If you've ever stood in front of your oven muttering "180 degrees should do it" while secretly having no clue what you're doing, you're not alone. A recent survey* by Curry's has revealed that Irish kitchens are basically running on hope and guesswork, with burnt dinners and forgotten meals becoming the norm rather than the exception.
Nearly one in ten of us admit we're just winging it when it comes to oven cooking. That reliable "180 degrees covers most things" approach? Turns out it's become our unofficial national cooking strategy. While it might work for reheating yesterday's leftovers, it's not exactly foolproof for that ambitious Sunday roast you promised the family.
The kitchen chaos doesn't stop there. More than a third of us have recently served up charcoal instead of dinner, while a quarter have completely forgotten something was cooking until the smoke alarm helpfully reminded us. If you've ever frantically waved a tea towel at a beeping detector while explaining to the kids that "it's supposed to be crispy like that," you'll know the feeling.
The Great Oven Pretence
When disaster strikes, we're nothing if not creative. Nearly half of us have tried to pass off burnt offerings as intentional culinary choices. "It's meant to be blackened" becomes our rallying cry, though apparently nobody's actually buying it. Still, points for optimism.
Despite our oven adventures, most of us are creatures of habit. Three-quarters know our ovens have multiple fancy settings, but we stick stubbornly to the one button we understand. All those mysterious symbols might as well be hieroglyphics when you're juggling homework help, packed lunches for tomorrow and trying to get dinner on the table before someone has a meltdown.
This double oven ceramic cooker offers flexible cooking options.
The survey by Curry's showed that seven in ten of us are cooking meals from scratch, with 61% brave enough to attempt baking. We're clearly keen to do things properly, even when the results suggest otherwise. But here's where it gets interesting: baking tops the stress charts as the most nerve-wracking kitchen activity. More stressful than cooking Christmas dinner or hosting guests, apparently.
Maybe it's because baking demands precision when most of us are used to throwing ingredients together and hoping for the best. When you're measuring flour while supervising homework and answering questions about why the sky is blue, exact measurements can feel like an impossible ask.
The Cleaning Confession
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: oven cleaning. Only 9% of us can claim a spotless oven, while nearly half admit it gets attention "occasionally" at best. The rest of us are living in denial, closing the oven door firmly and pretending those mysterious stains don't exist.
Modern ovens are trying to make our lives easier, though. Steam cleaning functions mean you don't need industrial-strength chemicals and an entire afternoon. Enamel coatings wipe clean more easily, and programmable timers mean fewer forgotten dinners. Some even have safety features that'll cut off automatically, which could save us from quite a few smoke alarm incidents.*
This double oven cooker offers flexible cooking with ceramic hob.
Making Peace with Your Oven
The good news is that upgrading doesn't have to break the bank. Check out the options on Currys.ie - from the budget-friendly HISENSE Hi2 Plug-in Electric Oven at €369.99 to more feature-packed models like the SAMSUNG Series 5 Dual Cook Flex at €629.99. The BEKO Pro AeroPerfect AirFry model at €589.99 even promises to handle your air frying needs, while the INDESIT ceramic cooker comes in at €469.99.
For those wanting double oven capacity (perfect for when you're cooking for the extended family), the BEKO Pro RecycledNet Electric Double Oven is €489.99, and there's a KENWOOD gas option at €479.99 for those who prefer gas cooking.
Maybe it's time to admit that our trusty "180 degrees and hope" approach could use some backup. Modern ovens are designed to take the guesswork out of cooking, which means less stress and fewer burnt dinners. Your smoke alarm will thank you, and who knows? You might even convince someone that your next culinary creation was intentional from the start.
All items available at Currys stores nationwide and online at Currys.ie.
*survey was carried out between February and March 2026
