An upright oven incorporates an oven and a cooktop (and sometimes a grill) into the one freestanding appliance. Also known as an 'upright stove', a 'freestanding oven', a 'freestanding stove', or an 'upright cooker'.
Upright ovens come in three varieties:
Upright ovens are very cost effective. It's generally cheaper to buy an upright stove than is it to purchase a separate oven and cooktop. Additionally, you don't need to pay a builder to install a separate oven and cooktop into your kitchen cabinetry.
Basic white stoves are commonly found in rental properties because they're cheap, easy to install, and easy to maintain. However the humble stove has evolved over the years - and now you can get deluxe, extra-wide stainless steel models packed with sophisticated cooking features.
In recent times the upright stove has become highly fashionable. Chrome knobs, cast iron trivets and bright colours all combine to create a distinctive sense of style within the kitchen. If you have an open plan kitchen and you love entertaining, an upright stove could give your kitchen that stylish edge.
When buying an oven, your first consideration will be the type of fuel source.
Electric ovens produce an even, dry heat that is perfect for baking and roasting. Excellent temperature precision is possible with electric ovens, which is vital if you are cooking food that is very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature - such as soufflé, meringue, and sponge cake.
Electric cooktops are generally easier to clean than gas cooktops - as there's no need to clean beneath trivets. (Look for an electric cooktop with a flat ceramic glass surface). It is also possible to get an upright stove with an induction cooktop - which is the fastest and safest type of cooktop you can buy. Please bear in mind, however, that induction cooktops only work with stainless steel or cast iron cookware.
First of all, some properties do not have access to a natural gas supply - so please check before you make a purchase.
Gas ovens produce a moist heat that doesn't dry out your food like an electric oven. Gas ovens are especially great for roasting meat - as they produce that delicious crispy effect on the outside while the middle of the roast stays moist and tender. Look for a gas oven with a fan to circulate the heat evenly - which is especially important when you're baking cakes and sweets. Additionally, with the rising cost of electricity, many people are turning to gas ovens as an eco-friendly alternative.
Meanwhile, gas cooktops are preferred by many because they're fast and powerful. Gas cooktops are especially suited to wok cooking. And although cleaning isn't quite as easy as it is with a flat electric cooktop, many gas cooktops these days feature dishwasher-safe accessories.
If you are replacing an old stove, please measure the cavity first before you buy. Not all stoves are the same size, so please double check the dimensions to make sure it will fit.
Upright ovens start at a standard width of 60cm, and go up to widths of around 120cm. The wider the unit, the more space you'll have on top for gas burners (or electric hobs), and the larger the oven capacity.
If you are buying an extra-large upright oven, you may also need to measure the doors and hallways leading to your kitchen.
The smallest upright ovens start with a capacity of around 60 litres, while the largest can provide up to around 100 litres of oven space.
(Note: most ovens will advertise the gross capacity, which will always be larger than the net capacity. For this reason, it's best to check the product manual before you buy).
The larger the oven, the more food you can prepare at once. Extra-wide ovens will also accommodate extra-wide baking trays, which will make your life easier come Christmas time.
A double oven is another feature to look out for. The double oven configuration usually consists of a large oven alongside a smaller-capacity oven, which can be used to cook side dishes or a dessert. The smaller oven can also be used to keep plates warm until it's time to dish up.
A 60cm wide stove will give you four gas or electric cooking zones, which should provide ample space if you only need to cook basic meals. Wider stoves provide space for additional hobs - making it easier to prepare large quantities of food.
Before you make a purchase, think about what kind of dishes you enjoy making. If you do a lot of wok cooking, for instance, look for a dual fuel upright stove with a specialised wok burner. Some upright stoves also provide teppanyaki plates and fish burners (i.e. an oblong-shaped burner) for added versatility.
A wide stove will safely and easily accommodate large pots and pans - which is fantastic if you have a growing family and need to cook a lot of food.
