Why I stopped caring about the number of cooking modes.

When I was shopping for an oven, I kept comparing the cooking modes as if they were a scorecard. More modes made the oven seem more versatile, so naturally I assumed that was better.

Living with different ovens changed that.

I realized I don't actually want to think about which of twelve different modes is theoretically best every time I cook something. Most meals come down to a few settings I already understand and trust.

What matters more is whether those basic settings behave consistently.

I want to know what "bake" actually does in practice, how convection affects the way I cook, whether broiling is useful when I need it, and whether changing temperatures or modes is straightforward.

The extra modes aren't necessarily bad. If you regularly use a specific function, then having it built into the oven can be genuinely useful. I just wouldn't pay a premium for a long list of settings unless I already knew I'd use them.

There's also something to be said for simplicity. Fewer controls and modes can mean less time scrolling through menus and more time actually cooking.

These days, when two ovens seem otherwise comparable, I care much more about the heating performance, rack setup, controls, door, and cleaning than whether one has a few extra cooking modes.

A feature only matters to me now if I can picture myself using it regularly.