BEKO BBIM14300WMS built-in oven, 72 L, catalytic cleaning, steam, white

A 72-litre cavity is the mark of a full-size oven: it takes large baking dishes, a whole turkey or several trays of biscuits at once. On ordinary days the extra room means a gratin and roast vegetables for the side can cook at the same time. The oven is 59.5 cm high and 59.4 cm wide; when choosing between under the worktop and a tall unit, go by the niche dimensions in the installation manual.

In an oven with catalytic cleaning, the inner walls carry panels with a special porous coating that breaks down grease splashes during cooking, once the cavity is hot enough. No separate cleaning programme or water is needed, and the walls stay clean for longer. The floor and the glass still need an occasional wipe, because the catalytic coating works only where the panels are fitted.

The oven has a steam function: steam adds moisture to the cavity, which helps with bread, buns and yeast dough, for example, and keeps meat from drying out. The manufacturer does not state the number of heating functions, and according to its data this model has no convection, meaning fan-assisted heating. The full list of functions and how to use steam are described in the BEKO user manual.

The oven is set with electronic controls, and the selected settings appear on the LED display. The door has a viewing window, so you can watch the food without opening it; every time the door opens, heat escapes and cooking takes longer. The energy class is A+. The oven is 59.4 cm wide, 56.7 cm deep and 59.5 cm high and weighs 29.4 kg.

The white finish goes with light kitchen fronts and other white appliances, so the oven blends into the look of the kitchen rather than standing out as a dark patch in the run of units. Fingerprints and dust also show less on a white surface than on glossy black. When matching appliances, it is worth checking that the hob and cooker hood come in the same shade.

The BEKO BBIM14300WMS suits a household that cooks often and needs a full-size 72-litre oven, in a kitchen where white appliances are the choice. Catalytic cleaning suits people who roast a lot of meat and fattier dishes and do not want to scrub the oven after every use. The steam function is a welcome extra for home baking.