The BBE team will introduce a variety of ovens, including freestanding / built-in / popular compact models, and provide key considerations for selection.
Modern kitchens emphasize convenience and versatility. Ovens are no longer just tools for baking desserts; they can also handle cooking, roasting, steaming, and even air frying. There are five main categories of ovens on the market, each with its own characteristics and uses.
Microwave Oven
A microwave oven combines microwave and traditional heating functions, allowing for quick food heating while also having baking/grilling capabilities. Its advantages lie in saving time and space, making it suitable for working professionals or small families with fast cooking needs and limited kitchen area. However, because the heating principle is from the inside out, the texture may not be as crispy as with a pure oven.
Steam Oven
A steam oven heats food using steam, which helps retain moisture and nutrients in ingredients, making it particularly suitable for roasting fish, steaming buns, or healthy cooking. In recent years, many high-end brands have introduced hybrid "combi-steam ovens" that can both steam and bake, offering comprehensive functionality at a higher price. They also require regular cleaning of the water tank and drainage system to prevent limescale buildup.
Air Fryer Oven
Ovens with air frying functions use high-speed hot air circulation to achieve a crispy effect while reducing oil. This type of oven is very popular, especially for those who want to eat less fried food, offering a convenient and healthy choice. It can replace a traditional air fryer while also having baking functions, serving multiple purposes. However, the cavity is relatively small, so larger capacity models are needed for larger families.
Freestanding Oven
Freestanding ovens are compact, easy to install, and most suitable for rented accommodations or families with limited kitchen space. Although their functions are simpler, many models still support basic settings like convection fan, upper/lower heat control, etc. The downside is their smaller capacity, which is not ideal for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously or large items like a whole chicken.
Built-in Oven
Built-in ovens are typically professional-grade appliances that require pre-allocated cabinet space for installation. They feature a sleek, aesthetically pleasing design, large capacity, and even heat distribution, making them popular among baking enthusiasts and home users. Most offer multi-stage program settings and precise temperature control to handle various cooking needs. However, they come with higher purchase and installation costs, making them suitable for long-term planning users.
Popular Freestanding Oven Recommendations
The BBE team has selected 5 popular freestanding oven models, including products from TOSHIBA, PANASONIC, ATHENS, MIDEA, and WHIRLPOOL, with prices ranging from HK$2,880 to HK$6,490. The following list is sorted by price from low to high:
Price: HK$2,880
The TOSHIBA MS3-STQ20SC(BK) 20-Litre Smart Steam Oven integrates advanced cooking technology, combining steaming, air frying, baking, stewing, combi-steaming, and fermentation functions to meet the diverse cooking needs of modern families. This model features a durable 304 stainless steel cavity and a large 1.2-litre external water tank, significantly enhancing cooking convenience and efficiency. Through the Toshiba TSmartLife app, users can achieve smart remote control and one-touch cooking, making daily culinary life easier and more convenient, delivering an excellent cooking experience. Buy Now
Price: HK$2,980
The Panasonic NN-DF38PB is a versatile 23-litre Inverter Grill Microwave Oven that combines microwave, grill, and bake functions. It features powerful 1000W microwave power and 900W grill power, with baking temperatures adjustable from 30°C to 200°C. Utilizing advanced "Inverter" technology, it precisely controls power, ensuring more even food heating while effectively saving energy. Its flatbed design (no turntable) not only maximizes usable interior space but also makes cleaning exceptionally easy. Buy Now
Price: HK$3,980
The ATHENS ISO-998 20-Litre Multi-function Steam Oven is a comprehensive appliance designed for modern kitchen needs. With a practical 20-litre capacity, its compact design and intuitive operation using rotary knobs make cooking simple and efficient. It integrates various functions including steaming, grilling, baking, air frying, defrosting, and warming, easily handling both daily meals and special dishes. The product comes with 30 built-in automatic menus and a self-cleaning function, greatly enhancing convenience and daily maintenance efficiency. Buy Now
