Choosing your built-in oven well: pyrolytic, steam, air fry and housing
A good oven isn't judged by the number of programmes on the front. What matters: evenly distributed heat, a cleaning method that suits you, a few functions you'll actually use, and a housing of the right dimensions. Here's our method, with our ovens in the shop.
- Fan oven : the basics, for cooking on several shelves
- Pyrolysis : the most thorough cleaning, no scrubbing
- Steam, probe, air fry : useful if you cook often
- Recess : 60 cm high, depth and ventilation to check
Types of ovens
Multifunction fan oven
A fan and a circular element distribute the heat: you can cook on several shelves without mixing the smells. There is also bottom heat, top heat, grill and often a pizza mode. It is the oven found in the vast majority of kitchens.
from €379.99
Steam and combi-steam
From ovens that simply add a little steam (a few bursts for bread and roasts) to true combi-steam ovens that also cook at 100 °C. Remember to fill the water tank and descale.
on request in store
Microwave combination oven
An oven and a microwave in the same cavity, often 45 cm high. Ideal for a small kitchen or as a complement to a main oven.
on request in store
Cleaning: pyrolytic, catalytic or hydrolytic
This is often what makes the price difference between two ovens that cook equally well.
| Platform | Principle | More | Less |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrolysis | The oven heats up to around 500 °C for 1 h 30 to 2 h 30, door locked | Everything turns to ash: walls, base, door. No product | Dearer; several kWh per cycle; remove the shelves |
| Catalytic cleaning | Porous enamel oxidises fats during cooking above around 200 °C | Cheaper, nothing to start | Base and glass not affected; the enamel wears; no oven cleaner |
| Hydrolysis (water cleaning) | Water is poured onto the base; a short programme softens the grime | Simple, low energy use | You still need to scrub: a convenience, not automatic cleaning |
The functions that really matter
- Cooking probe (core temperature probe): you insert it into the roast and the oven stops at the right temperature. A real bonus for meat and fish.
- Air fry : a perforated tray and powerful airflow for crispy chips, nuggets or vegetables with very little oil. Handy if you were thinking about buying a separate air fryer.
- Steam injection : a few bursts of steam for bread, pastries and juicier roasts.
- Telescopic runners on one, two or three levels: you can pull out the tray without burning yourself. A comfort you won't want to give up.
- Cool door (multiple glass panes): essential with children, and standard on pyrolytic ovens.
- Connectivity : remote preheating, guided recipes, end-of-cooking alert. Pleasant, but not essential.
- Double cavity : some ovens split into two by a partition so you can cook two dishes at two temperatures (Dual Cook at Samsung, Split&Cook at Beko).
Dimensions and niche
A standard oven measures 60 cm wide and around 60 cm high (59.5 × 59.5 cm), for a tall unit or under a worktop. Compact ovens are 45 cm high (steam, microwave combination), and a 14 cm warming drawer can complete a tall unit.
- Niche depth : often 55 cm minimum. It's the measurement people forget.
- Ventilation cutouts : follow the instructions, especially for a pyrolytic oven.
- Capacity : 65 to 77 litres for a 60 cm oven. The usable width and number of shelf levels matter more than the litres quoted.
As for electrics, a single oven often connects to a 16 A circuit (check the rating plate). Don't put it on the same circuit as the hob without advice from an electrician.
Energy label for ovens
Ovens still carry theold A+++ to D scale. The label shows consumption per cycle in conventional and fan-assisted heat, and the cavity volume. Most recent ovens are A or A+. According to the European Commission, a new electric oven consumed on average 84 kWh per year in 2020, around thirty euros a year at the average Belgian price. The gap between two ovens is therefore small: choose first on features. More details on our page on the energy label.
