7 Handy Accessories to Get the Best From Your Oven at Christmas

Cooking a Christmas dinner can be stressful! Luckily, eSpares is here to help ease the pressure as much as possible. In this article, we have rounded up 7 handy oven accessories that will get you prepped and ready for the big day so you can relax and enjoy the moment.

For our top picks of oven accessories and handy advice on how to use them, watch the video or take a look at the article below.

First up, is the Universal Extendable Oven Shelf. Whether you're having a small gathering or hosting a party, there is probably going to be lots of food! Investing in an extra shelf will help maximise the space in your oven and make sure you're not cramming too much on one tray and all food has enough room to cook properly.

The shelf extends from 35cm to 55cm so will fit in the majority of ovens but be sure to measure your existing shelves to make sure it will fit before purchasing.

To extend the shelf to fit your oven, you just need to pull out the edges. Once you've reached the desired width, just slot it into your oven!

To create even more space in your oven, we have the Universal Oven Base Shelf which sits at the bottom of your oven to utilise as much space as possible. The shelf simply slots in at the bottom of the oven and is a much better option than placing a baking tray directly on the bottom of your oven as doing this will make the tray too hot and burn your food. As well as cooking, the shelf can also be used as a cooling tray! So if you're baking over Christmas, the shelf will come in very handy for that too!

All you need to do is unfold the legs on each side so the shelf is slightly lifted and slot it into the bottom of your oven. When you're finished using it, you can fold the legs back in and it can be easily stored away until you need it next.

If you're looking to purchase both of these shelves, we have a Universal Oven Shelf Kit that might be handy for you. It contains two Universal Extendable Oven Shelves and one Universal Oven Base Shelf.

When your oven shelves are prepped and ready, it's a good idea to take extra care not to burn your hands while the oven is hot. As your oven heats up, the shelves will become extra hot so, as well as wearing oven gloves, an Oven Shelf Guard is a great way to protect yourself from nasty burns. They are made from silicone-based material so are effective in protecting your hands and arms from burns that easily happen whilst cooking. They are 40cm in size and can be cut down to fit the length of your shelves.

All you need to do is slot the front of the shelf inside the guard and feed it all the way along. The guards can be easily removed and cleaned in warm, soapy water.

Now your oven is ready to go, we have some gadgets that will help with the cooking itself. Before you do anything, you'll want to make sure your oven is at the correct temperature. An Oven Thermometer is a great way to do this. Most ovens have an inbuilt temperature sensor but an oven thermometer will give you a more accurate reading. It lets you know when your oven has reached the correct temperature and will monitor heat loss from opening and closing the door. Keeping an eye on the temperature will also help you to adjust your cooking times as needed and ensure food is cooked at the desired temperature for as long as it needs to be. It is also completely heat safe.

Just simply place it inside your oven, either on a shelf or at the bottom, or hook it onto a shelf to save space.

When your oven has reached the correct temperature, it's time to add the food! If you're cooking meats with your Christmas dinner, it's a good idea to invest in a Meat Thermometer. This will help you to ensure the meat is fully cooked and ready to eat. Whether you're cooking turkey, chicken, beef, pork or lamb, this handy gadget will let you know when it is cooked to perfection.

All you need to do is insert the probe into the cooked meat and watch where the dial lands. The diagrams on the thermometer will show you what line the dial should be on when your meat is cooked. If it's not quite there, you can pop it back in the oven and check again in a few minutes.

When the dinner is cooked and everyone is fed, there is the dreaded cleaning to tackle! To prevent this from being too difficult, you can use a Reusable Non-Stick Oven Base Liner. This is suitable for fan, gas and electric ovens and will help you catch food, drips and grease whilst cooking to make cleaning easier and also protect your oven from damage.

Slot the liner into the base of your oven and let it work its magic. It is reusable and can be placed in the dishwasher along with everything else once you've finished cooking.

For tips on cleaning the rest of your oven, check out our article which had lots of handy advice and recommended oven cleaners and gadgets.

We hope this helps you relieve some stress from the Christmas dinner cooking and you have some spare time to enjoy your day!

Sign up to our mailing list below to stay up to date with more advice on handy products as well as fixing and maintaining your household appliances.