Price: HK$5,299
The Midea PS30L22Z 30-Litre Steam Oven (IOT) is a smart kitchen appliance that integrates steaming, grilling, and baking functions. With its spacious 30-litre capacity and a maximum power of 2250W, it easily meets various family cooking needs. It features a built-in 304 stainless steel cavity, ensuring cooking safety and durability. Supporting IOT smart connectivity, it allows remote control via a mobile app, bringing ultimate convenience and cooking enjoyment to modern home life. Buy Now
Price: HK$6,490
The WHIRLPOOL MWP269TMS 26-Litre 2100W 8-Ace All-in-One Microwave Combi-Steam Oven (Milkshake White) is a versatile kitchen appliance. This freestanding combi-steam oven features a 26-litre capacity and 2100W high power output, combining multiple cooking modes including microwave, steaming, grilling, and air frying, offering an efficient and convenient cooking experience. Its stylish milkshake white exterior, paired with a durable stainless steel cavity, not only enhances kitchen aesthetics but also easily handles a variety of daily cooking needs. Buy Now
Popular Compact Oven Recommendations
The BBE team has selected 5 popular compact oven models, including products from RASONIC, AKAI, WHIRLPOOL, PANASONIC, and TOSHIBA, with prices ranging from HK$2,980 to HK$4,998. The following list is sorted by price from low to high:
Price: HK$2,980
The RASONIC RSG-TT203/W is a versatile 20-litre freestanding steam oven, combining pure steaming, baking/grilling, and combi-steaming modes to meet various household cooking needs. Its 2000W high efficiency and injection steam technology ensure even food heating, bringing you a new, healthy, and convenient cooking experience. The simple white design blends easily into kitchens of different styles. Buy Now
Price: HK$3,380
The AKAI AK-TSO26T 26-Litre Freestanding Combi-Steam Oven is a high-performance, multi-functional kitchen appliance designed for modern homes. With its spacious 26-litre capacity, this combi-steam oven integrates various cooking modes including pure steam, grill, and bake, with a maximum cooking temperature of 230°C and a pure steam temperature range of 80°C to 115°C, easily meeting your diverse cooking needs and helping you prepare healthy and delicious meals. Its compact freestanding design, combined with an intuitive illuminated LED display and touch-sensitive LCD buttons, offers easy operation with precise temperature and time adjustments, bringing convenience and efficiency to your kitchen. Buy Now
Price: HK$3,590
Introducing the WHIRLPOOL CS1252A 4S Mini+ Freestanding Air Fryer Combi-Steam Oven in fashionable Avocado Green. This model features a 25-litre capacity and 2100W high-efficiency output power, integrating four core functions (4S): steaming, grilling, convection, and air frying. Its space-saving freestanding design is practical, and the stainless steel interior ensures durability and easy cleaning, making it an ideal choice for modern families seeking versatility and an efficient cooking experience. Buy Now
Price: HK$3,980
The Panasonic NN-DS59NB Inverter Combi-Steam Microwave Oven boasts a spacious 27-litre capacity, integrating four functions: steaming, grilling, baking, and microwaving. Utilizing advanced inverter technology with up to 1000W microwave power, it precisely controls heat for even food cooking while being energy efficient. Whether it's daily reheating, healthy steaming, or professional-grade baking and grilling, the NN-DS59NB handles it with ease, making it an ideal cooking partner for modern home kitchens seeking efficiency and multi-functionality. Buy Now
Price: HK$4,998
The TOSHIBA MX2-STR25SC 25-Litre 4-in-1 Air Fryer Microwave Combi-Steam Oven perfectly combines four core functions—steaming, baking, air frying, and microwaving—providing a one-stop cooking solution for modern kitchens. With a practical 25-litre capacity, it meets the diverse cooking needs of everyday households. It offers excellent power output, including 2000W for air frying, 1600W for baking, 1500W for steam, and 1000W for inverter microwaving, ensuring fast and even cooking. The interior features a durable and easy-to-clean 304 stainless steel cavity. With its sleek, stylish design and outstanding versatility, the TOSHIBA MX2-STR25SC is an ideal choice to elevate your cooking experience. Buy Now
Popular Built-in Oven Recommendations
The BBE team has selected 5 popular built-in oven models, including products from BRANDT, Electrolux, Bosch, and Siemens, with prices ranging from HK$7,498 to HK$54,800. The following list is sorted by price from low to high:
Price: HK$11,998
The BRANDT BOP7537BB 60cm 73-Litre Built-in Electric Oven, with its stylish all-black glass design and exquisite French craftsmanship, adds sophistication to modern kitchens. This multifunctional PLUS oven features a spacious 73-litre capacity and 3,385W total power consumption. Combined with advanced pyrolytic cleaning and an innovative steam-assist mode, it delivers exceptional cooking performance and convenient cleaning, making it an ideal choice for homes seeking efficiency and aesthetics. Buy Now
Price: HK$12,800
The Electrolux KODGH70TXA is a built-in electric oven made in Italy, featuring a large 72-litre InfiSpace™ capacity. Its core PlusSteam steaming/baking technology adds the perfect level of moisture to your baked goods, creating a perfect crisp exterior and soft interior. With a power rating of 2.98 kW and UltraFanPlus even heating technology, it ensures perfect cooking results every time. Buy Now
Price: HK$13,800
The CRISTAL C-S68GXMB-1 is a 45cm 60-litre built-in combi-steam oven designed for modern kitchens. Its 2200W high power combines with innovative dual water tank design and independent upper/lower temperature control for precise cooking. Equipped with a 6.86-inch color touch screen, it offers intuitive and convenient operation with multiple cooking modes, from pure steaming and gentle roasting to sterilization and cleaning, meeting your diverse culinary needs. The durable enamel interior and stainless steel frame provide excellent high-temperature resistance and long service life. Buy Now
Price: HK$27,800
The Bosch HBG7341B1 Built-in Oven, part of the high-performance Series 8, brings a professional-grade baking and cooking experience to your kitchen with its spacious 71-litre net capacity. This oven operates on 220V and delivers a powerful 3.6 kW electrical power (requires 20A wiring). It combines advanced digital controls, smart connectivity features, and versatile heating modes, aiming to provide precise, convenient, and safe cooking results, allowing you to master the preparation of various dishes with ease. Buy Now
Price: HK$28,800
The TOSHIBA EB-T500APW 50L JAPANDi Built-in Microwave Air Fryer Combi-Steam Oven (45cm) is a multi-functional kitchen appliance designed for modern homes. This 50-litre large-capacity oven combines up to 24 cooking modes including steaming, baking, air frying, and microwaving, featuring 5-level inverter microwave power and various professional baking and steaming functions. Its sleek 45cm design, presented in a simple Japanese Fuji White style, suits Hong Kong family kitchens by saving space effectively. Equipped with a 4.95-inch bilingual touch screen and 98 automatic recipes, operation is straightforward. The oven body features triple-layer heat-insulating glass and an easy-clean nano-coated cavity, ensuring both safety and easy maintenance, making it an ideal choice for enhancing cooking efficiency and quality. Buy Now
Key Considerations for Oven Selection
1. Should I buy an oven, an air fryer, or a combi-steam oven?
Air fryers, steam ovens, and pure ovens each have their own characteristics. Users can choose based on personal needs and daily scenarios:
Product
Features
Oven
More versatile than an air fryer, e.g., wider and more precise temperature control.
Equipped with functions like baking, grilling, suitable for making cakes, roasting meat, baked rice, etc.
Usually larger capacity, can cook more food at once, suitable for family use.
Precise temperature control provides a stable cooking environment.
Some models feature convection fans for more even heating.
Lacks the pure steaming function of a steam oven.
Air Fryer
Advantages: Affordable price, available from a few hundred dollars, and compact size.
Disadvantages: Small capacity, typically ranging from 1L to 6L.
Uses little or no oil, offering a healthier alternative to frying.
Fast cooking, suitable for quickly preparing small portions.
Primarily suitable for making crispy-textured foods, relatively single-function.
Heating principle is similar to a convection oven but lacks the多样化functionality of a traditional oven.
Steam Oven / Combi-Steam Oven
An oven with added steaming function, capable of multiple cooking functions.
Cooking functions include: baking bread, steaming fish, stewing soup, etc.
Uses steam to keep food moist, locking in nutrients and original flavor.
Suitable for steaming delicate ingredients like seafood and vegetables.
Some models combine steaming and baking functions, offering more diverse cooking options.
Ideal for those pursuing a healthy diet.
