Cooker Buying Guide

Whether you are buying your first cooker for a new house, designing a new kitchen, or upgrading your existing cooker, there many cookers available to buy online to suit most tastes and budgets. Here are some useful hints and tips to consider when choosing a cooker.

Choosing A Cooker: Fuel and Installation

The first thing to think of when buying a cooker is whether it will be powered by electricity, gas or dual fuel. This will depend on the area you live in, and whether there is a mains gas supply or whether you are within the delivery area for LPG (Liquid Propane Gas).

If gas is available in your area, you will then have choice of dual-fuel as well as gas-only cookers. Dual-fuel cookers offer a gas hob and an electric oven, which many people prefer for cooking.

You should ensure that you have worked out the size of the space you intend for your cooker, and take care to note the dimensions and installation requirements of the cooker. Always take professional advice from a CORGI registered engineer before buying a gas cooker or appliance.

If you are buying online, it's worth finding out what delivery options are available, and make sure that the cooker can fit through the entrances of your house.

Guide to Types of Ovens

Here are the main types of oven used in cookers:

Electric Oven - With variable heat settings controlled by a thermostat, the standard electric oven has the advantage of being hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, so you can cook different dishes at the same time. Electric ovens take longer heat up than fan ovens.
Fan Oven - Using a fan at the rear of the oven to circulate heat, the oven temperature is constant throughout. Fan ovens can be heated up quickly and use less energy than standard electric ovens.
Gas Oven - Heated by a flame at the back of the oven base, gas ovens use 'wet heat' due to gas giving off moisture. This is great for dishes that benefit from extra moisture, such as cakes and casseroles. Gas ovens can be hotter at the top, but some are shaped to improve heat circulation.
Multi-Function Oven - Using a combination of heating elements and a fan, multi-function ovens are incredibly versatile, offering a range of cooking methods for different types of dishes. Multi-function ovens typically feature a built-in grill and, with the oven door closed, will retain moisture, which improves the finish to food. Some models of multi-function oven include a rotisserie for cooking meat joints.
Double Oven - With improved flexibility and a greater capacity when compared to a standard oven, a double oven features a small conventional oven with a full size fan oven or multi-function oven below it. Whilst this means you can cook two different dishes with different heat settings at the same time, a double oven takes up more height above the worktop.

Features To Look For When You Buy A Cooker

Functions on a cooker can vary, so it's important to consider the features that will suit your cooking needs. Here are some of the features found on cookers:

Hob - Modern hobs don't have to be located directly above the oven, which can be helpful especially when designing a new kitchen. Easy to control and cheaper than electricity, gas hobs are popular for their quick heating. Electric hobs can either be electric sealed plates, which provide great heat distribution and efficiently conduct all the heat into the pans, or ceramic hobs which, although more expensive to run, are often controlled by touch controls and timers for ease of use and convenience.
Electronic Controls - Ideal for dishes that require precise cooking temperatures, electronic controls are easy to use and some models include pre-set times for greater accuracy.
Grill - Grills can be electric or gas powered. Types of grill available include:
Fixed grills - where you raise or lower the grill pan for the desired heat
Variable control grills - where you can set the temperature
High speed grills - which reduce the cooking time and save energy.
Timer - Most cooker ovens will feature a built-in digital clock and timer. The timer can be a minute minder - where you set the amount of minutes for the cooking and an alarm sounds when the timer has finished - or an auto-timer - which can be used to programme the oven to start and finish cooking at preset times.
Self-cleaning - Most modern ovens feature some kind of self-cleaning, either having an enamel coating or stay-clean lining. High-end models of cooker oven can include a pyrolytic self-cleaning system, using high temperatures to carbonise soiling for easy disposal.

Should I Buy An Extended Cooker Warranty?

A warranty ensures repairs or replacements under certain conditions and is essential when buying a cooker. Most cookers come with reasonable warranties, but for extra peace of mind consider buying an extended warranty.

A cooker can be an expensive purchase, so set a limit on the amount of money you are prepared to spend, and try not to be tempted to pay more for a cooker with features that you won't use ' no matter how impressive they look! By shopping around online, comparing prices between different retailers and taking advantage of special deals and discounts, you could get a great deal or even get a better model of cooker for your money.