Best Wall Ovens

Having spent the last seven years cooking nightly dinners in a tiny Chicago apartment, I know a thing or two about making the most out of limited kitchen space. Whether you’re like me or are just looking for a new perspective on your kitchen remodel, the best wall ovens are a great option to consider. After comparing all the biggest brands, styles, and configurations, I’ve narrowed down my list to the best of the best. Take a look and see for yourself.

Our Top Picks

02/18/2024 01:32 pm GMT

Best Overall: Frigidaire Gallery FGEW3066UF Single Wall Oven

What I like about this Frigidaire Gallery single wall oven is the way it blends a smart and compact design with a selection of features geared toward practical home cooking. There are dozens of ways it helps save time in the kitchen, whether it’s when cooking or cleaning.

The first thing that stands out is its range of high-tech features. The quick preheat and self-cleaning functions are all about saving time and reducing hassle. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a steam cleaning option though its heat cleaning mode gets the job done. Frigidaire even thought to incorporate a “hidden bake” design, which keeps the oven’s heating element in a lower compartment for easy cleaning.

Alongside a 2,500-watt bake element and 4,000-watt broil element, this oven has all its bases covered. The 5.1 cu. ft. interior capacity lets you take full advantage of its true convection feature. If you’re using it on a roast chicken or pork loin, you can even plug-in the Effortless Temperature Probe to monitor internal temperatures while it cooks.

The design is simple, clean, and most of all practical, with smudge-proof stainless steel that keeps it looking new each day. The design takes advantage of all the benefits of wall ovens, and the compact size blends in with most kitchen aesthetics. It is equipped with a clear and simple digital display, large oven window, and elegantly curved stainless steel handle.

Overall, this is a good pick for almost anybody to consider, but will really stand out for working parents or busy professionals who want a trustworthy oven that can cut down on maintenance. While it might not stand out for power or a long catalog of cooking options, it remains a sensible option with plenty to boast about.

Best Space-Saver: Empava 24XWOA01 24” Gas Single Wall Oven

One of the best things about a wall oven is that it offers much of the same power and performance of a full-sized range, in a much smaller and easier-to-maintain package. This 24-inch gas oven by Emava may look simple at first glance, but offers plenty of surprises.

At just 24 by 23 inches, it is the same width as a standard kitchen drawer, which means it can fit into lots of kitchen nooks where you might not have considered putting an oven. This opens up whole new worlds of design possibilities, especially for smaller kitchens. There are actually a number of 24-inch wall ovens on the market today, as manufacturers know home cooks are sometimes scratching their heads trying to figure out how to fit a wall oven and cooktop into their home.

It’s true that you’ll have to find appropriately sized baking sheets, and no, it may not be the best oven to serve Thanksgiving dinner to more than four people. However smaller ovens offer a number of advantages that you might not have considered. They heat faster for one thing, and even more so as this one is gas-powered. They’re also easier to clean. 

There are a few helpful functions included in this model, including a convection oven, and a rotisserie function. The rotisserie feels particularly apt, as the oven is already the same size as many commercial rotisseries. It even offers a dual convection rotisserie function, to put an extra-crisp finish on your meats.

The oven’s design is simple, almost to a fault. Time, temperature, and cooking function are all controlled by just three knobs. No buttons, no digital display, nothing at all except for what’s essential. It comes together in a very attractive modern look, covered in stainless steel from head to toe.

If the simplicity and size sound good to you, then don’t hesitate to try this 24-inch wall oven for yourself. However, if you’re already fretting about not being able to fit an 18-pound ham on these tiny oven racks, or if you are looking for twelve cooking modes with touch controls, then you’d probably be better off with another oven.

Best All-in-One Oven: GE JK3800SHSS Combination Wall Oven

If you have a little extra room to spare in your kitchen and want to maximize functionality, GE has the perfect double oven for you. This 27-inch combination wall oven has everything you could hope for and more, with a smaller upper oven that includes microwave cooking.

