An oven is an appliance that is used to heat, bake or dry items. Artists can bake their pottery in a special oven called a kiln. Ovens are used mostly for cooking food. A furnace is another type of larger oven used for heating or industrial purposes.

In 3200 B. C., the Indus Valley Civilization created the first ovens. The technology evolved to the Ancient Greeks who created the bread baking oven. It was front loading. Today there are many different types of ovens. They are small for a household and large enough for a restaurant or even a factory.

Smaller ovens generally work in a house. There are many smaller ovens out there for the consumer to choose from. Examples of small ovens are the toaster oven, microwave oven and Dutch Oven. It is always a good idea for a consumer needs to do their research on the different models before they purchase.

The toaster oven is a small appliance that is actually a combo of a grill and electric oven. This appliance can fit on the countertop and can be used for toasting, grilling and warming such foods as meat, fish, pizza and burgers. The ovens have various features such as an adjustable thermostat and automatic shut off. These are more economical in price and range twenty to one hundred dollars.

Microwave ovens are in almost every household. An oven that cooks by using dielectric heating is called a microwave. The radiation heats the water molecules. This type of cooking heats the food quickly. Prices range for microwaves from a mere sixty dollars to a few hundred dollars. Microwaves that cost more tend to have more features such as automatic timer and buttons that cook different foods such as baked potato, popcorn, etc... Another feature they have are clocks and timers.

Dutch ovens are a three legged cooking pot that is made of cast iron. They are used over an open fire. Campfire cooking is quite popular. The Dutch Oven can be used for cooking stews, meats, vegetables, breads and even desserts. There are endless options to this must have for the kitchen. There are flat Dutch Ovens that a person can use on the stove top. All of the ovens have a tight fitting lid.

A benefit of using the Dutch Oven is the easy clean up. It is virtually non stick. Once initially cured by rubbing oil on the oven and baking it, the oven will be non stick and very easy to clean. Some people don't use soap on their cast iron and just use a rag and water. These ovens come in different sized pots from small (five quart) to larger (eight quart). The ovens range in price from twenty five dollars to over seventy five dollars depending on the brand and size.

Ovens come in all sizes for today's cook. Small ones are inexpensive and easy to manage. They can fit on the countertop or even over the open campfire. Some examples of these small units are the toaster oven, microwave and Dutch Oven. These ovens are very economical and easy to use.