The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Best domestic oven for bread baking?

Yogibaker's picture
Yogibaker

Best domestic oven for bread baking?

Hi everyone,

I'm just about to renew my domestic kitchen oven and wondering which one you recommend.  Please bear in mind that I'm in the UK, and don't want an Aga.  I live in a flat, and will need a built in oven.  Currently we have a Neff which is ok, and gets good and hot (around 250C) but the oven door doesn't stay closed so well.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

pjaj's picture
pjaj

I've had two Neff double ovens and never had any problem with the doors. I think you must just be unlucky with yours. As you probably know, Neff do 6 ranges of ovens, Series 1 to 5 & Navigator. The Series 4,5 & Navigator have separate dough proving and bread baking settings which have been a boon to me. No more brick-like loaves!

But I suppose it all boils down to budget. They ain't the cheapest make around.

Yogibaker's picture
Yogibaker

Thanks - yes, think I will probably go for a higher end neff next time - the heating is superb, even with the door issue!  I'll check out those 4 & 5 Navigator ovens - separate bread baking settings sound really good!

 

Arno's picture
Arno

Hi Everyone,

Reviving this old topic as I am in search of a good oven. 
I am living in Twickenham (UK) and my old oven needs to be replaced, by a built-in oven. 

It seems that NEFF, Miele, Fisher & Paykel, AEG are doing some Steam Oven, would you recommend it or stay with a fan/conventional oven?

Thanks, guys. 
Have a great weekend

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Arno,  this comes up a bit.  IMO,  if you find a good electric oven that is well sealed that can run without convection,  that may be your best bet.  Many here love the Rofco, and that is all it is, an electric oven with good seals to keep in moisture.  If your oven only heats by convection,  some believe that causes the outer skin to dry out too quickly ,  which inhibits oven spring.  I have a combi oven, but to run it in combi mode, the convection fan is on at high speed, and so I don't think I get particularly great results.  In the US,  combi ovens sell for a more than regular electric ovens,  and while I like mine, I don't know if it would be worth much of a price increase over a regular electric oven,  especially if you only make a loaf or two at a time, since a Dutch Oven can replicate a sealed oven with moisture , and is very inexpensive.  If you are baking many loaves at a time, you may like the combi better. 

bakeyourownAU's picture
bakeyourownAU

I completely agree with barryvabeach here.

I've got a electrical convection oven at home that only works with the fan on. Its a real real pain, especially with sourdough. No matter how good your seal is, and how much steam you put in, the loaf still develops a crust really early on and you end up with really big tunnels in your loaf. If you can find a oven that has an option of fan on and fan off, I'd say definitely go for that. 

Arno's picture
Arno

Thanks for your replies guys.

Sum up:
- No Rofco for sure as in will be in a kitchen for domestic use as well as the 3 or 4 loafs a week. 
- My current oven was a fan and convection oven... with a dutch oven it was great.

I am baking quite a lot of baguettes where I add steam through ice cubes and spray and it works great TBH.

As my oven is broken, I was thinking of taking one with Convection, Fan + Steam as I see it is now available for domestic use.
Anyone is using one?

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Arno,  sorry if I was not clear,  I have a combi, which does allow for convection plus fan plus steam.  Unfortunately, the fan is pretty high speed, and there is no way to turn it off or down,  so I am not sure it is great for bread.  You might want to look at the Anova Precision Oven -  it is a countertop oven that uses steam plus dry heat, to see what some have achieved using steam and heat https://www.facebook.com/groups/643173719720784

 

Arno's picture
Arno

Good morning Barry,

Since your post, I read a lot about the Anova Precision oven, what a piece of equipment, fan, convection and steam... Looking at the result of the Facebook group I want one... 
Sadly it is an over the counter oven, I need a built-in oven. I don't have the space to add another counter equipment for sure. 

I will continue my search and let you know what I ordered. 

barryvabeach's picture
barryvabeach

Yes, the Anova is a counter top,   and it has some capacities that a combi normally does not have.    Let us know what you get and how you like it.