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Choosing a Household Cooker
If you plan to install a new cooker don't buy the first one you see in the showroom on the basis that 'they must all be the same'. There are basic differences and you should consider the points below before making your choice.
The first step is to decide on the type of fuel, and the choice is nearly always between gas and electricity. Both have advantages and disadvantages with the market divided about equally between them. Electric cookers provide clean heat and the distribution of this heat in the oven is generally thought to be superior to the gas version. On the other hand gas cookers are less expensive to run and the burners on the hob respond immediately to the turn of a switch. These traditional differences have tended to disappear — fan-assisted gas ovens have evenly-distributed heat and electric halogen hobs have instant controllability. For many the ideal is an electric oven with a gas hob, and this arrangement is available.
Free-standing cookers are still the most popular choice from the simplest models to large ranges with two or more ovens and several hobs. Built-in hobs and ovens can be sited together or separated (split level) to give a fully-fitted look to the kitchen. Alternatively you can buy a built-under oven to fit below a work surface or a slot-in cooker made with the width, depth and height of standard kitchen units.
• Grill
Is it in the right position? The grill may be at eye or waist level — if you choose an eye-level one, make sure that you can see the contents of the grill pan without having to take it out. Is the grill in the oven? This is the standard arrange¬ment in most cookers, but it does mean that you cannot use the oven when grilling. A second oven/grill chamber is desir¬able but expensive. Is there a safety stop on the grill pan?
• Hob
Are the rings or burners efficient? The advent of red dot solid plates and halogen hobs have improved the efficiency of electric hobs, but they have also added to the cost. Is the hob easy to clean? Radiant rings can be a problem - make sure that spillage bowls can be readily removed for cleaning. The ceramic hob is the ideal - just wipe the top like any other work surface. With gas cookers look for sealed burners. Is there a lid? Check that it can be used as a work surface
• Controls
Do I need all the knobs and dials? Many clever automated features are now available — meat probes to switch off the current at a pre-set tempera¬ture, thermostatically con¬trolled rings and burners, variable heat programmers for roasting, and so on. But all these aids add to the cost — don't pay for more than you need. A clock and timer are generally part of the standard equipment on a modern cooker — an autotimer which switches itself on and then off again at pre-set times is useful if you work during the day
• Oven
Is it at the right height? Most of us are used to stooping down to reach the oven, but an eye-level model is a great boon for the not-so-young. Can you see inside? It is most useful to have a glass door and a strong light within. Are there two ovens? It is often very handy to have a small oven as well as the standard family-sized one. Is it fan-assisted? This modern innovation is a boon for the keen cook. Is it self-cleaning? Many cookers now have this built-in feature