Cooker Buying Guide

We all tend to spend a lot of time in the kitchen cooking for ourselves, family or friends and the cooker is very much the centrepiece of the room. Generally, the bigger your family and your kitchen, the bigger the cooker you’ll need.

 

It's also one of the most important kitchen appliances you'll invest in, so we've pulled together the basics in this buying guide to aid you in your search for the perfect cooker.

Cooker types

There are three types of cooker: gas, electric and dual fuel.

Dual fuel - these cookers give you the best of both. The instant heat and precise control of a gas hob alongside the even and reliable cooking temperatures of an electric oven.

Dual Fuel Cooker
Electric Cooker

Electric cooker - the oven will be electric, sometimes including a fan. It won't heat as fast as a gas oven, however it will give you a more even cooking temperature, making it ideal for cooking multiple dishes at the same temperature.

Gas cooker – everything is powered by gas. The hob will provide instant heat with precise control and the oven will provide zoned temperatures with the top of the oven being the hottest, enabling you to cook multiple dishes at different temperatures.

Gas Cooker

Cooking capacity

Single - oven cooking and grilling can all be done in the one cavity. Generally, cookers with a single oven offer larger oven space than other cookers as no space is sacrificed for a separate grill.

Single Oven
Twin Cavity Oven

Twin cavity - these cookers give you two cavities. The larger bottom cavity is for oven cooking and the smaller top cavity is for grilling. You lose a little oven space due to the separate grill, however you'll be able to cook simultaneously in the two cavities.

Double oven - they have two cavities, the larger bottom cavity is for oven cooking and the smaller top cavity can be used as a grill or oven. This means that you will be able to cook in both cavities simultaneously.

Double Oven
Range Cooker

Range cookers - ideal for people who love to entertain and love to cook. Thanks to its numerous functions, you can bake, boil and roast at the same time, giving you extra freedom in the kitchen.

Hob types

Induction - directly heating the pan and not the hob surface. These hobs are a safer and more energy efficient choice and although they heat up fast they aren’t as fast as gas hobs. Their modern and smooth surface makes them easy to wipe clean.

 

Ceramic - these hobs have a modern look and their smooth surface makes them really easy to wipe clean. They heat up faster than sealed plate hobs but not as fast as gas or induction hobs.

 

Gas – they give instant heat, precise control and generally deliver faster cooking results. They tend to be favoured by cooking enthusiasts.

 

Sealed plate - these hobs are robust but tend to be slower at heating up. They are a more affordable option and definitely worth considering if you're on a tight budget.

Induction Hob

Heating function

There are a few different heating types to choose from. Conventional uses top and bottom heating elements that create hot spots. This is great for baking, slow roasting and cooking food at varying temperatures. Convection works the same way; however, it uses a fan to spread the heat around evenly. This is ideal if want to cook lots of things at the same temperature. You then have the popular multifunctional oven which will let you choose between both of the above methods, as well as fan cooking for fast and even results, a grill setting for that crisp finish and fan grilling for the best of both. Plus depending on the model, multifunctional ovens come with plenty more options.