Classic vs. Professional: Which Falcon Oven Suits Your Style?
You’re standing in your kitchen, coffee in hand, staring at that empty spot where your new range cooker will go. Do you go with the charming, traditional look that makes you feel like a countryside baker? Or the sleek, industrial machine that means serious business?
I’ve been there. And here’s the thing—Falcon makes both, and they’re both brilliant. The real question isn’t which one is “better.” It’s which one fits your cooking life, your kitchen, and your soul.
Here’s the TLDR: The Classic series (including Classic and Classic FX) gives you that timeless, cozy aesthetic with smart modern features like the Energy Saving Panel. The Professional series (Professional+ and Professional+ FX/FXP) brings restaurant-grade power, pyrolytic self-cleaning on some models, and a bold, contemporary look. Neither is a wrong choice—they’re just different tools for different cooks.
Key Takeaways
- Classic line features traditional styling with rounded edges, baker-style windows, and warm color options like Cream, Mineral Green, and Stone Blue
- Professional line offers clean, modern industrial lines in Black, Slate, or Stainless Steel with chrome trim
- Classic FX and Professional+ FX both feature the revolutionary Energy Saving Panel (ESP) that shrinks the 114L oven to 49L for smaller meals
- Professional+ FXP adds pyrolytic self-cleaning—set it and forget it while the oven burns grease to ash at 450°C
- Both series offer dual fuel (gas cooktop + electric oven) and are hand-built in the UK with over 2000 parts each
- Classic Deluxe gives you two separate ovens; Classic FX gives you one big flexible oven with ESP
- Professional+ includes the Handyrack—a shelf on the oven door that pulls your roast out when you open it
Meet the Families: Falcon’s Two Personalities
Falcon has been building range cookers for over 190 years, right in Royal Leamington Spa, England . Every cooker is 70% handmade and 100% hand-assembled. Over 100 people touch each one before it leaves the factory. That’s not mass production—that’s craftsmanship.
But here’s where it gets fun. Falcon offers two distinct design languages, each with its own vibe.
The Classic Series: Vintage Charm, Modern Brains
The Classic line is what most people picture when they hear “range cooker.” Rounded edges. That iconic baker-style window on the oven door. Colors that make you want to bake bread in a cottage somewhere .
Who it’s for: The home cook who loves tradition but doesn’t want to sacrifice modern convenience. You want your kitchen to feel warm and inviting. You probably own a cast iron Dutch oven and have strong opinions about pie crust.
The lineup includes:
- Classic (base model): Two ovens, separate grill, straightforward cooking
- Classic Deluxe: Adds programmable multifunction ovens and more premium features
- Classic FX: A newer single-cavity design with the Energy Saving Panel for flexible capacity
Color options: Cream, Black, Slate, Mineral Green, Stone Blue, plus special editions with brass fittings
The Professional Series: Industrial Power, Sleek Style
The Professional line looks like it belongs in a restaurant kitchen—but in a beautiful way. Clean lines. Minimal curves. Chrome or brushed metal accents. It says “I mean business” without being cold or unwelcoming .
Who it’s for: The ambitious home cook who wants serious performance. You watch cooking shows and think “I could do that.” You’ve considered a wok burner crucial. You like gadgets that actually work.
The lineup includes:
- Professional+: Double electric ovens, Handyrack on the left oven door, separate glide-out grill
- Professional+ FX: Single large cavity with Energy Saving Panel, plus Teppanyaki griddle
- Professional+ FXP: Same as FX but adds pyrolytic self-cleaning (more on this below)
Color options: Black, Slate, Stainless Steel—all with chrome trim
The Game-Changing Feature They Share: The Energy Saving Panel (ESP)
Here’s something both the Classic FX and Professional+ FX have in common, and it’s genuinely clever.
Both models come with a removable stainless steel panel called the Energy Saving Panel (ESP) . When you insert it, that massive 114-liter oven—big enough for a Thanksgiving turkey plus two sides—splits into two sections. The active cooking cavity shrinks to 49 liters, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Why does this matter? Because heating a giant oven for a single frozen pizza wastes energy. The ESP cuts your oven space by more than half, so you’re not paying to heat empty air.
When you insert the panel, the spare cavity on the other side stays warm from residual heat—perfect for warming plates or keeping food hot while you finish cooking . The cooker comes with both full-width and half-width shelves, so you’re ready for either mode .
Safety reminder: Always let the oven cool completely before removing or inserting the Energy Saving Panel. The panel itself gets hot during cooking.
Oven Configurations: One Cavity or Two?
This is the biggest practical difference between the lines.
