Kitchen Remodel 1 Oven or Double

I don't cook a ton, but whenever I entertain, I wish I had 2 ovens. Especially large family holidays (I come from a family of 7) you will regret not having 2 when you entertain - I always have to borrow one of my neighbors

I say go for the two. Even just making regular meals I often wish there was a second one or am trying to cram two trays in one. We had two growing up and it was wonderful to be able to cook two different things at different temps too at the same time. If you are used to one though, it probably won't make a big difference and you may want the storage.

GO FOR 2!! You will not regret it...especially if you are going to be hosting the holidays! We have 3 ovens, and I rarely use more than the 2...except over the holidays, which was the main reason I put in the 3rd oven. It makes it SO much easier to cook for a large group, and you never have to worry! Good luck :)

i cook A LOT and i almost never use my double oven. Only when i make cookies or have people over and need to cook a lot of pizza. However there will be no shortage of storage because you can use the unused oven AS storage.

i put my pizza stones in my bottom oven

I have never used a double oven and I cook everyday, from scratch and bake.
My Mom, had a double oven... but she put on monthly huge dinners for my Dad's clients and family and associates.

I would, personally, want more storage, in my kitchen. Kitchen Storage, is ALWAYS the thing that people want more of. I would, personally, have more storage designed into my kitchen and have nice organizational systems in the cabinets/pantry/drawers etc.

good luck,
Susan

My kingdom for a good double oven!!!

On the other hand, that's TWO ovens I won't get around to cleaning, tehehe.

Once you've had 2 ovens, you'll never go back. You'll appreciate it every holiday, or when it cuts your cookie/cupcake baking time in half! You can always store baking sheets etc. in the unused oven for the times it's not needed if space is that tight.

Definitely Double. I am a family of 4 and my second oven is rarely used. But, I host either Thanksgiving or Christmas every year and have occassional gatherings at my house throughout the year and that second oven sure comes in handy! Love it and if you can afford it - why not.

Two, for sure! We're a family of 3 and we use both ovens all the time; I can't imagine only having one. Especially with a family of 5 and holiday get togethers, two will be invaluable. I think you'll more than make up for the difference in the storage space you'll be losing with the time you'll be using a second oven.

Sooo Jealous!! I want a double oven! My mom and a couple of friend's have it and LOVE it!!

I REALLY miss my grandmother's double oven. Even for just everyday stuff. Having one to warm plates, or keep one dish warm while another dish was baking, or to be able to be baking and broiling at the same time. Sooooo miss it.

Go for the double oven. I host all famiy get togethers and holidays and I cannot tell you how having two ovens has saved me. While the turkey or roast is cooking you can cook or warm everything else. Not to mention just regular meals. Broiling the chicken in one and baking the rolls in the other. Some days you will think it's a waste but on holidays it's great!

I am in the same spot as you! The first time we remodeled the kitchen was about 18 years ago. At that time we purchased at the level we could afford - not the highest end appliances - but workable. Now my pre-fab press board cabinets are literally falling apart! So this time round we are investing in higher quality hardwood cabinets and appliances that I hope will last me the rest of my life!

There are things you can do to increase storage space without giving up the second oven, such as raising the ceiling so that you can have extra storage for things you don't use so much up high.

I AM a cook so having two ovens was very important to me - However - if space is really limited you can supplement one large oven with a toaster/convection/counter top oven! Some are surprisingly large! There are even microwave/convection ovens too. For me, the oven was the BIG splurge and so I went with a 48" Bluestar range with 6 burners and a grill. Check them out (www.bluestar.com).

I would strongly recommend that you not tear out anything in your old kitchen until all the appliances and cabinets are on hand - this will save you down/lag time! I have a contractor I really like....if you want more info, email me. LL

Updated

I am in the same spot as you! The first time we remodeled the kitchen was about 18 years ago. At that time we purchased at the level we could afford - not the highest end appliances - but workable. Now my pre-fab press board cabinets are literally falling apart! So this time round we are investing in higher quality hardwood cabinets and appliances that I hope will last me the rest of my life!

There are things you can do to increase storage space without giving up the second oven, such as raising the ceiling so that you can have extra storage for things you don't use so much up high.

I AM a cook so having two ovens was very important to me - However - if space is really limited you can supplement one large oven with a toaster/convection/counter top oven! Some are surprisingly large! There are even microwave/convection ovens too. For me, the oven was the BIG splurge and so I went with a 48" Bluestar range with 6 burners and a grill. Check them out (www.bluestar.com).

I would strongly recommend that you not tear out anything in your old kitchen until all the appliances and cabinets are on hand - this will save you down/lag time! I have a contractor I really like....if you want more info, email me. LL

I SO want double ovens!

Hi Diana

I am an interior designer and have a few other questions for you. How large is your kitchen? If it is large you may want to opt for a large range with two ovens below instead of a double wall oven. Also there are many space savers for inside the cabinets to give you more room.
If you are working with a kitchen designer they should be able to optimize your space based on your specific requirements.
If you would like to ask more questions or discuss this further, you can call me at ###-###-#### or email ____@____.com. Website is www.coloursandconcepts.com or socalinteriors.com
Good luck!

