There has been quite a lot of debate lately about whether Australian made ovens are a good quality product to buy. Amidst the Electrolux company being the parent company of brands like Westinghouse, Chef, and Simpson, the general consensus was that parts were being bought cheap overseas and being assembled in Australia.
Which got people to thinking is there any such thing as a true Australian made oven.
What we all must understand is that like everything else, if you choose cheaper versions of any brand you are going to get cheaper components and therefore are taking on some extra risk.
Ovens Are Essential In Our Homes
This is something we all need, and no matter what type we decide on, each home will have an oven. But how much is too much to pay and how do we know what is Australian made with good components (even if outsourced) and what will serve us the best for years to come.
A good place to start might be to look at your needs and how you intend to use the oven. Not everyone cooks a lot in theirs but they do look impressive in the new custom designed kitchen. Others are running most hours of the day being used at every opportunity and for every conceivable dish to feed the family and friends. It is likely that most of us fall somewhere in between those extremes.
Australian Made For Australian Conditions
The very best thing about buying a quality Australian made product is that it is designed for our conditions which are quite different to that in Europe. Europeans are big on design factors and for this reason they can seem like good value for money.
If you are a passionate Aussie and are committed to keeping Australian business alive you will probably be looking for a locally made oven with a good guarantee and a accessible price range.
They do exist, and in most cases they have the functionality and good looks to suit most Aussie kitchens. But let's get back to price for a moment.
Get What You Pay For
This in itself is can of worms because what one person can afford another may see as very expensive, it's all very relative the situation of the person in question. What is more important is to look hard at how often your oven will get used, what it is used for, and how long you envisage the oven lasting you.
Many times you may only want a short term solution while saving money for something better. It may be an emergency situation where you need whatever you can afford at the time, but assuming we are making a calculated decision and have some expendable cash, which ovens are best for Australians? What price range are we looking at for lasting quality and Australian made?
Makes you shudder to think about it because we all know ovens are available in a big price range and some of the price tags are huge.
Relax
There are some excellent ovens manufactured in Dudley Park, South Australia under the trusted brand names of Electrolux, Westinghouse, and Chef. The best thing about these ovens is that they are made for our culture and conditions. Here are some of the tailored advantages:
Larger oven capacity than the European designs (80 gross litres).
Full glass lined inner doors providing a superior seal.
Triple glazed doors for optimised heat containment and efficiency
Removable doors for easy cleaning.
In-cavity fans to reduce heat transfer to adjoining kitchen cupboard doors and trimming.
Gas ovens available in both natural and LPG, a feature only found with Australian manufactured ovens.
As for price shop around for appliances online to get the best prices for these brands and models in upright and built in ovens:
Westinghouse - POP663S, POP667W, PXP688S, PGP659S, PAK557W Electrolux - EOEE62AS, EUEE63AS Chef - EBC5271W
You'll find a good range of prices to suit most but do try and spend as much as you can to secure a good, long term performance. Check out the new range of Australian made ovens now coming to the market to suit our unique needs and conditions.
