About Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Ovens Award
Canstar's Most Satisfied Customers Ovens Award reveals the oven brand that delivers the best consumer satisfaction to its customers.
We ask Kiwi oven owners to rate their satisfaction with their choice of oven brand by Overall Satisfaction, as well as important criteria such as Cooking Performance, Design, Functions and Value for Money.
Numbers crunched by Canstar's researchers:
- 1041 Customers Surveyed
- 22 Brands Assessed
- 8 Brands Shortlisted
- 1 Award Winner
The best oven brands in NZ
The brands rated are listed below in order of best overall satisfaction.
1. Bosch
Sitting atop our awards table, Bosch wins our Ovens Award with a near perfect set of ratings. Bosch is the only oven brand to earn a top 5-Star rating for Overall Satisfaction, and across our other ratings categories it has a further four 5-Star scores, including for Design and Ease of Use.
For Cooking Performance & Reliability and Value for Money Bosch has great 4-Star ratings.
German appliance manufacturer Bosch is synonymous with quality and great product design, and it's also the winner of our most recent Dishwashers Award.
In NZ, Bosch retails three oven ranges: the Series 4, Series 6 and Series 8. Most of its oven models are designed for built-in kitchens, and across its three ranges it offers 19 built-in models and two freestanding ovens.
Bosch's premium models, the Series 8, are all designed for built-in kitchens and are manufactured in Bosch’s German factory. Models in the Series 8 range feature options such as steam cooking functions and built-in microwaves.
2. Miele
Miele is a German premium brand that manufactures a wide range of home appliances. Its range of built-in ovens in New Zealand encompasses regular convection ovens as well as models with steam-assisted and microwave cooking functions, plus app-enabled smart appliances with in-oven cameras.
3. Smeg
Designed and built in Italy, Smeg is a premium appliance brand that has built a reputation for delivering great style as well as performance. Smeg offers a wide range of ovens in New Zealand. It includes over 35 different models of built-in ovens and over 40 freestanding models, in both gas and electric. Smeg ovens are available in various colours and styles.
4. Beko
Beko is one of Europe's biggest appliance manufacturers. All of its ovens are made in Europe and come with a five-year warranty. In New Zealand, it sells a range of ten freestanding ovens, plus ten built-in ovens.
5. Fisher & Paykel
Fisher & Paykel's range of built-in ovens encompasses over 50 models across four series: the 5, 7, 9 and 11 Series, and three design styles: Minimal, Contemporary and Professional. Features include basic convection ovens through to ones that offer convection alongside steam or microwave cooking and pyrolytic self-cleaning.
Fisher & Paykel's range of freestanding models is somewhat smaller, just 12 ovens, which feature Classic, Contemporary and Professional styles across a number of capacity sizes, with gas and electric hobs.
6. Samsung
Samsung is known for smart appliances and industry leading technology, and its ovens are no different. Its range covers just five models of built-in wall ovens, which boast features such as catalytic self-cleaning, steam-assisted cooking and AI-assisted technology.
7. Westinghouse
Westinghouse is an Australian brand that has been producing quality cooking appliances for over 60 years. Here it offers a choice of 22 built-in ovens and 21 freestanding models. Features available include pyrolytic cleaning and steam-assisted cooking. Some Westinghouse ovens also feature an AirFry mode, to replicate the cooking speed and intensity of air fryers.
8. Haier
Haier was founded in China in 1984 and is the owner of Fisher & Paykel. Here in NZ, the brand is often considered a cheaper alternative to Fisher & Paykel products, delivering great design and features at an affordable price.
Its range of built-in ovens comprises 26 appliances, boasting features such as pyrolytic cleaning, air frying, rotisseries and even wi-fi. Haier's range of freestanding models is limited to ten models.
Other oven brands
Not all brands in the market qualify for our ratings (based on minimum survey sample size), but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. Here are more brands to check out before making a purchase decision.
- Belling
- Electrolux
- Parmco
- Whirpool
Belling
Belling is an English appliance brand, and all its ovens are made in the UK. Here it sells a wide range of single and double standalone stoves and multi-function built-in ovens.
Electrolux
Electrolux is a Swedish appliance company. It's a premium brand that sells nine built-in oven models that boast features such as steam-assisted cooking and pyrolytic cleaning. It also has one freestanding model, the 90cm UltimateTaste 900 cooker, available in electric or gas/electric.
Parmco
Parmco won our inaugural Ovens Award in 2021, and just missed out on qualifying for this year's award. Founded in NZ in 1987, Parmco produces European designed and energy-efficient appliances that come with industry-leading warranties of up to seven years on most products. Parmco's warranties are backed by a nationwide after-sales, technical and stock support network. Parmco sells a wide range of built-in and freestanding ovens.
Whirlpool
Whirlpool is an American appliance manufacturer. In New Zealand it only retails built-in ovens. Its ten models offer functions such as steam cooking and pyrolytic cleaning.
