Cooking Appliances Buying Guide

Electric

Electric ovens and cookers are best connected to a separate 30 or 45 amp supply. Single ovens can be run from a 13 amp supply but is best avoided to ensure the ring main circuit is not overloaded. They can be connected to the fitted cooker circuit using a large sized 13 amp fuse. We recommend that all cookers are installed by a registered engineer. Please note that connection cables are not supplied with electric cookers.

Gas

All gas appliances must be installed by a Gas Safe Register registered engineer. Please note that connection hoses are not supplied with gas cookers.

Note: manufacturers recommend you leave a gap of at least 5cm around your freestanding cooker, to prevent any potential damage from heat.

Energy efficiency gradings for electric ovens are the responsibility of the appliance manufacturers and their work is monitored by Trading Standards. Standard tests are carried out by heating a brick, and efficiency gradings of A-G applied, with A being the most efficient. Gas ovens and cookers are excluded from this testing, as are grill compartments or ovens incorporating a microwave.

Electric ovens

In a conventional oven the thermostat controls the heat in the middle; the oven will be a little hotter than the set temperature at the top and slightly cooler at the bottom. This zoned heat difference can be useful when cooking different kinds of dishes at once. These ovens also take time to reach cooking temperature, so need to be pre-heated.

Fan ovens

These work differently by using a fan in the rear wall of the oven which has a circular heating element around it. The temperature throughout is even and the oven heats up very quickly, reducing cooking times and so saving energy. With top-end fan ovens you can also cook foods with strong flavours together without fear of these being transferred, because of the circulating air which breaks up odours and fat particles (e.g. with Neff's Circotherm fan system).

However, fan ovens don’t start cooking immediately, so if a recipe calls for a cooking time of less than 25 minutes you should not reduce the cooking time (for cooking times over 25 minutes you should typically deduct 10% off the time).

Multifunction ovens

These give complete flexibility of cooking, using combinations of different heating elements and a fan to present heat to the food. Most multifunction ovens combine a fan and conventional oven together with grill (grilling is done with the door closed, so retaining moisture in the oven and in the food) and fan/grill roasting. The latter produces a finish similar to a spit roast or barbecue.

These ovens may also have other cooking modes such as bottom heat only (for crisping pies, pizza bases etc.) or top heat only (for browning). A rotisserie may also be a feature (the best for meat joints, allowing self-basting), and even a defrost setting which uses the fan and is ideal for meat or even delicate foods such as gateaux.

Gas ovens

Most gas ovens are heated by a flame at the rear of the base, with the gas being ignited by an electric spark. The hot air circulates as it rises, but the top of the oven will always be hotter. Some ovens are shaped to help the air to circulate so that the temperature across the shelves is even. Gas gives off moisture in cooking so it's especially good for cake baking. Some have an economy setting which enable you to use the oven like a slow cooker for casseroles.

Grills

Some grills have inner and outer elements, and you can just use the inner element for small amounts of food. Some have variable controls enabling you to set the cooking temperature, but with fixed grills you raise or lower the grill pan to control the cooking. High speed grills heat up faster and therefore speed up cooking and save energy. In most modern ovens the grill is used with the door closed.

Electronic controls

These provide greater accuracy and maintain a constant temperature, ideal for baking delicate foods. On some ovens, temperatures have been pre-selected for each function to save time.

Timers

Most ovens will have a digital clock and a timer, the simplest of which is the minute minder which you simply set for the cooking time needed, and then an alarm signals at the end. An auto timer allows you to set the oven to start and finish cooking at preset times. A double oven timer has to be the same time setting for both ovens, although usually only the main oven is programmable. You can also buy gas ovens where you can preset cooking times.

Slot-in cookers

An economic option if you have a space available and don't want built-in units. They have height adjustable feet to ensure they are fitted with the hob at worktop level, wheels at the back so they can be moved forward for cleaning, and the oven door fascias are flush with the kitchen base unit doors.

Some gas models have glass lids which act as splashbacks when the hob is in use, or as extensions to the work surface when in place. A safety cut out turns off the gas if the lid is accidentally shut with the hob still on.

Note: manufacturers recommend you leave a gap of at least 5cm around your freestanding cooker, to prevent any potential damage from heat.