Every oven will come with its own set of features. Here are some to look out for:
(Please note: pyrolytic technology is only available in electric ovens).
Pyrolytic ovens use high temperatures (of around 500°C) to convert grease splashes on the oven walls into a fine, powdery ash. This process is known as pyrolysis - which is where pyrolytic ovens get their name. The door of the oven will lock while the pyrolytic cycle is happening, but once it has cooled down you will be able to wipe the ash out of the oven with a damp cloth.
Please note: before you start the pyrolytic cleaning cycle, you will need to remove all metal trays and racks from the oven, otherwise they will buckle in the heat. Generally speaking, the cleaning cycle will last for around 1.5 - 2 hours.
Pyrolytic ovens are great primarily because they reduce your exposure to harsh cleaning chemicals. Plus, they save time - no more scrubbing!
Before operating a pyrolytic oven, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions as described in the operator's manual, as all models are slightly different.
Some ovens come with catalytic liners affixed to the oven walls, which are designed to collect grease and grime. When your oven reaches a temperature of 200°C or above, this grease and grime will burn off and convert into ash. Once your oven has cooled down, you will be able to wipe this ash away with a damp cloth.
Depending on how frequently you use your oven, the catalytic liners will need to be replaced or turned over periodically.
Catalytic liners will save you time and effort. However please note that you will still need to wipe down the oven shelves and door regularly to keep your oven completely clean.
If you love cooking a traditional Sunday roast, this is a feature worth forking out for. A roast probe is a metal skewer that is attached to the oven, and can be inserted into meat to determine if it is cooked through.
Telescopic shelves provide extra support for the oven shelves to slide easily out of the oven. This means you can take your roast out and easily baste it while it remains totally supported on the shelf (saving you the trouble of having to lift the tray out of the oven and place it on the bench). It also means you can slide a cake out and test to see if it's cooked.
Some upright ovens come with a separate grill (which can be either gas or electric). The separate grill is great for quickly cooking chops, sausages and kebab skewers, and it's also great for making a simple meal of cheese on toast!
If the oven does not feature a separate grill, it will generally always include a grill function inside the oven itself.
Available in some (electric) ovens, the hot air grill function utilises the top grill element and the fan to circulate hot air around the cavity of the oven. This produces roast meat that is lovely and tender on the inside, yet crisp and delicious on the outside. A highly energy efficient way to roast!
Specially designed to cradle round-based woks, a wok burner provides high-powered heating for your favourite Asian dishes.
While normal gas burners are round, fish burners feature an elongated oblong shape. This makes it possible to use rectangular-shaped cookware, such as pans used to cook whole fish (hence the name "fish-burner". It also makes it easy to place metal roasting trays directly on top of the cooktop.
Fish burners are particularly useful for making homemade gravy. After you've removed the meat from the pan, you can simply whack the pan on top of your fish burner, add a little flour and water, and stir until you have gravy. Delicious!
There are two types of traditional electric cooktops on the market: solid and ceramic. Solid electric cooktops feature an exposed metal element that (in most cases) glows red to provide a visual indicator that it's switched on. These cooktops are easy to use and are also the cheapest of the lot.
Ceramic electric cooktops feature a stylish flat glass surface that is easy to wipe clean. The glass is reinforced to prevent scratching and cracking, however you will still need to be careful not to drop heavy pots and pans onto the surface.
In the same way that steel and iron objects stick to magnetic surfaces, stainless steel and cast iron pots react with induction cooktops to create heat. Instead of transferring heat from the element to the pot, heat is created within the pot itself - which makes induction cooking remarkably fast and energy efficient.
They are also incredibly safe. If you remove the pot from the cooktop's surface, your induction cooktop will automatically switch off - which makes it impossible to accidentally leave the stove switched on.
However you will still need to be careful not to scratch or crack the glass surface. It's also important to remember that induction cooktops are not as convenient if you enjoy wok cooking - although you can buy a special wok adapter to get around this problem.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our customer service team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us on 1300 000 500.