The sensor cooking microwave is 1.7 cu. ft. and the perfect size for anything from frozen dinners to dutch oven side dishes. Its built-in sensor is able to automatically calculate and adjust cook times and power levels. It’s a little smaller than would be ideal on an appliance with such a high price tag, but of course, the lower oven is there to take care of bigger cooking projects. 

At 4.3 cu. ft. the lower oven is nothing to scoff at either with a 2,600W coil for baking and a 3,400W 8-pass broiler element for quick and even browning. Even with the oven’s total cubic feet cut in half, it is still big enough and powerful enough to handle anything you throw at it.

Both ovens are controlled by the touch control interface at the top of the oven. Choose to bake, broil, warm, microwave, defrost, reheat, or make popcorn with a simple touch. There’s even a delay start feature so you can plan ahead and program your oven to preheat when desired. When it’s time to clean up, the oven’s self-clean feature is available.

If you’re like me and find as much joy in slow-cooking a lamb shank as you do nuking a Trader Joe’s frozen dinner, the versatility of this double wall oven is a great option. While it’s ideal for those who will make the most out of its wide range of features, it is still simple enough for anyone who feels a bit intimidated by high-tech gadgets.

Other Options That Are Great But Didn’t Make the Cut

The best wall ovens come in all shapes and sizes. Don’t pass on these other great options which might be a perfect fit for you.

Frigidaire FFGW2426US 24 Inch Gas Wall Oven

This 24-inch single wall oven is nearly as small as the Empava model I was fawning over two sections up. The difference is that it’s about twice the price and a bit less elegant in its design. However, with features like Vari-Broil Temperature control that lets you broil at two different temperatures, and sizable in-built storage, the drawbacks may not be such a hurdle for the right cook. Plus, with a 14,000 BTU heating element, it takes the lead in power.

Bosch HBN8651UC 800 27″ Stainless Steel Electric Double Wall Oven

Bosch’s 27-inch double oven is a nice middling size that is big enough for a multi-rack setup, but still compact enough to fit into tinier kitchens. It offers a number of time-saving features like a self-clean cycle, a European convection oven, and a total of 12 cooking modes that set it apart from other double wall ovens. 

What makes this wall oven slightly awkward is that the top and bottom sections don’t offer the same cooking modes, and you’ll often find yourself forgetting which of them to use for a given task. The price is also more than twice that of most of the other double wall ovens on this list.

Magic Chef Electric MCSWOE24S 24″ 2.2 cu. ft. Single Wall Oven

Magic Chef has its own compact 24-inch single oven that’s able to squeeze out a 2.2 cubic foot interior. The interior capacity alone helps set it apart from other small single wall ovens, and the addition of European convection and other programmable cooking modes doesn’t hurt either.

It’s worth noting that more than one owner has had problems with the oven door breaking. Whether this is a common problem is hard to say, but it’s enough to make me curious about the extended warranty.

Buyer’s Guide: What Features to Look Out For

When looking for the best wall ovens, it pays to consider all the factors. Review all these points below and decide for yourself which are your priority.

Electric vs. Gas

While most wall ovens tend to be electric, both varieties are common and the choice can have a big impact on your budget, installation, and cooking experience. Each of these options heat in slightly different ways. Electric ovens radiate heat from one or more electric coils, while gas ovens rely on open flames created by burner ignition at the bottom or top.

One of the reasons why electric is so popular is that it tends to be slightly cheaper than the typical gas wall oven. They also are known to heat more evenly and produce drier air inside the oven cavity. This results in crispier skin on your roast chicken. Though if you are planning on investing in a convection oven gas or electric will achieve similar results.

Personally, I’ve found that the extra moisture created by a gas oven’s burner ignition can be a great asset for cakes and other soft baked goods. Plus, gas ovens are quicker to heat.

Convection Wall Oven

Convection ovens work by pairing your oven’s internal heating elements with one or more fans which help circulate heat. As the hot air moves over the surface of your food, it helps create crispier, flakier textures. Convection cooking is definitely the best way to get the most out of your oven, though only if you’re willing to make the extra investment, as they can often cost as much as twice the price of conventional ovens.

