There’s no doubt about it, the kitchen, be it small or large, is the hub of the home. It’s where meals are made, memories created and families congregate – and at the heart of every kitchen is the cooker. It is arguably the most important kitchen appliance, so whether you’re simply replacing the oven or designing a new kitchen, a new cooker will help your cooking confidence and creativity! Make the right choice with a few expert tips …
1 Choose your fuel
The first thing to think about is whether you want gas, electric or dual fuel. Gas can be natural gas or propane. Gas ovens are usually more expensive to buy than electric ovens, but it most areas, they cost less to use. You have less control over an electric oven’s heat settings, but in most cases, it will heat food more evenly. Dual-fuel ovens usually have a gas cooktop and electric oven. Convection ovens use fans to spread heat evenly throughout the interior, reducing baking time.
2 Pick a type
Decide if you are going for a slot-in or range cooker, or separate appliances, i.e a hob and a single or double oven, built-under or built-in. Single ovens can be built into a column kitchen unit or placed under the work surface. Double ovens need a larger space and are usually fitted in a column kitchen unit at a convenient height. You could choose a microwave or combination microwave fitted over a single oven; it will free up space on the kitchen worktop.
3 Size up
Measure up! You need to make sure the oven fits your space. Your oven also needs to suit your needs – you need to think about the types of food and the amount you want to cook. The most important thing is that you have a productive kitchen!
4 Decide what features you want
The list is endless – open-coil burners, smooth-top burners, halogen burners, dual-element burners, digital or analogue display, touch-screen control, super-modern features, traditional features, a contemporary look, a warming draw, speed cooking, self-cleaning, a locking door, a front-facing window…
5 Choose a brand
Once you have chosen your size, shape and design you need to choose your brand … Bosch, Smeg, Electrolux, Westinghouse, Delonghi, Asko, Omega, Fisher or Paykel, for example.
6 The Budget
Your budget plays a part … set your budget before you start to shop! A good oven will last for you years and can be relied upon to give you great dishes every day, and good ovens are available at many price points.
See before you buy
At Fowles, we hold a Home Renovator Auction every Wednesday at 10:00 am. You can view before you buy between Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00 pm. You’ll find that the appliances we have on auction are an excellent value. With an oven or cooker from Fowles auction, you might be able to get more than you thought possible for less money than you expected. If you don’t want to fit the kitchen yourself, we can give you contact details for a qualified installer.