Choosing the right oven for you
An oven is a household workhorse, one that in most homes is used for hours each week. Therefore, it's no surprise to discover that when it comes to what makes Kiwis content with their cookers, they say performance and reliability are their most important concerns, cited by nearly a third of those in our survey (29%).
Functionality & Features are also key, cited by 27%. However Value for Money is less of a worry. Just 16% cite value as one of their main concerns when it comes to their satisfaction with their choice of oven brand.
Overall, here's how the consumers in our survey rank the main things they consider when rating their choice of oven:
- Cooking Performance & Reliability: 29%
- Functionality & Features: 27%
- Ease of Use: 17%
- Value for Money: 16%
- Ease of Cooking: 7%
- Design: 4%
Different types of oven
Even if you're fairly new to cooking, you should still know that there isn’t just one standard type oven. As with heat pumps and washing machines, there are multiple styles. Below we run through the different types of ovens.
Built-in ovens
Also known as wall ovens, built-in ovens are the most common type of oven. They are fitted either in a wall space or under a bench. Wall ovens give you a large degree of flexibility when it comes to your kitchen’s layout.
They come in a wide variety of makes and models, from basic ovens with mechanical controls and few cooking modes, to smart ovens with touch displays, smart cook settings and a host of features.
Freestanding ovens
A freestanding cooker is a combination of both an oven and a hob. Free-standing ovens are easy to install and replace, as they are not built into a kitchen's cabinetry.
When considering a freestanding oven, you need to consider its type of hob, as well the oven. Do you want electric, gas or induction? And how many burners/elements do you need?
Conventional oven vs convection oven
Conventional and convection ovens look the same, and can be freestanding or built-in. The difference is that while heat in a conventional oven circulates naturally, a convection oven uses a fan to distribute hot air evenly around the oven cavity.
Most modern ovens are convection ovens and, depending on what you're cooking, you can switch the oven setting to either fan-bake or conventional bake.
A conventional oven cooking setting is great for cooking slow-baked or simmered meals, such as casseroles, stews and ragus, as well as fatty meats like duck and goose. It's also great for for baking breads, cakes and puddings.
Fan-forced cooking is very much like air frying, and great for producing crispy food or blasting pizzas with intense heat. Plus, due to the even oven temperature, the function works well when cooking a variety of foods on different racks.
Toaster ovens
As the name suggests, a toaster oven is a countertop appliance that can grill bread as well as bake food. They are much cheaper to buy than a large conventional oven, and simple to set up, but generally do not offer the same bake quality as their larger counterparts.
Bench-top convection ovens
Bench-top ovens are similar to toaster ovens, but rather than letting hot air circulate naturally, convection ovens use internal fans, like those found in most freestanding and wall ovens, to distribute the hot air evenly to create a constant temperature. They are more expensive than toaster ovens, but can cook faster, at lower temperatures and deliver better results.
Microwave ovens
Microwaves are great for heating food rapidly. However, for the most part, they are sub-par when it comes to all-round cooking, as they can't brown or crisp food and don't cook evenly – hence the rotating table! Some conventional ovens also have microwave functions, which can be ideal for saving space in small kitchens.
Air fryers
Air fryers have become hugely popular. But despite the name, an air fryer is essentially a small convection oven. Air fryers feature small cooking areas, and powerful heating elements, which deliver fast cooking and crispy results.
Self-cleaning ovens
There are two types of self-cleaning ovens:
- Pyrolytic ovens – feature a self-cleaning mode that heats the oven to temperatures as high as 500°. This reduces food and fat residue to a thin white ash, which you can then wipe away easily.
- Catalytic liners – these oven liners absorb fats and grease particles, which are then burned off by running a cleaning setting. All you have to do is given them a quick wipe for a spotless oven.
Gas ovens vs electric ovens
Similar to cooktops, ovens fall under two main categories of energy sources – gas or electric.
Gas ovens are, on average, quite a bit cheaper to buy than electric ovens of similar quality levels, although they come with some drawbacks. Firstly, you'll need a gas supply. If you already have gas in your home, then it’s fine; if not, gas installation, either bottled or mains, can be costly.
A common complaint about gas-powered ovens is that they tend to have hotspots and uneven heating. But if a gas oven is compatible with your current kitchen set-up and you're not too fussy, then it could be the oven type for you.
Electric ovens work using heating elements placed on the walls of the oven. These ovens are the most common variety and tend to have a lot more options for cooking your food at the touch of a button. Electric ovens are the easiest to use, easiest to clean and the easiest to achieve even cooking. They are also available in both convection and conventional varieties, so if an electric oven is what you're after, there's plenty of choice to be had.
Overall, most modern ovens are electric, as these lend themselves to better results and more versatility.
Conventional vs convection
Conventional and convection ovens look the same, and can be freestanding or built-in. The difference is that while heat in a conventional oven circulates naturally, a convection oven uses a fan to distribute hot air evenly around the oven cavity.
