Abstract: An oven (2), such as a microwave oven comprises an oven cavity (6) having therein a rotatable turntable (8) for supporting one or more items (30, 32), such as food, to be heated. A radiant electric heater (10) is located above the turntable and overlies at least a major part of a substantially semi-circular portion (12) of the turntable (8), including a peripheral region (14) thereof and a central, or near central, region (16) thereof. The heater (10) incorporates at least one heating element (22) adapted and arranged (26, 28) to provide a higher power density over the peripheral region (14) of the turntable (8) than over the central, or near central, region (16) of the turntable (8).