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At the bottom of this cooker page we have links to pages on all the different categories of stoves, from a worktop mini, to a top of the range Aga.
We also have a link to our 'Suppliers' page which gives you general notes on our suppliers, why we have chosen them, and hints on searching their particular sites.
General Note:
For most categories of kitchen appliances you will find that they have 'Energy classes' which go from A or A+ to G, with G being the worst and A or A+ the best and most energy efficient appliance.
General Points to Note or Consider...
on Stoves of All Types
Easy clean liners are supposed to be just that. They should be at least easier to clean... so cutting down on cleaning time and effort!
Double ovens give you a choice of oven sizes according to what you are cooking, say a total meal or a big baking session for the full size oven, and if you are just baking one fruit cake or a pie, then the small oven will be more suitable.
Unless you are going for a range cooker though, you must consider your own personal use of the grill, because with double ovens your grill will be situated in the small conventional top oven. Decide whether this could be a problem or not... if you use a toaster and one of the newly popular grill machines then maybe the grill of your stove will be used very rarely, so no problem... it just needs some serious consideration.
Some of the cheapest appliances available have a single oven, with the grill incorporated into it... this requires even more careful thought!
Fan assisted ovens are supposed to ensure a constant heat through an even air flow... I must admit I didn't notice any appreciable difference when I owned one. A minus point could be that they cost more to buy, a plus, that you normally use a slightly lower heat for your baking... so could save energy in the long term.
Ceramic hobs - electric hotplates are supposed to be a lot slower than gas, so ceramic hobs came to the fore as being quicker than the old hotplates. As they are a totally flat surface they are easy to clean. You must remember, though, to buy special cleaner for them and never use anything scratchy to apply it or the surface will be permanently ruined.
Gas or Electric or Dual Fuel
What you are used to [or brought up with] will probably be your first choice, and no-one will be able to influence that decision. That said, just a few notes for the undecided...
• Gas stoves offer instant heat, complete control, and provide a cooking environment which is more moist than an electric stove.
• Electric ovens often cook quickly with more even heat distribution than conventional gas models. [It is easy to create a moist atmophere if you want... I use an old cooking pan on the floor of the oven and add water to it. This means added moisture, it also means you can turn the oven temperature down a few degrees.]
• Dual fuel cookers offer even heat distribution in the electric oven and speed and controllability with the gas hob.
The one thing which may alter your choices is if you move to a village/area where there is no gas! Then you will have to get used to electricity... your next move and/or stove could be a more difficult choice.
Cooker Sizes
Your stove, in most cases, will have to slot in between kitchen units, in which case... size matters. If you have a pre-set area for your new appliance, then that will be the overriding factor. If you are planing an entire new kitchen then decisions are far more varied.
Consider how long you intend to stay in the house, would your decision affect the selling price, do you intend to take the appliance with you?
Next you are faced with decisions on the correct size and style of stove for your kitchen and your property as a whole!
Your choice of Cooker
Mini cookers come in at somewhere in the region of £50, to over £300... what you actually want one for will probably affect your choice more than anything.
My mother, many years ago, had one of the old fashioned Rayburn stoves which you just wouldn't want to use in hot weather... so a 'Baby Belling' was used for quick summer meals... and I must admit that I have always thought 'Belling' was synonymous with 'Cooker' [of any size] to this day! The only gripe about the Baby Belling of today is the price, which is way above that of many of its immitators.
For slot in appliances you will find the choice to be from... a slot in of 50 cm in width, through 60 cm, all the way up to some of the range style stoves being in the region of 110 cm wide.
Range style cookers are normally sold as dual fuel, with gas hobs and electric ovens... but if you look carefully you can find gas only appliances. Those of us who prefer, or have to have electric because there is no gas supply, have to scour the available stoves even more carefully... the good news is, if you look hard enough, you will find electric only dual fuel range style cookers somewhere.
If you are considering an entire new kitchen should you go for a built in cooker?
Only you can answer that question! But consider the fact that quite often you can get special offers on new kitchens with some of the appliances thrown in as part of the sweetener to get you to choose that particular offer. The only againsts on this deal can be the fact that the suppliers will most probably stipulate what choices are available... and if you move, you will have nothing to take with you!
Then, if the style of your property would be complimented by an Aga or Rayburn, and price is no object... then what fantastic choice and luxury could be yours for the asking! They are SO different now, with multiple choices of fuels and usage, and can be truly described as the heart of the home.
Check out details of our preferred
'Suppliers'
Details & links to the pages dealing with the specific appliances, under their separate headings follow below.
Just click on the appropriate heading to view whichever pages you require...
An Aga
To Built-in Ovens and Hobs
To Canopies, Chimneys & Hoods
To Mini Ovens... from our cooker page
To Range Cookers
To Slot-in Stoves...
Whichever type of cooker you choose, how about visiting a real gem of a website which has quick, easy, and nutritious recipes all created with the 'Personal Touch'? Just click the link to Quick Eats Plus to check it out.
Sea-Ex Recipes for Seafood, Fish, Shellfish
A delicious selection of recipes (many with photos) for fish,
shellfish and other seafood. Includes preparation, storage, and nutritional information.
Another recommended resource for simple recipes for anyone with a sweettooth is Yummy Cake Recipes - the Fruit Cake is really simple and delicious.
How to Cook Fish and Seafood Information & Recipes
A huge selection of delicious seafood recipes and step by step
instructions on preparing seafood including filleting fish, de-veining prawns, bearding mussels and opening oysters. If you have a recipe or cooking site, add it to our Links pages!
How to Cook Fish
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