COOKERS, OVENS & HOBS BUYING GUIDE

• Convection Ovens
  Heat is generated from both the top and bottom of the oven, and food cooks on the principle of hot air rising to the top of the oven. Convection ovens do not possess a fan.
• Fan Ovens
  Heat is distributed evenly throughout the oven, by means of a fan, located close to the heat source. This type of oven is ideal if you often cook different foods, at the same temperature.
• Multi-function Ovens
  Featuring functions including grilling, defrosting, and fan-cooking, these ovens are ideal for cooking a variety of different foods, using a variety of different methods. Our steam ovens are ideal for versatile, all-round cooking of a variety of dishes including pastas, desserts, meat, fish and vegetables, and also make defrosting frozen food an easy task.
• Built-in vs Free-standing
  Free-standing ovens are complete units, which comprise a cooker and oven in one. These are often a good choice for a smaller kitchen. Built-in ovens can be fitted into a wall recess, or underneath a kitchen bench. Wall ovens are generally 30 inches in length. Built-in ovens can be mounted at eye-level, which is extra convenient.
• Single vs Double Oven
  Single ovens are a perfect choice for single people or smaller families, or those with limited kitchen space. These ovens are usually 60cm in height, and can be placed anywhere close to the correct fuel or power source. Choose from smaller ovens with a 28 litre capacity, all the way up to large, 78 litre capacity. Double ovens consist of two ovens, either side by side, or stacked. These ovens are ideal for large families, or those who entertain frequently. You are able to prepare more than one dish at the same time. If you are not limited in terms of space, you may prefer one of our double ovens, which comprise of one large fan oven, and a second, slightly smaller convection oven, both of which are ideal for aiding in meal preparation.
• Electric
  These ovens work on electricity, and are usually cheaper than gas ovens. They are versatile in terms of function and layout, provide even cooking, and often do not require pre-heating. A fanned electric oven distributes heat evenly, and allows for rapid cooking times.
• Gas
  These require a mains gas connection, so you should ensure that your kitchen has one before purchasing. The hob, oven, and cooker are all fuelled by gas. Gas ovens retain the moisture in food, but you should ensure that you choose a model with a fan, in order to distribute heat evenly.
• Dual-fuel
  These cookers combine a gas hob with an electric oven. They still require a gas mains connection, but are ideal for providing both instant heat and even cooking.

Our ovens come equipped with a multitude of features, designed to improve your cooking experience. Bright interior lights, cooking timers, different cooking modes, and sleek design are just some useful features to look out for when choosing your new oven.

• Self-cleaning
  Some modern ovens have a catalytic liner that absorbs and breaks down grease, while others contain a pyrolytic feature, burning away grease, and leaving a residue which can be easily wiped away.
• Heat Settings
  Modern technology has done away with the need for pre-heating in some ovens. This ready-to-cook mode saves time and effort, and results in the perfect end-product. Most ovens also have several different settings including the following: bake (food gets cooked from the outside in, ideal for chicken, stews, potatoes, cakes); broil (food is cooked under very direct heat, making is a good choice for meats like steak and hamburgers); and grill (similar to broiling, however heat comes from the bottom, rather than the top).
• Warming Drawer
  Warming drawers are ideal for keeping food or crockery warm, and may come built into free-standing cookers, or separately to add to built-in cookers. They are ideal for those who entertain often, or have limited kitchen space.

Ovens and cookers are available in a variety of different colours and finishes. Black and white are timeless choices, which fit in with the look and feel of any kitchen, while stainless steel is a modern and stylish choice for the contemporary home.

Range cookers are a lot larger than standard cookers, therefore you should ensure that you have enough space for a cooker of between 90cm and 150cm. Range cookers offer a wider hob, and therefore more burners, which is ideal for those who intend to cook several different things at once.  Range cookers also often feature two large ovens, a grill, and a warming drawer. Similar to ovens, range cookers can be fuelled by gas, electricity, or a combination of both.

An advantage of range cookers is that they are not built in, therefore if you move house, you are able to take them with you. However, drop-in and slide-in style range cookers offer a built-in look.

Features to look out for when purchasing a range cooker include: pyrolytic or catalytic self-cleaning features; a rotisserie or spit inside the oven to turn large pieces of meat; multi-functional ovens to allow for preparing more than one dish at the same time.

Slot-in cookers do not need housing, and are usually 50 – 60cm in length. These are a good alternative to built-in cookers, and can be moved out of their slot for cleaning, or if you move house.

Gas hobs are popular because they are easy to control, and offer instant heat, however this type of hob requires a kitchen with a mains gas connection. Any type of pan can be used on a gas hob, and a variety of burners suits all types of cooking. Each zone of the gas hob can be controlled individually, allowing you to cook a variety of different dishes at the same time. Gas hobs are also easy to dismantle, and keep clean. Our gas hobs all feature cast-iron pan supports, and our range includes 4, 5, and 6 burner models.

Easy to clean, ceramic hobs have a glass surface, with heating elements below, which transfer heat only into the pan. These hobs look stylish and neat in the kitchen, and are very easy to clean, because of their smooth finish.

This type of hob features a heating element below the ceramic glass, which forms a magnetic field with the bottom of the pan, meaning that only the pan is heated during cooking. As the rest of the cooktop remains cool, this is a safe option, especially if you have children. This is a very energy-efficient solution, and offers similar cooking performance to a gas hob, however you will need to ensure that you have the correct cookware to create the magnetic heat effect. The ideal materials for this are cast iron, steel, and magnetic stainless steel. Our induction hobs are sleek, stylish, and functional, and each feature four or five cooking zones.

Gas burners are mounted on top of ceramic glass, making them look more stylish than other gas hobs, while also being easier to clean. They are precise and easy to control, but take slightly longer to heat up than electric ceramic hobs.

These are cost-effective to run, and provide even distribution of heat to the base of any saucepan. The heating element is covered by a solid metal plate, meaning that it may take longer to heat up and cool down, than a gas hob. To achieve the best results with this kind of hob, you should use cookware which has a flat base, to provide for optimal heat distribution.