Cooker & Ovens Buyer's Guide

Food is certainly a focal point in our society, and whether you plan to win a culinary award or simply serve up a family dinner, a cooker or oven is a must for any kitchen. Today you are met with an array of varying makes, models, and available features so when it comes to outfitting your home with the perfect appliance for you here is the low down.

Kinds of Fuel

There are three standard ways in which your cooker will work to heat up your food. The different fuels used are:

• Gas: this is the longest in existence kind for a cooker or oven and they work very fast, at high levels of heat but are not the most environmentally friendly or energy efficient. In order to work they will need to be supplied gas from your home's pipes.

• Electric: these are becoming more and more popular and will run off of your electricity company you currently are using. These are found to be safer as well as more efficient in the amount of energy they use.

• Dual fuel: a hybrid of both gas and electric you can then decide which platform in which you want to cook off of.

Positioning Your Cooker and Oven It may seem obvious that your oven be placed in the kitchen but there are other key points you should consider about where to position the appliance.

• If you go with one running off of gas fuel it needs to be within 1.5 metres of your main gas line.

• Be certain that your cooker is not within 7.6 centimetres of any cupboards and additionally that the wall behind it is not with wallpaper. These are safety precautions to avoid a fire hazard.

• Encompassing the cooker there should be an area of a minimum of 5 centimetres from the nearest item or wall in your kitchen.

What Model Oven is up Your Alley

• Conventional: these ovens will work solely off of either an electric or gas burner that will in turn be located at the base of the oven's inside. These models will require adequate time to preheat before cooking anything inside.

• Electric: offering you greater versatility in your dishes that you cook, you can adjust how hot the components inside are heated by further placing them on the different shelves inside. The top most shelves will be met with the highest temperatures while the lower ones will be heated a bit less as the heat is distributed throughout.

• Gas: working off of the gas line these will require a flame to be lit and then will heat up the inside compartment. Again, due to the nature of heat rising to the top, the highest shelves will be met with the most intense temperatures.

• Fan: with these models you will be able to cut back the amount of time needed to cook your dishes because they do heat up so fast and evenly distribute it as well.

• Double: if you plan to be doing quite a lot of cooking in your oven or host many events these will speed up the process. You will have the greatest amount of available room and each unit will run off of its own settings and in turn offer varying energy ratings as well. Generally these will usually come with the top oven being conventional while the lower one will be that of a fan.

• Twin: here the two cooking compartments will be separated so you can cook in different methods. There will then be a grill located on the top to allow you to grill at the same time as well.

• Multifunctional: great to cook up a range of culinary delicacies, with two heating components you will have a bottom and top available to adjust the nature of the dishes. The lower racks will be best for pizzas always nice and crisp and the top for other browning needs. There is also a fan to distribute air and a grill on top to be used at the same time.

Get to Hob Knobbing

Here are the different kinds of hobs you can select from:

• Gas: the cheapest option, they are usually distributed across four different burners of varying levels of heat.

• Electric: these may be termed sealed plates as well but they will all work to evenly heat the pots on top and are more efficient in terms of both energy and price of use.

• Ceramic: these will be more responsive when put into use and will be able to heat up faster; they are located under a glass pane.

Putting it all Together

Keeping in mind the hobs and fuel arrangements, you can then think about your own personal cooking habits to plan for the best fitting cooker and oven for you and your home.

• Free standing: very versatile and won't limit you on where they need to be inserted into your available kitchen area. What's more is that with the ability to change their heights, any kind of working level can be achieved.

• Range style: not only will you get ample room to cook, by selecting either a single or instead a double oven to work off of, but you will be blessed with eight burners. These are great for family cooking purposes as well as those eager entertainers.

• Built in oven with hobs: you will be able to insert this style cooker right into the décor of your kitchen and set it up so the workspace is even with your counter tops already. Again you can opt for a double or single oven and you will be given the ability to choose how many hobs you want.

Finally you may want to consider some extra add ons for you premium oven. There are splash backs that will collect any fly off from grease or splattering from fat as you make your dishes. These are going to be a metal plate that will be inserted between the hood of the cooker and then the hobs. That brings us to the hood that is hovering directly over the hobs. With both a charcoal filter and a grease one these will work to eradicate any subsequent aromas from your foods as they cook and then keep everything smelling fresh.