European convection, also known as true convection, is even more effective at circulating hot air. By adding a third heating element to the circulation fan, it ensures even temperatures and consistent airflow.

Cooking Power

Whether you’re working with a gas or electric wall oven, cooking power is one of the most important factors to consider. For gas ovens, power is measured in BTU, whereas electric ovens use watts. 

Power can range widely from oven to oven, though generally, you are looking for an oven with a power output of 5,000 to 10,000 BTU or 2,000 to 5,000 watts. Higher power ovens are able to get hotter and heat faster, making them very useful.

Size

When it comes to your oven’s size, finding the right balance can be tricky. Too small, and you may feel cramped while cooking for a crowd. Too large, and you’ll start eating-up the floor space in your kitchen. If you’re remodeling your kitchen, the size of the oven should be one of the first questions you ask. Though if you’re installing a new oven into an existing kitchen, you may have to work around some of the existing architecture.

Be sure to consider both the inside and outside of your oven when finding the right size. Look for ovens that have at least 3 to 5 cu. ft. interior capacity, but are still able to fit snugly with your existing layout.

If you’re only cooking for 1-2 people in most cases, you might also consider a countertop convection oven as a small affordable alternative to a wall oven.

Configuration

Ovens come in two different configurations, single and double ovens. A single oven is an ideal choice if you want to dedicate all your oven capacity to one large area, making room for large roasts or multiple pans of cookies.

However, a double oven can add a bit of extra flexibility to your kitchen, allowing you to heat dishes at different temperatures. Plus, as the compartments tend to be smaller, each one will heat more quickly and waste less energy. Just be sure they aren’t too small, or your favorite baking trays might not fit!

Cleaning

Regular cleaning is a fact of life when it comes to oven maintenance and if you want to ensure your oven is working properly, it should be cleaned every three months. If you’re doing it manually, this means an hour or so on your hands and knees scrubbing.

Luckily, many ovens today offer a self-clean function that takes most of the hassle out of the process. The traditional self-cleaning oven uses high temperatures to scorch off the residue, and will still require a little elbow grease on your part. There are also more advanced ovens with a steam clean option, which uses pressurized steam to thoroughly clean the interior. These are the most convenient and also the most expensive.

Reliability

It’s not always easy to judge an oven’s quality at first glance, which is why it pays to do your homework. Well-made ovens will save you money and hassle in the long run, making them well worth the extra investment. 

The first place you should look is the warranty. Don’t settle for anything less than a year-long warranty, though if you can find an oven that includes a two or three-year one it’s an even better statement on the manufacturer’s belief in their product. Plus, it will protect you against common repairs. Ultimately, you should expect to get between 13 and 15 years out of a newly-purchased oven.

Design

The best wall oven for your home will be one that fits seamlessly into your overall design. Color, size, placement, even small details like the control panel can make an impact. Whether you’re going for a classic look, or something a little more modern, there are plenty of options to consider.

The most common material you’ll find is stainless steel, which is always a good choice for its durability and easy-to-clean surface. Generally, it’s better to avoid ovens that include parts that are made of plastic.

Another basic question is the control panel. Do you like the look of a digital touch display, or do you prefer analog dials? More buttons can give you access to a wider variety of features, though maybe a less cluttered look will be more of a benefit in your kitchen.

There are plenty more factors to consider including the oven window, handle, door style, and more. If you’re not sure where to start, find an oven you like the look of and see what design elements jump out at you.

Special Features & Technology

Each year, manufacturers find new ways to make cooking easier and more enjoyable. Today’s best wall ovens come with a variety of high-tech features which are worth a look.

App connectivity is a good option to consider if you often find yourself multitasking in the kitchen. Through a downloadable interface, you can monitor heat and cook times, as well as set your oven to preheat or power down from any room in your house. Alexa functionality will even let you use voice commands so you can adjust settings without having to wash your hands.

