heat control, while the convection oven boasts an impressive 140L total capacity, allowing you to cook multiple dishes simultaneously. It also has some quality build features like a solid balanced door and durable cooktop trivets. Cleaning is effortless with a single-piece stainless steel cooktop and a removable oven door and glass for easy maintenance. It also boasts some great safety features like a door and cavity cooling system and a flame failure safety device that automatically shuts off the gas if the flame is extinguished. Offering the complete package, it's a great choice that will easily meet all your needs.

The Falcon Continental Freestanding Cooker W.1100 combines continental styling with exceptional high-volume cooking capabilities, featuring not one but two multifunction ovens with a combined capacity of 126L. At 100cm wide, it makes a striking statement in any kitchen with its sleek drop-down doors and a choice of five contemporary finishes, including the elegant Gloss White finish featured here. Perfect for those who demand top-notch cooking performance, this oven includes a stainless steel hotplate, heavy-duty pan supports, and a powerful 5kW central burner. Additional features such as flame safety devices and options to support a dual fuel or induction, a wok ring, and LPG conversion cater to diverse cooking needs. With a strong energy-efficient rating it's also a cost-effective choice in terms of energy consumption too.

The Italian-made ILVE Nero Lusso Freestanding Dual Fuel Oven combines sophisticated design with exceptional functionality. The ultra-spacious 6-burner gas cooktop includes a triple ring solid brass Infinity WOK burner for rapid, high-heat cooking. The oven boasts a generous 97L capacity and 11 multi-function modes, making it effortless to cook large meals for family or guests. Features like the pizza and bread cooking function, rotisserie, and improved precision thermostatic technology allow for rapid heating from 0-250°C. The triple-glazed glass door enhances cooking results while keeping the exterior cool to the touch. Safety features, including a flame failure device and automatic electronic ignition, along with the ULTRA-EZI clean interior, ensure convenience and peace of mind.

With five great recommendations to consider, we thought we'd share five tips to help you choose for situations where there may be a number of high-quality ovens that you are drawn to.

1. Assess your needs

Firstly, it's important to think about the types of dishes and cooking you do most often, making sure you then choose one that will meet those needs. For example, if you bake a lot, then making sure you pick an oven with a sophisticated fan forced cooking and convection system is well advised.

2. Consider its size and capacity

Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes space can be extremely precious. Measuring the available space you have for your oven is essential for the practical aspect of making sure it fits, but also important to ensure it won't overwhelm the space visually either. You also want to check the volume of the oven cavity to make sure it again meets your demands, especially if you often use it to prepare meals for large groups.

3. Check its energy efficiency

Ovens are large kitchen appliances that can consume a significant amount of electricity so it's always good to check their energy efficiency to ensure you don't get any surprises in your monthly power bills once installed. A model with good energy efficiency will also have a reduced impact on the environment.

4. Compare and prioritise the features

As you've seen in our recommended ovens, the latest models come with many features which can make quite a difference to your daily use of them. Study these carefully and prioritise which are important to you, whether it's pyrolytic cleaning, dual fuel, cool touch doors, multiple cooking modes etc. This can often be the deciding factor between two great models.

5. Look at price, brand and warranty

The purchase price of freestanding ovens can vary widely with entry-level options starting from around $800 and luxury models going for upwards of $10,000. That's a huge difference meaning you'll really need to think about your budget and what you want to get for that money. Given the investment, the reputation of the various oven brands is important, as you want to be sure you're purchasing something that will last and not break down on you early. The length and coverage of the warranty is another important factor to give you peace of mind about your decision.

As you can see, the best freestanding ovens look great and have some incredible features that will not only make your cooking chores easier and more enjoyable but will allow you to do more too. With some handy tips on hand as well, you now have a good base of knowledge to help you choose the perfect option for your home.

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