Classic and Professional+ (non-FX): Two Separate Ovens
These models give you two distinct oven cavities . Usually a larger main oven (often programmable on the left) and a smaller secondary oven (often fan-forced on the right). Plus a separate glide-out grill.
Why you might want this: You can cook a roast at 180°C in the main oven while baking a small batch of cookies at 160°C in the secondary oven. No temperature conflicts. No waiting.
Models with two ovens: Classic, Classic Deluxe, Professional+ (standard)
Classic FX and Professional+ FX: One Big Flexible Oven
These models have a single large cavity (114 liters) with the ESP insert for size flexibility . You get one oven that can be big or small, but not two ovens at different temperatures simultaneously.
Why you might want this: Simplicity. One oven to learn, one oven to clean. And when you need massive capacity for a dinner party, it’s all yours.
Models with single cavity + ESP: Classic FX, Professional+ FX, Professional+ FXP
Self-Cleaning: The FXP Advantage
If you hate scrubbing oven racks and scraping burnt cheese, listen up.
The Professional+ FXP model adds pyrolytic self-cleaning . Here’s what that means: you turn a dial, the oven locks itself, and it heats up to 450°C (that’s over 840°F). At that temperature, every bit of grease, spilled sauce, and baked-on residue turns into fine gray ash. Once the cycle finishes and the oven cools, you just wipe the ash out with a damp cloth .
Safety reminder: During pyrolytic cleaning, the oven door locks automatically and the exterior gets extremely hot. Keep children and pets out of the kitchen, and never try to force the door open mid-cycle.
The FXP also features quadruple-glazed glass on the door for extra safety and insulation during the high-heat cycle .
The Classic FX and Professional+ FX (without the P) don’t have pyrolytic cleaning. You’ll need to wipe them down manually or use the catalytic liners if equipped.
Cooktop Features: What’s on Top?
Both series offer similar gas cooktop configurations, but there are some differences.
Standard on Both Series (most models):
- 5 gas burners including a powerful multi-ring wok burner (15.2 MJ output)
- Cast iron pan supports that are durable and easy to clean
- Electronic push-button ignition
- Flame failure safety device that cuts gas if the flame goes out
Included Accessories:
- Teppanyaki-style griddle plate (non-stick, slight incline for fat drainage)
- Wok cradle for round-bottomed woks
- LP gas conversion kit if you need to switch from natural gas
Burner Outputs (same across most 90cm models) :
| Burner Type | Output (MJ/h) |
|---|---|
| Wok burner | 15.2 |
| Large burner | 12.3 |
| Medium burners (2) | 6.2 each |
| Small burner | 3.7 |
Comparison Table: Classic FX vs. Professional+ FX vs. Professional+ FXP
| Feature | Classic FX 90 | Professional+ FX 90 | Professional+ FXP 90 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aesthetic | Traditional, baker-style window, rounded edges | Modern industrial, clean lines, chrome trim | Same as Professional+ FX |
| Color options | Cream, Slate, Mineral Green, Stone Blue, Black | Black, Slate, Stainless Steel | Black, Slate, Stainless Steel |
| Trim options | Chrome or Brass | Chrome | Chrome |
| Oven configuration | Single cavity + ESP | Single cavity + ESP | Single cavity + ESP |
| Oven capacity | 114L full / 49L with ESP | 114L full / 49L with ESP | 114L full / 49L with ESP |
| Oven functions | 7 modes | 7 modes | 8 modes (adds Pyrolytic) |
| Self-cleaning | Manual / catalytic | Manual / catalytic | Pyrolytic (450°C) |
| Cooktop burners | 5 gas (includes wok burner) | 5 gas (includes wok burner) | 5 gas (includes wok burner) |
| Teppanyaki griddle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telescopic runners | Yes (2 shelves) | Yes | Yes |
| Storage drawer | Full-width | Yes | Yes |
| Handyrack | No | No (on 90cm models) | No |
| Programmable timer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Starting price (AUD) | ~$9,500–$12,300 | ~$9,500 | ~$12,000 |
Note: Handyrack is available on Professional+ 110cm models and some 90cm Professional+ models, but not on the 90cm FX variants according to available specs .
The Handyrack: A Professional Series Standout
One feature exclusive to the Professional+ line (on certain models) is the Handyrack .
The Handyrack is a small shelf attached to the left oven door. When you open the door, the rack swings out with it, holding your roasting tray right there at waist level. You can baste, check doneness, or add vegetables without reaching your arm into a hot oven.
