Fuel Options
Introduction
The primary consideration should be that of fuel supply. It’s possible to have either gas, electric or dual fuel, and indeed the most popular combination is a gas hob coupled with an electric oven.
Each fuel has advantages and disadvantages for both an oven or a hob, so the final choice is purely a personal one.
To make things a little more complicated, if your home is supplied with liquefied propane gas (LPG) instead of natural gas, this may well decide the type of cooker that you need for you. LPG carries more than twice the energy of natural gas, so a hob or oven needs to be converted to run on LPG so that the gas jets are smaller to avoid too much heat being produced.
- Not all models of hob or oven can be converted to run on LPG, so check your supply before buying.
The following guide will help you to assess what is best for you;
Gas ovens
Are heated by a flame positioned at the rear of the base, they cook with a moist heat which can prevent food from drying out, but they are hotter at the top than at the bottom.
They are more expensive than electric ovens, but are much cheaper to run.
Conventional electric ovens
Work using heating elements positioned at the top and bottom of the oven. The thermostat controls the temperature at the centre of the oven, so when the hot air moves around by natural convection, the oven becomes hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom.
A difference in heat within the oven can be useful when cooking several different dishes at once, however, these ovens take a while to get to temperature and so always require pre-heating.
Electric fan ovens
Use a circular heating element to heat the air, which is moved quickly and evenly around the oven using a fan. These ovens cook effectively at lower temperatures, making them more energy efficient.
Electric multifunctional ovens
Allow you to select a combination of conventional, fan oven, and grill cooking, and normally have a range of additional cooking functions that can further save time and effort.
Gas hobs
Are very popular since the heat is instant, easy to control and cheaper than electricity. Basic models have a manual ignition button, while others will automatically spark when the gas flow is turned on.
The most advanced will also automatically reignite if the flame is blown out while others will cut the gas supply off in this scenario. Because of the pan stands, these hobs are harder to clean than electric ones.
Electric solid plate hobs
Have heated cast iron plates which distribute heat evenly over the base of a saucepan. These are the slowest to heat up of all the hob options, although those plates featuring a ‘red dot’ heat more rapidly than standard ones.
Electric ceramic hobs
Have a sleek look as they consist of a single piece of toughened glass with heating elements mounted beneath; this flat surface makes them easy to clean. These elements glow red when they’re on, and retain this colour until they have cooled completely.
Several different types of heating methods are used, the most basic of which is a fast response ribbon element.
Halogen hobs also heat up very quickly and evenly, with excellent controllability. The most expensive option is an induction hob which only heats the area in immediate contact with the saucepan - the rest of the surface stays cool.
- Induction hobs require magnetic ferrous saucepans made of steel or cast iron to function properly, but they are faster and more responsive than gas and are also the most energy efficient.
- When deciding the layout of your kitchen, remember that an induction hob cannot be placed immediatley above another electrical appliance, as this disturbs the magnetic field.
Further information and useful links
- Attributes common to all kitchen appliances
- Extensive guide to cooking appliances
- Cooker hoods
- More kitchen appliances topics
- Find a Kitchen Appliances supplier near you
- Find an Electrician near you
- Find a CORGI Gas Engineer near you
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