Range Cookers - are they a new fad, a "keep up with the Joneses' must have", a fashion statement, a vital "add value" appliance [for selling your property], a cooks best friend, or a versatile family friendly cooking tool? Whichever statement you believe to be most true, or perhaps a combination of some, or all, of the statements... the real truth is that Range Cookers are the in thing! If you have the room in your kitchen, and the style of your property doesn't preclude this type of appliance... then it will add value and class, and therefore saleability. I know this sounds peculiar... but this will apply even if you take your cooker with you when you move! You have made the statement, a range cooker will fit beautifully into the kitchen... that is sufficient. There is a fantastic range of colours and styles available, including the fashionable stainless steel versions... cookery programmes on TV have added to the kudos of having a state-of-the-art cooker. Therefore, the looks and outside design of these appliances can be of disproportionate importance to some buyers. A cool rational consideration of what are the vital 'must haves' of the actual appliance is a good place to start. • Size has to be a prime consideration, in that, a poky little kitchen will look overwhelmed by one of the larger cookers... but very stylish range cookers can be obtained in a size which is only 10 cm [4 in] larger than a normal slot-in cooker. Sizes go from this small 70 cm size through to approximately 110 cm, with 90 cm and 110 cm perhaps being the most commonly found sizes. Imagine your space, check what will fit, and think what size would look best... then it is on to the next points. • What colour would best suit you, your kitchen, and the style of your total living space? There are some gorgeous colours available... and then there is the stainless steel option to think about. • What type of fuel should you choose? Within the constraints of your personal preferences, availability of the chosen fuel in your area, the looks and brand you are considering, plus professional recommendations... you have to come up with the best fuel for your own personal lifestyle. The choice is just SO large that I'm going to leave you with a list of reputable suppliers... with special mentions of the range of sizes and brands each has on offer. I will recommend my favourite brand, [for cookers] and a particular range cooker within that brand, which came out extremely well in independent tests... plus one more brand which has had high praise indeed in independent reviews... alternatives are mentioned if the sizes don't fit your kitchen, or if you want cheaper alternatives. Remember, as I have mentioned on many pages, check for special offers on the product you decide upon, also check costs of delivery, etcetera... some sites appear extremely pricey initially, but have free delivery making the price more competitive. Last minute checks for specials DO pay off!
Let me first mention which brand I would go for, if I was obliged to choose a Range Cooker here and now... with only the independent tests plus the independent user reviews to base my choice upon... there would be no question, it would have to be the Rangemaster 110. The Belling Cookcentre would come in as a reasonable second. If I had to have one of the 70 cm range cookers because of lack of room... then user reviews of the smaller Smeg cookers rate them very highly. A few of the comments about the Rangemaster 110 were... Good looking, well built, solid feeling, self cleaning ovens work very well, good for baking. Easy to use, easy to keep clean, fan oven heats rapidly, looks good, cooks like a dream. Separate grill a bonus point. More expensive than many range cookers... but SO well worth the extra money. In fact the only negative point I found in all the comments was that the glass top was difficult to clean... but the rest of the cooker was EASY to clean. Smeg owners of the 70 cm wide range cookers rated them very highly. But owners of the larger Smegs were not impressed with their models. The Belling Cookcentre came out extremely well in tests, so that series of range cookers is well worth considering. On the other hand owners of both the Farmhouse 931 and the DB2 models were not impressed with their purchases. Some comments I have read on some range cooker models [though no brands were mentioned specifically] say... they do not have a solid feeling, doors do not fit well, doors warp, glass discolours badly, they weigh too much and floors had to be strengthened before they were fitted, expensive to fit, difficult to clean, variable gas distribution, ignition unsatisfactory, unreliable and had to have several visits from repairmen plus new parts. Also I know of some models which were extremely hot to touch... too hot for safety in my opinion... and the makers dispute your opinion... NOT GOOD. To me this sounds extremely unsatisfactory, bearing in mind the initial cost... so I would definitely stick to the brands of range cookers which have had good reports.
One tip I will include here which may be of help to those who go for the stainless steel version of any of the available range cookers... water marks can detract from the appearance of your cooker... to avoid this, clean with kitchen spray on a clean cloth - then apply baby oil to get rid of the resulting water marks. Now for the suppliers, and some of the brands they stock... The Co-op Electrical Shop stocks... Belling, Rangemaster, Smeg and Stoves... prices range from in the region of £650 to over £2,500... sizes from 60 cm to 120 cm, fueled by Gas, Electricity, or Dual Fuel. Be-direct At 24-7 Electrical you will find the Rangemaster in Gas, Electric and Dual Fuel options, plus Belling. now have an extensive collection of reasonably priced goods available online, and they have an extremely large selection of range cookers for you to choose from. Standard delivery is free. Check out those online prices NOW. I saved over £21 by buying online, on an item which cost less than £100 in-store.
Tesco also offer free delivery, and stock a range of the cheaper models... though their stock changes rapidly, and many new items are added to their range on a regular basis. For convenience links are included below to the introductory 'Cooker' page, the 'Kitchen - large' page, and our Home page...
Isn't this an offer that's too good to miss?
|
