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Samsung FE710DRS/XXA Flex Duo Electric Oven Review

$1,699.00
By Ethan Wolff-Mann August 13, 2012
8.2
Better than 75% of Reviewed Ovens
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Oven Performance

Overall Oven Performance

Sure the range top performed quite respectably in our tests, but Samsung clearly put their focus into the oven. The first thing that stands out is the speed this oven can preheat: three minutes to 170°F, eight minutes to 350°F, and thirteen and a half to 500°F. While this may be less of a performance factor, and more of a convenience one, this shows the oven gets it done. Throughout its range of temperatures, this oven stays close to its the target temperature after reaching it.

Target Temperature Accuracy

We often see many ovens with a "keep warm" setting of 200°F, even though we expect the "keep warm" temperature setting on an oven to be around 170°F. The Flex Duo concurred with our definitions of warm--too hot for bacterial growth, but not so hot it continues cooking significantly. On the upper end of this oven's capabilities, this oven averaged 535°F, though it was set to 550°F.

Temperature Fluctuation

We measure the temperature consistency with strategically placed sensors throughout the oven. A tight grouping of temperatures around the set target over time means even cooking. High temperature variance results in things that are charred on the outside and raw on the inside. The Samsung Flex Duo FE710DRS/XXA scored quite well in our tests, making sure that you can't have both a rare and well-done piece of meat at the same time, as it is able to maintain a consistent climate at all temperatures.

Oven Temperature Variance

Secondary Oven Performance

The Samsung Flex Duo FE710DRS/XXA Flex Duo gets its name from the ceramic plate that divides the single oven cavity into two separate chambers. Each one has its own convection fan and can be independently controlled, allowing three options for size. Only one of these cavities has a heated convection fan, but both circulate hot air in the same way. Heating the lower cavity to 350°F took just over seven minutes, faster than heating up the entire oven. For baking smaller things, this seems like a good proposition, allowing for shorter preheat times with less oven to heat. Preheating the top cavity to 425°F took just nine minutes, so this seems like a potentially useful and time-saving feature. Unfortunately, accessing one cavity requires opening the door to both, but this seems a small disadvantage to the option. Both cavities performed well, displayed unbelievably consistent temperatures, albeit after overshooting the preheat.

Secondary Oven 350F Ramp-up
This is the upper divided cavity. After overshooting 425°F, it is ridiculously even.

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Ethan covers the hot stuff for Reviewed.com—specifically, ovens and grills. Prior to Reviewed.com, he worked as a freelance journalist and taught Spanish to high school students.
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