J.

If I had a choice, I would choose a double oven. I don't know how many times I was cooking a casserole in my oven at one temp and wanted to put in homemade whole wheat biscuits in at another temp. The result of course is that I have to wait for one to get out and the temp adjusted before I can put the other in. This means that the casserole has cool quite a bit before the biscuits come out. What a bummer! Also, during the winter months, I like to bake. Homemade Pumpkin Bread with nuts calls my name continuely. My oldest son has severe ADHD and I keep him of sugar to help control him as well as nut allergies (peanut and tree nuts both). I also have not introduced nuts to my younger 2 children because nut allergies run in the family. I myself am allergic to peanuts. If I make pumpkin bread for my husband and I with walnuts or pecans in it then I also have to make sugar free, nut free pumpkin bread for my son. 2 ovens would be really nice.

By the way, I really do not like the taste of the one I make him so if anyone has a recipe for sugar free pumpkin bread you would like to share, send it to me direct.

DOUBLE!!! Even if you aren't a big baker, you will end up using it around holidays or what not. I miss my double ovens ALL THE TIME.

Oh Diana......we are going through a major home renovation.....with little kids running around, let me just say that I feel your pain!

Absolutely go for the double oven if you can afford to give up the storage. I totally understand storage as being at a premium, but a double oven is a life saver.....esp. for holidays.

Good luck!

If you are ever going to do any entertaining, especially for the holidays go for the double oven. That is my biggest regret in our kitchen remodel, I opted NOT to do it.

I rejected the double oven and the double oven with the heating drawer.
I regret it and am saving money to get the cabinet made so I can add them.
Don't trust JD Powers reviews as I was MISLED several times. I hope to be able to put the oven I have into a rent house so it is not a total waste.

When we built, we ate out a lot. Now I am cooking and it would be such a blessing to be able to cook two things at once.

I previously had the Maytag Gemini(one big and one small oven in one stove). The top little oven always burnt things. I left it at our house and it helped sell the woman who bought it. She left it behind too.

I have a convection oven/ceramic stove combo. I wish I would have listened to the builder and put in gas. My husband has cooked 4 times in 3 years and he doesn't like gas. You won't regret the double oven.

I would definitely choose the double if I had the space to spare. We entertain a ton, and it sure would be nice. However, I have found that using one of those 18qt roasters works well as a quasi-double oven. I will roast our turkey in the roaster and everything else in the oven. Or, you can cook casseroles, etc. in the roaster. It takes up less space as you only have to pull it out when needed. BTW, I have 6 children, and I seldom actually feel the need to have a double oven. It would be nice on pizza night though!

We remodeled our kitchen about 4 years ago and I knew I wanted a double over because we have family over for the holidays. We opted for an Advantium oven for the second as it is a convection microwave that also bakes via halogen lights ("tri-vection" Oooooooo...). We love it.

We had to get a new oven (a freestanding one) and we opted for the "double oven" with a small oven on top and the normal size oven on the bottom (doesn't have the storage/broiler/warming drawer). i LOVE it! Now, I am NOT a cook and I don't bake often. I was worried about having to lean down when I use the bigger oven, but actually, I do not use it too often! For the things I make often, I tend to use the smaller upper oven! It's great in the summer as it doesn't heat the kitchen as much. It's also great to keep things warm while other things keep cooking on the bottom. I do use the bottom oven for storage of baking pans at times (I have a very small kitchen). I wouldnt' trade my double oven now and find I enjoy cooking more! Less guesswork re: things that need to cook at different temps, etc. and less chance of screwing it up! (Each oven has its own temp controls and timer!)
Enjoy your re-do!

Double. You can broil and bake at the same time.
It will be helpful when you have a house full of kids and guests.

My mom just redid her kitchen (and my MIL too) and they both opted for double ovens. If I were doing mine, and the space worked, I would for sure do it. Imagine, cookies in one and dinner in the other.... or birthday cake plus lasagna... or a ham in one and potatoes in the other...

Hmmm. I'm envious!

I LOVE my double oven...where else would I store all those baking sheets and trays? Actually use it for baking? Never. Get one large oven (at least 30in), a warming drawer and a convection/microwave oven like Karen C. said. That's exactly what we did when we built our last house (which I miss everyday!) and we successfully hosted many, many holiday gatherings and dinner parties. I baked and roasted like a fiend and never wished I had another large oven, the micro/convection was perfect as a second oven. Now I have double ovens - I use one all the time and the other one is used as very inefficient storage.

I bake all the time and have only used my double oven once. I bought a large counter top roast that I use during the holidays for the turkey/ham so my oven is free for the other items and that works great for us. The biggest reason I don't use the double oven is that I have little kids and don't want the oven down by them hot. I expect that I will use it more as they get older and understand not to touch/open things. Congrats on the new kitchen.