Most modern ovens are convection ovens and, depending on what you're cooking, you can switch the oven setting to either fan-bake or conventional bake.
A conventional oven cooking setting is great for cooking slow-baked or simmered meals, such as casseroles, stews and ragus, as well as fatty meats like duck and goose. It's also great for for baking breads, cakes and puddings.
Fan-forced cooking is very much like air frying, great for producing crispy food or blasting pizzas with intense heat. Plus, due to the even oven temperature, the function works well when cooking a variety of foods on different racks. Keep in mind that compared to a conventional oven setting, when using fan-forced you should reduce cooking temperatures by 20°C.
What other oven functions and features are there?
Choosing the type of oven you need, is only the first part. You also need to consider what features and functions you are looking for. Some things you may want to consider are:
- Cook settings – Bake and grill are fine for some, while others may want more choice. Many modern ovens have well over 10 cook functions, and some include specialist modes, such a pizza
- Timers and delayed start – Most ovens come with some form of timer, but modern ovens may be able to set a delayed start, or notify you (or even turn off) once the oven or food reaches the desired temperature
- Smart capability – Like most appliances, ovens have gone smart. Smart ovens allow you to control and monitor them from your smart device
- Split ovens and warming trays – If you're big into cooking, you may want a double oven to cook more food at once. Other options include separate compartments for grilling and warming trays. These are handy for cooking multiple dishes that need different temperatures and cooking methods.
Energy efficiency
If you cook a meal for an hour, including preheat time, you might expect to spend around $0.60 (depending on what your $/kWh rate is with your power provider). Modern conventional ovens are well insulated, but only about 10% to 15% of the energy they use actually cooks the food, the rest is just heating the air inside.
Gas ovens are less efficient than electric ones, as they need higher airflows and often have a glow-bar that runs continuously to reignite the gas flame should it blow out.
Convection or fan ovens use about 20% to 30% less energy than conventional ovens, and you can cook more items at the same time because heat is more uniformly distributed. Self-cleaning ovens are more efficient than standard ovens as they have more insulation.
Overall, a microwave is the most energy-efficient type of oven, as it heats food directly. However, the types of dishes you can use them for are limited.
As ovens are not given an electricity star rating, when purchasing one, it pays to check how many watts of electricity it uses. Do you need a 15,000W oven when a smaller 9000W one is enough for your cooking needs? The larger the oven's wattage the more electricity it will use, so the bigger your bill will be.
Where electricity use is concerned, it always pays to check whether you're getting the best deal. If you know you regularly use your oven at certain times of the day, why not swap to a provider that offers a free hour of power each day? Your savings could be considerable. To make choosing the best electricity provider easier, Canstar compares them on value and service.
What should you consider when buying a new oven
Finding the right oven for you isn't easy. There's a lot to consider, such as:
Do you need a cooktop?
Do you want an oven and stove all in one, and if so, what do you want on the top? Freestanding ovens can include gas, electric, or induction cooktops so if you want a 2-in-1 unit you'll need to consider which cooktop is best for you as well.
Size
Is a standard oven enough, or would you prefer a double oven or an extra-wide single oven? Bear in mind that larger ovens have bigger, heavier trays that can be harder to take out and clean.
At the other end of the spectrum, a small oven won't accommodate larger trays and, if you're cooking a roast for the whole family, you could end up having to cut back on the sides and trimmings!
Your space
A standard single oven can easily go under a cooktop or in a wall unit. Double ovens or extra-wide single ovens are more restrictive as to where they can go. Do you have the space in your kitchen to accommodate them?
Functions and features
Are you happy to just chuck your oven on fan bake and be done with it? Or are you a budding home cook that wants precise control and all the bells and whistles? This could include accurate cooking functions for perfect cooks, or smart features such as pyrolytic self-cleaning or wi-fi connectivity.
Price
It's important to stick within a reasonable budget. But that budget shouldn’t just be set by your available funds.
If you use your cooktop more than your oven, or you're just not into cooking at all, there's no point going overboard and getting a top-of-the-line model just because you can afford to. Also, there's no point saving a few dollars if you plan to use your oven religiously.
Ovens are a big investment and aren't something you can change easily (or at least cheaply). So you should choose wisely.
Design
It's not all about performance. Your oven also needs to look good and fit into the wider scheme or look of your kitchen. An oven's interior design should also be considered, as it impacts its ease of cleaning.
Everything else
When choosing an oven, there are plenty of little things to consider that can be easily overlooked:
- Are the controls easy to understand and use?
- Is the window clear and easy to view through?
- Is the door sturdy, and does it stay open in any position without moving?
- Can the light be replaced easily?
- Are the elements set into the oven and/or have a shield to prevent them from getting damaged or dirty?
- Do the trays and racks slide in and out easily and smoothly?
- Does the oven door/window stay cool, and is there a child lock?