No more scorched forearms. No more awkwardly pulling a heavy roasting pan from the back of a deep oven. It sounds like a small thing, but anyone who’s ever burned themselves on an oven rack will tell you—it’s genius.
The Handyrack is available on the main left oven of Professional+ models (both 90cm and 110cm) .
What About the Classic Deluxe?
If you want two separate ovens but prefer Classic styling, the Classic Deluxe is your answer .
Key features:
- Left-hand programmable multifunction oven
- Right-hand fan oven (tall oven on 90cm models)
- Separate Deluxe Glide-Out Grill™ with 4-way trivet
- Rapid Response™ for faster preheating (up to 30% faster)
- Handyrack on left oven
- 5 gas burners including wok burner + non-stick griddle
The Classic Deluxe gives you two-oven flexibility with that cozy, traditional look. It’s the best of both worlds if you can’t decide between Classic styling and Professional features.
Which One Should You Choose?
Let me help you decide.
Choose the Classic FX if:
- You love the look of a traditional range cooker
- You want a single, flexible oven (using the ESP to switch sizes)
- Your kitchen has warm tones, wood accents, or a farmhouse vibe
- You want color options like Mineral Green or Stone Blue
- You don’t mind occasional manual cleaning
Choose the Professional+ FX if:
- Your kitchen is modern, minimalist, or industrial
- You prefer neutral colors (black, slate, stainless)
- You want the same ESP flexibility but in a sleeker package
- Chrome trim matches your other appliances
- You want a slightly more “serious” cooking feel
Choose the Professional+ FXP if:
- You hate cleaning ovens (and I mean really hate it)
- You cook frequently and your oven gets messy
- You’re willing to pay extra for the self-cleaning feature
- You want the absolute top of Falcon’s home line
Choose the Classic Deluxe if:
- You want two separate ovens for multitasking
- You prefer traditional styling
- You want the Handyrack but in a Classic body
- You cook large meals that need different temperatures simultaneously
“With over 150 different design combinations to choose from, there is a Falcon cooker to match your style.” — Falcon official brochure
The Bottom Line
Here’s what nobody tells you. Both the Classic and Professional lines cook beautifully. Both are built like tanks. Both will last you decades if you treat them right.
The real difference is vibe.
The Classic line feels like home. It’s the cooker your grandmother might have dreamed about, updated for how you actually cook today. The Professional line feels like ambition. It’s the cooker that says “I’m serious about this cooking thing.”
Neither is wrong. Neither is better. They’re just different.
So look at your kitchen. Look at your cooking style. Look at your heart. Does it beat for cozy Sunday roasts and apple pies in a warm, colorful kitchen? Or for wok-fired stir-fries and perfectly seared steaks in a sleek, modern space?
Your Falcon is waiting.
FAQ: Classic vs. Professional Falcon Ovens
What’s the main difference between Classic and Professional Falcon ovens?
The styling—Classic has traditional rounded edges and warm colors; Professional has clean, modern industrial lines in neutral tones.
Does the Classic FX have the Energy Saving Panel?
Yes. Both Classic FX and Professional+ FX include the removable ESP to switch between 114L and 49L oven capacity .
Which Falcon models have pyrolytic self-cleaning?
Only the Professional+ FXP models (the “P” stands for Pyrolytic) .
Are Falcon ovens made in the UK?
Yes. All Falcon range cookers are hand-built in Royal Leamington Spa, England .
What colors are available for Classic vs. Professional?
Classic: Cream, Slate, Mineral Green, Stone Blue, Black (plus brass trim options). Professional: Black, Slate, Stainless Steel .
Do both series have dual fuel options?
Yes. Both Classic and Professional series are available in dual fuel (gas cooktop + electric oven) and induction variants .
What’s the warranty on Falcon ovens?
Five years parts and labor on all new Falcon range cookers .
References
- Falcon official brochure and lifestyle guide
- Appliances Online – Classic FX 90 specifications
- Appliances Online – Professional+ FX 90 specifications
- Appliances Online Commercial – Professional+ FXP 90 specifications
- Domayne – Classic Deluxe and Professional+ pricing and features
- e&s – Classic FX 90 detailed specs
- Falcon range cookers Australia – model lineup overview
Your Turn
Which Falcon speaks to you? The cozy, colorful Classic? Or the sleek, powerful Professional? Maybe you’re eyeing that FXP just for the self-cleaning (no judgment—I get it).
Drop a comment below with your kitchen style and what you love to cook. I’ll help you figure out which Falcon is your perfect match. And if you already own one? Tell us what you love (or what you wish you’d known before buying).
Happy cooking, and may your roasts always be golden.
