5 Stylish Wall Ovens to Consider
Wall ovens are becoming more stylish, and they're a good option for high-end kitchens
When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. 100% of the fees we collect are used to support our nonprofit mission. Learn more.
Wall ovens used to be these boxy ovens that screamed function over form. And then kitchens became more stylish, and wall ovens followed suit, along with cooktops and ranges.
Attention was paid to the finish, and styling and placement of the wall oven's door handle, control panel, knobs, and even the size of the window. The pros at Consumer Reports just tested five wall ovens from five brands. Each has a different look, and performance varied widely in this small group. Here's a look.
Thirty-inch wide electric wall ovens are the most popular and what Consumer Reports buys and tests. If you're replacing a wall oven, it's critical that you measure the one you have and the cabinet cutout. The GE website offers step-by-step instructions that are meant to prevent meltdowns—yours, not the oven's.
The capacity scores in our wall oven ratings are based on our measurements of usable space, and the same scales and scoring is used for our tested cooktops and ranges, allowing you to compare if you're trying to decide whether the cooktop-and-wall oven combo is right for you.
Now about the noise. The wall oven has a fan to cool the cavity and the electronic controls when in use or after a cycle ends. Some people complain that the noise is loud or whistling. When you're considering a wall oven, see the comments on our website and others, and check the manufacturer's site for what you can expect to hear.
Capacity is large—claimed to be 5 cubic feet—and the KitchenAid's baking was very good. Cookies turned out evenly browned, although slightly less even than with ovens scoring excellent, when baked on two racks simultaneously. Same for cakes. Keep in mind our experts do not rotate the pans or move to different racks in an effort to get great results.
Broiling was excellent, turning out a tray of nine nicely seared and juicy burgers. Self-cleaning was only good, leaving some of the mess we made. There's a touch control panel with control lock, six rack positions and gliding racks, convection, and a temperature probe that displays the internal temperature of foods on the control panel. Available in stainless, white, black, and black stainless, this wall oven made our top picks.
Available in stainless, this Maytag also made our top picks. Oven capacity is big and claimed to be 5 cubic feet. Baking, broiling, and self-cleaning were very good. There's a touchpad for setting the oven temperature and control lockout for keeping curious kids safe. Six rack positions, convection for cutting cooking time, and high and low broiling settings are part of the deal. All of the wall ovens shown here have a covered element—the heat element is out of sight and hidden inside the oven floor, making it easier to wipe the oven clean.
Capacity is big, though not as big as the two ovens above. The LG is claimed to be 4.7 cubic feet. Baking was just good, and broiling and self-cleaning were excellent. It comes in stainless and black stainless, and the interior is bright blue. There are five rack positions, high and low broiling, and a convection option. The touch control panel gets it going, and the Tag On technology lets you manage it from your smartphone, but it's better to be nearby.
Baking was only fair, while broiling was excellent. The Frigidaire oven is large, though not as big as the KitchenAid and Maytag, and claimed to be 5.1 cubic feet. It did a very good job in our tough self-cleaning tests. One knob sets the oven mode, the other controls the temperature. Six rack positions, gliding racks, oven lockout, convection, and high and low broiling are included. It's available in stainless.
For more options, see our ratings of wall ovens and cooktops. We test cooking appliances year-round so we add models when the results are in. Email questions to kjaneway@consumer.org.