2. How to choose between Freestanding and Built-in?
Before purchasing an oven, you need to decide whether to buy a freestanding or a built-in model. This choice largely depends on your kitchen layout and size, but the characteristics of both should also be considered:
Freestanding Oven
Built-in Oven
Installation
Placed directly on a countertop or in a cabinet, connected to a power outlet for use. Easy to install in existing kitchens.
No need for custom cabinet-making; can be installed in most kitchens.
Wall-mounted installation: Installed on a wall or within a wall cabinet.
Bench-mounted installation: Installed on a kitchen countertop.
Oven Capacity
Freestanding ovens tend to have smaller capacities, generally 30L or less.
Built-in ovens have larger capacities; ovens 50-60L or above typically use a built-in design.
3. How to choose the right size and capacity?
When choosing an oven, consider the width, interior dimensions, and the number of racks. Below are key points to note during selection:
Smaller ovens are suitable for singles or small families and occupy less kitchen space.
Check if the oven's interior dimensions are compatible with your commonly used baking trays or cooking containers.
Number of Oven Racks
When considering the number of racks, base your choice on cooking habits to ensure enough grilling levels for even heating of all items.
More racks provide more cooking level options, especially when handling different foods simultaneously.
Ensure rack positions are adjustable to accommodate dishes or cakes of varying heights.
If you often bake multiple trays of cookies or pastries at once, more racks are more convenient.
Check if the racks are easy to remove and clean for convenient daily maintenance.
4. Which brands should I consider?
When selecting an oven, besides functions and appearance, brand reliability and after-sales service are equally crucial. Here are several oven brand recommendations that perform well in the Hong Kong and international markets:
Bosch
The German brand Bosch is renowned for stable heating performance and excellent temperature control. Its built-in ovens feature clean design, intuitive operation, often equipped with convection systems, automatic cleaning, and multi-stage cooking modes. It's a reliable and practical choice for home chefs who frequently bake bread and pies.
Siemens
Also originating from Germany, Siemens focuses on high performance and smart technology. Some models support Wi-Fi remote control and can automatically adjust baking temperatures based on ingredient types. Featuring fashionable, sleek designs, they are highly suitable for modern kitchens. Its combi-steam series also receives praise for stable temperature and moisture retention.
Brandt
Originating from France, Brandt is known for its high cost-effectiveness, with designs leaning towards practicality. Both its built-in and freestanding ovens offer multi-stage power selection and even heat distribution, especially suitable for budget-conscious families who value cooking results. The brand has also recently introduced models with air frying functions, making them more comprehensive.
Panasonic
Panasonic is extremely popular among Hong Kong households, especially in the microwave and steam oven series. Its combined steam and microwave technology cooks food quickly without losing moisture, suitable for busy professionals and health-conscious users. After-sales support and repair networks are well-established, making it a safe choice.
Toshiba
Toshiba has been actively launching multifunctional ovens combining air frying and steaming features in recent years, focusing on energy efficiency and healthy cooking. Products feature simple, easy-to-use interfaces and appropriately sized bodies, especially suitable for small to medium-sized Hong Kong families. The brand is also competitive in terms of appliance durability and pricing.
AKAI
Recently focusing in Hong Kong on combi-steam and multi-function combi-steam air fryer models, available in both freestanding and built-in types, with capacities from about 40L to over 70L, meeting needs from small to large families. A mid-range priced option with many functions.
Whirlpool
A well-established European/American appliance brand, offering both built-in and freestanding ovens with many capacity options and good temperature stability, suitable for everyday family baking of vegetables, pasta, etc.
Electrolux
A well-established European/American appliance brand, emphasizing convection and even baking/roasting, suitable for users who often bake pies, cookies, etc., sensitive to heat distribution. Some models also include steam or automatic programs.
Athens
Commonly seen in Hong Kong appliance stores, offers multifunctional steam ovens and freestanding models, emphasizing "all-in-one" functions like steaming, baking, air frying combined, with relatively affordable pricing.
Midea
A major Chinese brand with a wide product range, from basic ovens to steam ovens, focusing on high CP value and practical functions, suitable for budget-conscious families wanting multifunctional appliances.
Rasonic
A common Hong Kong appliance brand, focusing on practicality and ease of use,偏向freestanding or compact ovens, suitable for rentals or small kitchen spaces.
2 Comment(s)
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