Welcome to cooker for me

A guide to navigating the many choices available when choosing a new cooker. This page aims to provide information about the various styles, fuel types and sizes on offer.

Gas or electric?

One of the first decisions will be to choose the fuel supply of your cooker. For most some people this will be predetermined, having no option but to use gas or electric. However, there is a third choice, which is dual fuel.

Gas

Gas has traditionally been the fuel supply of cookers, and is still the fuel of professional chefs. The advantage to gas is as follows, it provides the most control of any fuel, because it gives heat instantly. A gas oven also provides more moisture, therefore meat will hold it's juices and flavors longer. In the UK gas cookers use a temperature scale called the 'Gas Mark'. See below, for gas marks and their Celsius equivalent.

Gas Mark --- Celsius
1/4 ------------- 107°
1/2 ------------- 121°
1 ---------------- 135°
2 ---------------- 149°
3 ---------------- 163°
4 ---------------- 177°
5 ---------------- 191°
6 ---------------- 204°
7 ---------------- 218°
8 ---------------- 232°
9 ---------------- 246°

Most gas powered cookers come with four cooking hobs. Gas powered hobs are favored by chefs and serious cooks, aesthetically, however, they may not match the ultra modern tastes of some homes.

Electric

Electric cookers tend to look more sleek, with glass and ceramic hobs. The clear advantage of an electric oven is it's speed. They generally take less time, power and heat to cook a meal in comparison to a gas oven. An electric oven also cooks evenly, no matter where the food is placed in it. Electric fan ovens for example, do this by continually circulating hot air, this in turn heats the oven faster, therefore saving you energy and money.

A standard electric cooker will provide four hobs. They certainly look more sleek than gas hobs, they are flat in design, and are without all the intricate bars and metalwork of a gas surface. The surface of an electric hob is usually made out of two materials. Firstly a solid glass plate, the most common, cheapest and basic. The superior option is a ceramic electric hob, they offer instant heat, clean easily, stain less, and are more durable.

Dual Fuel

Provides the best of both worlds, a gas supplied hob for instant control, and an electric oven for a faster cooking time . You will need a gas supply to be eligible to use a dual fuel cooker.

Built-in or freestanding?

Another decision to make is which style of cooker you want. There are two options, a stand 'alone' / freestanding cooker, and one which is custom built into a fitted kitchen.

Built-in

The advantage of a built-in cooker is they can match the style and colour of the kitchen units. They can also provide more space, because, cupboards can be placed above and below. Unlike with freestanding cookers, the cooking hobs are placed separately to the oven and grill. A built-in cooker can also be placed higher, so that they can be at either waist or eye height. Therefore, this reduces the amount of bending down needed to view, or place items inside the cooker.

Built-in cookers come with either a single or double oven, the double ovens are usually placed one on top of the other. The dimensions of a built-in cooker are regulated by most manufacturers into one width, which is 60cm. The height will obviously vary for single and double oven options. A single oven is usually 60cm in height, whereas the double oven is usually 90cm in height.

Freestanding

Freestanding cookers are less complicated, they simply stand alone, and are less hassle to fit into a kitchen space. They are also an 'all in one' package, with a cooker, grill and hobs all in the same unit. The grill can be placed inside a second oven, or above the hobs, which is usually more convenient, because it's at eye level. Whilst a freestanding cooker may not seamlessly fit into a kitchen, they can still look stylish if matched with the kitchen units.

Most freestanding cookers will need to be hardwired by an electrician. A few can simply be plugged into the nearest socket. The dimensions of a freestanding cooker are regulated by most manufacturers into three widths. The depth of nearly all models is 60 cm. The standard widths are threefold, 50, 55 and 60cm.

Range

A range cooker, as pictured above, is a variant of a freestanding cooker. They usually come with either one large oven, or two side by side. They provide double the cooking capacity of a standard freestanding cooker. Ideal for large families, you will find range cookers in professional kitchens for hotels and restaurants.

The advantage of two ovens is that you can cook food at varying temperatures, which is perfect if you have timed your meal wrong, and need one item to cook slower or faster. In conclusion, if you cook alot, or desire to bake, grill, boil, stir-fry and roast simultaneously, then a range cooker is for you.

Features

Below are some of the extra features to look out for when picking a new cooker.

Double glazed glass - Insulates the heat in the oven better.

Enamel liner - For the oven, makes cleaning it easier.

Halogen hob - Usually made from ceramic, the fastest heating time for an electric hob.

Induction cooking - Heats the pan, not the hob. Safe, but requires only certain pans.

Internal light - View the food cooking in the oven without removing it.

Splashback - Placed behind the hobs, protects the wall from staining.

Touch controls - Easier to clean, accurate, controls will not snap off.

Warning light - For electric hob, warns if the surface is still too hot to touch.

Wok hob - Provided on a gas hob, shaped to place a large curved pan.