Fisher & Paykel vs Smeg Built-in Ovens

Fisher & Paykel and Smeg both make statement ovens, but their prices are far apart. Smeg's models here run from £419 for the SF6400TB 70-litre single electric oven, through £1,129 for the DUSF400S Oven Cucina double oven with 35 and 61 litres of capacity, to £1,179 for the DOSF6300X built-in double oven. Fisher & Paykel's OS60NDLX1 Series 7 60cm combi steam oven costs £2,764, with 55 litres of capacity and 18 oven functions, and its 72-litre ActiveVent Series 7 oven is part of the same range.

Smeg's designs stand out for their fingerprint-proof stainless steel, eclipse glass and metal control knobs. Its Smart Sense technology offers up to 50 automatic recipes with temperature control within ±2°C, and its premium models add pyrolytic cleaning at around 500°C. The DOSF6300X has five cooking levels and closed-door grilling, while the SF6400TB uses Vapour Clean and rapid pre-heating. Fisher & Paykel's engineering focuses on ActiveVent venting, precise temperature control and combination steam cooking, with pyrolytic cleaning at about 460°C and a touchscreen or dial interface depending on the model.

Smeg suits buyers who want a distinctive kitchen appliance without combi steam cooking, and the SF6400TB gives a 70-litre single oven at £419. The Cucina double oven suits a household that bakes a small cake while roasting a joint at the same time. Fisher & Paykel suits cooks who prepare fish, vegetables or rice regularly and want steam built into the oven rather than as a separate appliance. Its price limits it to kitchens where the appliance budget is high.

Bottom line: choose Smeg if you want a 70-litre single oven at £419 or a double oven from £1,129 with a retro-modern look, and choose Fisher & Paykel if combi steam cooking in a 60cm cavity is worth £2,764 to you.