Need to know
- CHOICE experts have tested 28 wall ovens from brands including Westinghouse, Bosch, Smeg, Fisher & Paykel, Miele and more
- We give each model a score based on performance and ease of use, including everything from to how well it roasts to how simple the controls are
- Consider becoming a CHOICE member to access all our wall oven reviews
An oven is arguably one of the most important appliances in your kitchen, and often the most expensive, so you'll want to make sure you choose a top scorer.
We test and review a wide range of wall ovens to help you avoid buyer's remorse and nab yourself an appliance that will go the distance (and hopefully help you nail that perfect sponge cake or ultimate roast dinner with ease).
Choose the wrong oven and your dreams of airy sponges and succulent roasts could go up in smoke
An oven should last you up to 15 years, so if you choose well you'll have many happy years of cooking ahead of you.
But choose the wrong one and your dreams of airy sponges and succulent roasts could go up in smoke.
Choosing an oven
"To get the best out of any oven you need to become familiar with it," says CHOICE kitchen expert Fiona Mair.
"An oven with a low performance score in our testing may just require a little more trial and error to get better results."
Don't just look at the brand name or price, as you may be disappointed
Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert
Fiona advises that when buying an oven, think about what you like to bake and what functions you'll need to achieve the best results.
"Most ovens are multifunctional, so choose one that has the functions that will best suit your needs. Don't just look at the brand name or price, as you may be disappointed."
Hot oven buying tips
According to Fiona, most ovens cook well, but it's ease of use that separates the average from the outstanding. She recommends checking the controls, shelf design and internal surfaces instore before committing to a purchase.
"Make sure the controls are clearly labelled and easy to understand," she says. "Try pulling the shelves and trays in and out to see if they run smoothly and that there are stoppers to prevent spills.
Make sure the controls are clearly labelled and easy to understand
Fiona Mair, CHOICE kitchen expert
"Finally, check the visibility through the door and look for awkward gaps in the door or internal surfaces that will be tricky to clean."
Also, look for an oven that has the accessories you need. Fiona recommends at least two shelves, a baking tray that slides into the shelf supports, and a grill rack.
The lowest scoring ovens in our tests
We don't want you to end up with a dud buy, so here are the products that scored lowest in our lab tests. Consider becoming a CHOICE member to see the best performers.
High price, low performance: This Ilve oven doesn't live up to its large price tag.
Ilve OV60SLKMP/SS
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 68%
- Price: $2999
The better part of $3000 is a lot of money to spend on an oven that CHOICE experts weren't overly impressed with.
This model received the lowest score of all the ovens we tested, rating even lower than significantly cheaper models from Ikea, Haier and Omega.
You'd think an oven this expensive would just about do the cooking for you, but our expert testers found it challenging to use – and they know their way around a kitchen, so that's really saying something.
Let's start with the controls: the labelling is small and faint and can be difficult to see; the controls may not be accurate for time or temperature; and the functions are symbols, so you'll be constantly referring to the manual while you get the hang of them.
If you have this kind of money to spend on an oven, we suggest you don't drop it on this one
Grilling in this oven can be an exercise in frustration: the grill tray moves out loosely and doesn't have stoppers to prevent it being pulled all the way out, and it can tilt if you put a heavy load on it. It can be difficult to see your food cooking under the grill on the top shelf.
For this price you'd expect an oven with a pyrolytic cleaning function, but this one doesn't deliver, and doesn't have catalytic liners, either.
If you have this kind of money to spend on an oven, we suggest you don't drop it on this one.
Read the full Ilve OV60SLKMP/SS review.
For $2790, you can definitely do better than the Smeg SOPA6102TB3.
Smeg SOPA6102TB3
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 70%
- Price: $2790
Only slightly cheaper than the Ilve oven above, this Smeg delivers just barely better performance.
It does have an air fryer function, which is a feature that's popular in new ovens, and it did perform quite well when we tested its air fryer capabilities.
However, our experts aren't convinced that it's worth seeking out an oven with this function: if your oven has fan grill mode, you can use that and still get similar results.
While the Smeg scored quite well on a number of our tests, it was let down by its grilling abilities in particular: it left large areas of bread unevenly toasted, so it was rated as 'Borderline' by our experts.
It's also difficult to see food cooking under the grill due to the oven's design, so grilling could be a very hit-and-miss process.
Not only will you be paying more upfront, you'll also have to work a lot harder: it's very confusing and difficult to use
This oven scores the same as the dirt-cheap Everdure for ease of use, which just goes to show that spending more won't guarantee you an easier ride.
Not only will you be paying more upfront, you'll also have to work a lot harder: it's very confusing and difficult to use.
Our kitchen experts have more than 35 years' experience between them, so if it confuses them, regular home cooks will likely have a very hard time using this oven.
There are plenty of other ovens around this price and cheaper that actually perform well, so we suggest you spend your money elsewhere.
Read the full Smeg SOPA6102TB3 review.
This Electrolux could cause you to lose your lunch.
Electrolux EVE614DSE review
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 71%
- Price: $1299
A score of 71% isn't terrible – it's technically classed as 'Good' under our rating scale – but when the top performers sit around 85% and higher, it puts this Electrolux's score into perspective.
Another oven with a grill that's far from brill, it'll also disappoint when cooking roasts.
Not to mention that if you're cooking something heavy, the shelf can tilt so your Sunday roast could end up on the floor if you're not careful.
Another oven with a grill that's far from brill, it'll also disappoint when cooking roasts
And to add to your disappointment, you may end up with a sad-looking roast chook – our experts found the oven didn't crisp the skin and the browning was patchy.
If you like to have a clear view of the food cooking in your oven then the Electrolux isn't the best, with the visibility through the glass panel and internal light being marked down by our experts.
Instructions are important when buying a new oven, but unfortunately this model only comes with a quick-start guide. You'll need to go online, download and print the full manual if you want all the details.
Read the full Electrolux EVE614DSE review.
Bosch HBF133BS0A: Disappointing for the price.
Bosch HBF133BS0A
- CHOICE Expert Rating: 71%
- Price: $999
This model didn't exactly wow our experts – but it's not a dud either. We just think there are better ovens for the price.
It did get excellent scores for low-temperature baking, so it'll turn out lovely meringues. But its high-temperature cooking score was less than stellar at 50%, which means pizza without the crispy base (truly a culinary crime).
This model didn't wow our experts – but it's not a dud. We just think there are better ovens for the price
It has catalytic liners, but only on the back wall, which means you'll still need to scrape and scrub the ceiling, walls and floor of the oven to keep it clean – which kind of defeats the purpose of having catalytic liners.
(Not sure what catalytic liners are? We explain all about pyrolytic and catalytic ovens.)
It's not really a pleasure to operate either, with our experts noting that the controls were only OK to use, the manual temperature dial may not be accurate, and the function symbols are small.
It doesn't have telescopic runners, and the shelves move out loosely, plus the door can slam shut when almost closed – all things that can add up to a ruined roast or a crummy cake.
Read the full Bosch HBF133BS0A review.
We're on your side
For more than 60 years, we've been making a difference for Australian consumers. In that time, we've never taken ads or sponsorship.
Instead we're funded by members who value expert reviews and independent product testing.
With no self-interest behind our advice, you don't just buy smarter, you get the answers that you need.
You know without hesitation what's safe for you and your family.
And you'll never be alone when something goes wrong or a business treats you unfairly.
Learn more about CHOICE membership today
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