Our ovens in store
| Model | What you need to know | Public price |
|---|---|---|
| Indesit IO275PX | Entry-level oven for a simple kitchen | 399,99 € |
| Beko BBIE17302BMPC | Beko multifunction at a low price | 399,99 € |
| Hisense BI64211EPX | Pyrolytic, 77 L cavity | 449,99 € |
| Bosch HBF154ES0F | Entry-level Bosch oven, the brand's reliability | 589,99 € |
| Bosch HBA553BA3F | 3D hot air, cooking on several levels | 619,99 € |
| Samsung NV7B41307AB | NV7B4 range: 76 L, class A+, pyrolytic | 679,99 € |
| LG WS5D7230S | The LG oven in the catalogue, rare in Belgium | 699,99 € |
| Whirlpool WOI4S8PM1SWAF | W4 range from the W Collection | 949,99 € |
| Samsung NV7B4550VAS | Dual Cook Flex: two cavities, pyrolytic | 999,99 € |
| Siemens HB774G2B1 | Siemens iQ700 high end | 1 229,99 € |
| Smeg SOP6602TNR | Smeg design, black finish | 1 299,99 € |
Public prices noted on nimestore.com on 15 October 2026. Prices change: the product page is the reference. Nimesclub members often get a reduced price. Specifications based on the official model range sheets; exact cleaning and functions to be checked on each model's product page.
Would you rather have an oven and hob combined in one freestanding unit? That's the role of the range cooker or cooking range: see our guide to cooker hoods and cookers. And for the hob that will go on top, our comparison induction, ceramic or gas.
Which oven for which cook?
Simple multifunction
Fan oven, grill, hydrolytic or catalytic cleaning. Everything you need for the week's meals.
from €379.99 to around €600
Pyrolysis and runners
The cleaning convenience that changes everything, with multi-level cooking. Add a probe if you like roasts.
from €449.99
Steam, double cavity, connected
For homemade bread, low-temperature cooking and big family gatherings. Look at the premium range from Siemens, Bosch, Samsung or Whirlpool.
from about €1,000
If you only choose one option, go for pyrolytic cleaning. A clean oven gets used more and used better. And if you're replacing one, bring the height, width and depth of your recess: we'll check the installation dimensions against the manual together before you order.
Want to know more about a brand? Ovens Siemens, Bosch, Samsung, Whirlpool, Beko and Hisense are covered in their own sections.
Our built-in ovens in store
INDESIT IO275PX built-in oven€399.00
Built-in oven HISENSE BI64211EPX€449.00
Built-in oven BOSCH HBF154ES0F€589.00
Built-in oven BOSCH HBA553BA3F€619.00
Built-in oven SAMSUNG NV7B41307AB€679.00
Built-in oven LG WS5D7230S€699.00
Built-in Oven SAMSUNG NV7B4550VAS€999.00
Built-in oven WHIRLPOOL WOI4S8PM1SWAF€949.00
SIEMENS HB774G2B1 Built-in Oven€1,229.00
Built-in oven SMEG SOP6602TNR€1,299.00Frequently asked questions
Pyrolytic or catalytic: which to choose?
Pyrolytic, if your budget allows. The oven heats up to around 500 °C and reduces all residue to ash, base and door included. Catalytic is cheaper, but it only cleans the enamelled walls, not the base or the glass, and its enamel wears down over the years.
Does a pyrolytic clean use a lot of energy?
A cycle uses several kWh, often quoted at between 2 and 5 kWh depending on the oven and programme, or roughly €0.70 to €1.75 at the average Belgian price. Run once a month, that's reasonable. Many ovens offer a short cycle for a lightly soiled oven.
Is a steam oven worth it?
If you often cook vegetables, fish or bread, yes. Adding steam to a conventional oven makes roasts juicier and bread crispier. A true combi-steam oven also cooks with pure steam. Plan to descale the water tank, especially in hard-water areas.
Can you install an oven under an induction hob?
Yes, in most cases, provided both manuals allow it and the required ventilation is respected. Some hobs need an air gap or a separating shelf. Check this before you order.
Does an oven plug into a standard socket?
A single oven often runs on a 16 A circuit: check the power rating on its data plate. An oven and hob on the same circuit, or a cooker, need an electrician's advice.
Come and see the appliances in person
At our Temploux shop, we open the doors and compare drums and finishes. Or ask our expert sales adviser online, right now.
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