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Ovens are closed chambers used for heating purposes. While they are commonly used for culinary purposes, ovens can also be used to dry pottery, process wire, or perform miscellaneous industrial purposes. Basic ovens have been around for many years. The first ovens were simple containers placed over a fire to bake a family’s meal or dry the pottery for cookware purposes. Ovens were most important in early times for bread baking. In fact, the Greeks are given credit for the first bread ovens. In cooking, today, this kitchen appliance is still used for baking, but it is also used for simple heating, baking, broiling, or roasting.

There are a number of different types of ovens, including gas, electric, hot air, microwave, or infrared. Gas ovens work when natural gas is ignited to produce heat. Electric ovens work on much the same principal. Electrical wire provides the heat. Similar to a gas stove, a wire is attached to a thermostat, which measures the temperature in the oven. If further heating is needed, the unit is signaled. Hot air ovens use various sources to heat the air circulating in the compartment. These can even be controlled through the sun, called a solar oven. Microwave ovens use radio waves to penetrate the item to be heated and move its molecules, thereby producing heat. Infrared ovens use radiation to rapidly heat the compartment. Ovens, despite the type of heat, are often vented, some using pressure transducers or butterfly valves.

When selecting appropriate ovens, the usage must be considered. Different processes require different temperatures, air flows, temperature uniformity, heating process, chamber size, unit size construction material, and insulation. For example, some chambers are anodized while others are coated in molded and cast urethane products. The unit's usage must be considered as a first priority when selecting an oven.