If the space holding my answer is tinged with a little green around its edges, it's because I'm so jealous! I have one little (!) oven. The family joke is that the kitchen was designed - back in the late '50s - by a woman who never cooked.

How big will your kitchen be? I would certainly go for double ovens if I were you. You'll be glad to have it, especially as your children get older and bring their friends over to your house. Imagine baking or roasting two things at once!

Any given amount of storage space will fill up with stuff, so you might want to estimate how much you really need. If you can get enough necessary space in anyhow, go for the double.

From what I read of your responces the mommas overwhelming vote for the double oven. I vote for the double oven too! I love my double ovens. If you ever plan on selling your home, the double oven will be a strong selling point for the kitchen.

I had an electric kitchen and a gas water heater and a gas furnace for heating. I was paying the minimum for the gas 7 or 8 months a year. I took out an electric double oven (not working well) and put in a gas double oven. I took out the electric cook top and installed a gas cook top. I saved about $20 to $25 per month on my utilities, gas and electric.

Good luck to you and yours.

I have totally redone 2 kitchens in the last 5 years and my mother and sister have each done one (all down to the studs and back up again). We all struggled with this question until the answer became very clear: a Microwave/Convection Oven. It serves as a Microwave for day to day reheating and for the twice or three times a year a second oven is needed we can use the microwave as a full use convection oven. The cabinet space is absolutely worth having and with the combination of a microwave and convection in one unit you get the best of both worlds (no Miley Cyrus pun intended).

Last time we got a Sharp which is what my mom and sister have, this time we got a Whirlpool Gold: Stainless Steel Model: GH7208XRS. It is a bit pricy but worth it in kitchen space versus the time used equation.

Here's their quote:
"Rated a "Best Buy" by a leading consumer magazine.

Can you imagine baking a cake or grilling a steak in a microwave? One appliance - four ways to cook. This revolutionary SpeedCook appliance is a True Convection oven, a G2Max® SpeedCook oven, a microwave and a steamer all in one! The True Convection cooking system produces the same flavorful, juicy results as a traditional convection oven."

Good Luck

Double oven. I have one oven and I am constantly wishing I had another one. It would make things so much easier! We are a family of 5 and when family/friends come over, juggling cooking with one oven is tough. Good luck!

Oh, wow, my hubby and I were just talking about this tonight. We have a double oven now and I cannot imagine not having it! It is so useful to have and I would have a hard time without it now that I've been spoiled by it. Definitely get it, especially since you have the family, and, yes, as they get older you will need it more.

I don't cook that often (hubby does) but we always have family gatherings at our house (we have the grandchildren) and we use our double ovens ALL the time - I am so glad we got them. In fact we remodeled 7 yrs ago and downgraded our appliances from stainless to black just to be able to afford the double ovens - I am so glad we did (and the dish drawers too - but that's another discussion).

...and one more vote for double...

We also did a micro-convection and then a single oven with convection. In lieu of a 2nd oven we put in a warming drawer. LOVE IT! If you are planning on hosting holidays or parties you need a warming drawer. You can put 3-4 dishes in there while the turkey/ham/whatever is finishing baking so you aren't competing with "warm space."

you won't use if often, but if you play hostess, you will love it when you have it. As for storage, you work with what you get. We all have to edit what we own to fit into the space alloted.

I am going to say to go with the double. You can always store the baking sheets, Turkey roaster, muffin tins... ect in one and then run only 1 unless there is a big event.

We debated this same thing a year ago when we remodeled. Our solution: a convection microwave. So we have one large oven, which is also a convection oven, plus a microwave that can double as a convection oven. It will help us out on the rare occasions that we need/want two ovens.

I decided the storage and counter space was more important than having a second oven that we would rarely use.

Congrats on the remodel!
K.
http://oc.citymommy.com - where OC moms connect!

We have been the "Holiday home" for our family for years and only have one conventional oven. Just have everyone bring all the warm/cooked side dishes and you do the meat ... I think having an extra fridge (in the garage or wherever) is wa-a-a-y more necessary than an extra oven.

Here are two holiday tips:
!. If you warm bricks or short concrete blocks in your oven and place them in the bottom of a cooler.... it becomes a warmer. So, as your guest arrive with their side dishes, they can go into the "warmer" and will remain warm until you are ready to serve.

2. Make your mashed potatoes the night before and put them in a crock pot for warming the next day.

Happy Holidays!

PS: If you are still considering 2 ovens.... My girlfriend has her Micro right above her oven... and it is a convertable micro... it can also be a convection oven. One down-side to wall ovens though is that they seem smaller than a conventional oven....

I have a JennAir combo microwave on the top/full-size convection oven on the bottom. I love it! The microwave is large enough for a 9x13 pan.....& the oven has a broiler & 3!! racks - one of which has a removable section for turkeys & other tall stuff.....allowing for dressing still to be baked at the same time. OMG....it is the best arrangement I've ever used!