SimplifyDIY Logo

Cooking Appliances

 

This Article

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

A kitchen must have some means of cooking food, and in this regard the number of permutations and combinations of ovens and hobs that are available to choose from is quite dazzling.

Fuel Options for cooking appliances

The primary consideration should be that of fuel supply, however each fuel has both advantages and disadvantages in an oven or a hob, so the final choice is often a personal one. The following guide will help you to assess what is best for you;

Size & Format

Freestanding Cookers are the simplest and most cost-effective type of cooker, as it includes both hob and oven(s) in a single unit. The unit simply slides into a gap between kitchen cabinets, and thus can be taken with you if you move house.

'Built in' ovens allow one to achieve a more streamlined look. The advantage is that the oven(s) can be separated from the hob and built in to kitchen cabinets, either above the worktop in a ‘tower’ or beneath the worktop.


'Built in' hobs do not have to be located immediately above or beside the oven(s), this can therefore make for flexible working spaces in your kitchen.

Electricity and gas connections

A Cooker Control Socket

A connection to the electricity supply will most likely be necessary as even gas fuelled cookers, ovens and hobs use this to produce the spark to light the gas.

  • If the oven or hob is electric, this should be connected to a 30 or 45amp supply via its own dedicated ring main, and hard wired into a switched fused connection that should be no further than 2m (6f 6in) from the cooker.
  • A gas oven or hob will need to be connected to the mains gas supply.
  • A gas hob or oven that simply uses electricity to create a spark should be hard wired into a 13amp switched fuse connection.

  • By law, your oven or hob must be connected to the electricity, and/or gas, mains supplies by a qualified electrician or Gas Safety Registered heating engineer.
  • Ensure all electrical connections are certified by a NICEIC-registered electrician.


Performance

Electric ovens are graded from A to G, where A is the best, for energy efficiency depending on the amount of electricity it uses. Select a high graded machine to save money on running costs and get the best performance from your appliance.

Gas ovens and hobs are not included in these tests.

Key Features

  • Pyrolitic Ovens – have a self-cleaning function wherein the temperature of the oven is taken to 500oC and any soiling on the inside of the oven carbonises and is turned into ash that can be wiped away with a damp cloth.
  • Catalytic Liners – where these ceramic liners are fitted to an oven, they self-clean any spillages at temperatures of 220 oC or more by absorbing and oxidising grease, thereby preventing their build up.
  • Telescopic Shelving – allows the rails on the side of an oven shelf to extend so that you can pull a pan out of the oven to turn or baste without having to support the weight or remove it from the shelf.
  • Electronic Controls – provide greater accuracy and maintain a constant temperature.
  • Touch Controls – that sit flush with the glass surface, make cleaning easy. Ceramic hobs may have normal control knobs which are hard to clean around.
  • Wok Burner - flat ceramic hobs do not permit round-bottomed woks to sit stably on them, so some manufacturers supply wok burner accessories to provide a suitable stable stand.
  • Timer – most cookers will have timers and alarms to remind you to turn the heat off, but more advanced appliances have a timer that will also turn the heat on and off on both hobs and ovens.

Further information and useful links



 
 

Site Pages

Featured Articles




PTIME1: 0.69346690177917 KW: cooking-appliances|kitchen-appliances|kitchen