9 types of ovens

Ranges offer the best of both worlds by combining a cooktop and an oven. These ovens are a great option for smaller kitchens that don’t have room for two separate appliances. Most ranges come in freestanding, slide-in and double oven options. Learn more about the different types of ranges.

• Freestanding ranges: These options feature a built-in backsplash that usually houses the display and some of the controls. Freestanding ranges can be installed as either a stand-alone appliance or as a built-in between cabinets, making them a flexible choice for a variety of kitchen layouts.

• Slide-in ranges: Slide-ins are designed as built-in appliances that offer an upgraded and seamless look. This design helps to create clean lines and prevent crumbs from falling between the appliance and the surrounding cabinets.

• Double oven ranges: Ranges with a double oven offer two separate oven spaces so you can simultaneously cook multiple dishes at varying temperatures.

Wall ovens are installed directly into the wall or cabinets to free up floor space and create a premium look in your kitchen. They do not feature a cooktop, so one will have to be installed separately. Wall ovens typically come in single or double oven configurations. Learn more about the types of wall ovens.

• Single wall oven: This option offers versatility in its installation as it can be installed in a wall, cabinet or underneath a countertop due to its smaller size.

• Double wall oven: Like double oven ranges, a double wall oven offers an additional oven cavity. Both oven spaces are usually the same size, providing double the cooking space. Double wall ovens are great for creating large, multi-course meals that require different cooking temperatures, settings and times.

Gas ovens are ideal for baking and keeping recipes like roasts juicy on the inside. This fuel type also typically yields fast cooking times and can preheat slightly faster than electric models. Wall ovens usually do not come in a gas fuel type, so you may have to choose between having gas fuel and having a built-in wall oven when it comes down to making a decision.

Select Whirlpool^® gas ranges offer features like Scan-to-Cook Technology that uses the barcode on your frozen food packages to select the proper temperature and cook time along with Frozen Bake™ Technology so you can skip preheating and enjoy your frozen favorites faster.

Electric ovens are the most common type of oven found in homes. They offer consistent, even heating and can be powered by either a standard 120-volt outlet or a 240-volt circuit depending on the model. 

Electric ovens are great options for baking pastries as the heat provided is typically more consistent throughout the baking process.

Convection ovens utilize a fan and exhaust system to circulate hot air around the oven cavity to help with even temperatures from rack to rack. 

Convection ovens share these benefits:

• Promotes browning, crisping and roasting.

• Ideal for multi-rack cooking and may reduce the need to rotate dishes between oven racks.

• Circulated air flow allows for long baking times that won’t create an over-dried result.

A conventional oven does not use a fan to circulate air and instead uses a traditional gas or electric heating element to generate heat. This type of oven is typically the most familiar to consumers. 

Conventional ovens also:

• Offer familiar functionality.

• Allow you to achieve different cooking results depending on which rack a baking dish is placed.

• Provide the still environment needed for delicate recipes like cakes.

Smart ovens can help you to cut down on the time it takes to get dinner on the table by allowing you to monitor and control your oven using voice commands or your smartphone. Many smart ovens allow you to remotely control temperature and bake settings, so you can check other tasks off your list of chores while dinner is being prepared.

You can browse the entire line of Whirlpool brand smart ovens to help you handle meals while you’re busy elsewhere.

Self-cleaning ovens feature a setting that uses either high or low heat to loosen spills and baked-on food debris to help make after-dinner cleanup easier. Traditional self-cleaning ovens use higher temperatures that burn soils to a powder that you can easily wipe away.

Some self-cleaning ovens offer a steam-clean feature that uses water to loosen and soften food particles so you can easily wipe them away.

If you’re limited on counter space or just prefer single appliances that can do the job of many, you may want to consider an oven with cooking capabilities like air frying. These options can perform the basic tasks of a typical oven while providing the capabilities of other appliances like an air fryer. 

Air frying helps to create crispy results similar to a deep fryer without the use of excess cooking oil. Ovens with air fry capabilities circulate hot air around food to achieve a fried texture. This helps to keep fried foods light and eliminates the pesky cleanup of working with a deep fryer.

The Whirlpool^® Electric 7-in-1 Air Fry Oven allows you to skip preheating and air fry chicken nuggets, wings, fries and more to get crispy results right in your oven. The Air Fry Mode circulates hot air around the air fry basket to cook fried food in a healthy way, with less oil than traditional frying.