If you’re looking for a full upgrade to your cooking appliance, a speed oven is worth some thought. Speed ovens are a new type of kitchen appliance that combines convection cooking with microwave and grill elements to heat food at lightning speed. They’re becoming so popular that many people are installing them in place of traditional ovens.

Frequently Asked Questions

There’s plenty more to learn about gas and electric wall ovens. See some of the most common questions below.

What Advantages do Wall Ovens Have?

A wall oven can be a fun way to reimagine your kitchen, letting you build them into smaller nooks that you might not be able to fit a traditional range into. This allows for more flexibility when planning a remodel, and opens up different possibilities when it comes to the capacity and configuration of your appliance. Whether you want to go with a compact 24-inch model, a 30-inch double wall oven, an oven with french doors, or a more traditional look–it’s up to you.

Best of all, you’ll never have to bend or squat to see into your wall oven, which is a small comfort that many home cooks will come to appreciate with age.

Do Wall Ovens Have any Drawbacks?

While a wall oven can make the design process more flexible, it also comes with a few challenges of its own. The first is that you need to find another solution for your cooktop. A drop-in range can be built directly into your countertops, but it takes some planning to ensure you find the ideal setup.

Also, repairs and installation for your wall oven will tend to cost more when compared to freestanding options. You can find more information on installation below.

Can You Install a Wall Oven Yourself? 

Electric or gas wall oven installation should always be handled by a qualified installer or service technician. The process involves hard wiring the appliance to an approved junction box, making it a task well-beyond the DIY capabilities of most homeowners. Your role is to ensure you choose an oven well-fitted to the space available in your kitchen, to ensure installation goes smoothly.

Generally, the installation will cost between $100 and $250, which varies based on the size of your wall oven and the specifics of your home.

How Much Does it Cost to Own and Operate a Wall Oven?

Owning and operating a wall oven comes with many of the same costs as traditional gas, electric or induction range ovens. Whether you go with gas or electric, your oven usage will make an impact on your utility bill. This can be between 12 and 36 cents per hour, depending on your local utility costs and the heat you’re cooking at.

The most common wall oven repairs involve a broken heating coil, malfunctioning control panel, or non-functioning self-clean setting. Most run-of-the-mill repairs will cost between $100 and $600. While you might not have to worry about them until you’ve had your oven for a few years, it’s always best to plan ahead.

Are Expensive Ovens Worth it?

Expensive or inexpensive, the best wall oven will always offer the functions you need and be durable enough to rely on for years to come. Generally, a higher price point will come with a better standard of quality, though your best bet is always to do your homework and find a model with a good track record. As a rule of thumb, don’t spend less than $700 on a wall oven.

Are Wall Ovens Safe?

Some owners wonder whether it’s safe to build a wall oven into wood cabinetry, fearful that the heat-generating appliance may be a fire hazard. However, as long as your installation is handled by a qualified professional, you can rest assured that it is perfectly safe.

For day-to-day use, wall ovens have the same safety concerns as regular ovens. Don’t put anything inside that’s not food or cookware, don’t leave the door open, and always be sure to turn your wall oven off after you’re done using it.

Do Wall Ovens Need a Vent?

Your wall oven has its own internal ventilation system and does not need a range hood or other external venting. If your wall oven was manufactured before 2007, its vent will be located beneath the controls. Otherwise, it vents beneath the door.

My Recommendations

Wall ovens come in all different sizes and configurations, giving you the flexibility to design your kitchen exactly the way you want it. I’ve always thought that these custom-fitted appliances shine their brightest when they are matched to the needs of the kitchen and its users. That’s why I’ve chosen a range of different options made to suit all kinds of needs and tastes.

Frigidaire’s high-tech single wall oven is perhaps the most versatile I’ve found, with a nice selection of time-saving features paired with plenty of cooking space and power. For home chefs who have a little less space to work with, or who just like the look of something a little more compact, Empava’s sleek and slim gas wall oven is the ideal choice. And when it comes to versatility and high-end quality, you can’t beat the GE combination electric wall oven.