Cookers

Everyone has to eat. And whether you’re a busy mum with a hungry family or a budding Jamie Oliver, you’re going to need the right equipment.

Will you be cooking on gas, electric or the combination of the two – dual-fuel? Both fuels have their advantages but make sure your home has the desired one you need.

Either way, this buyer’s guide will help you choose the right set–up for you – the hardest choice is deciding what's on the menu!

Fuel for thought: Gas vs electric

Cooking on gas

Hot hobs - Gas hobs get very hot, very quickly. The naked flame they generate provides fast, responsive heat - meaning you don’t have to wait for ages for your frying pan to get up to temperature. The size of the flame can be adjusted quickly and precisely.

Ovens - Good things come to those who wait: Although gas is number one when it comes to cooking on the hob, it's not such a simple story when it comes to ovens. Gas ovens spread their warmth using natural convection, and take longer than many electric ovens to get hot. Most are powered by a naked flame at the oven’s base, meaning there can also be some issues with hot and cold spots where electric ovens deliver consistent heat throughout. Despite this, many people still prefer the simple control of a gas oven. If you’re using gas and your pie is crisping that bit too quickly, just move the shelf down a rung or two to give it a bit more time without burning it. And the moister air generated by a gas oven is just perfect for slow-roasting a joint of beef on a Sunday afternoon without it feeling like it’s been hung out to dry with the washing.

Safety first: Getting your new cooker up and running shouldn’t be too difficult as most homes in Britain are rigged up to Natural Gas mains. In places where there’s no connection, bottles or tanks of Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) are used. But remember, it's essential you use the right type of gas for your cooker – using the wrong one can be very dangerous. All gas cookers must be fitted by a certified Gas Safe Register™ engineer.

Electric cooking

Nothing gets roast potatoes as perfectly crisp as a super-hot electric fan oven. The dry, circulating heat means you will enjoy more evenly-cooked food – making electric a great option for parents who want to be doubly sure their family’s food is always piping hot right through.

Conventional: The heat in a conventional electric oven is controlled by a thermostat. This is usually in the middle of the oven so the temperature reading is always most accurate in the centre. It does still take a little while for electric ovens to heat up to cooking temperature, so remember to turn it on before you take your food out of the fridge.

Fan operated: Many electric ovens come fitted with a heat-distributing fan. This considerably speeds up cooking time – allowing you to feed the hungry hoards before they start raiding the fridge. It is thought that a fan-assisted oven reduces cooking time by around 10 minutes an hour - making it a perfect choice for people in a rush. And as if it didn’t already have enough to do, that hard-working fan also makes sure your lasagne doesn’t taste of the vegetable curry you’re cooking on the bottom shelf.

Fuss-free hobs: Although gas hobs have the edge when it comes to cookability, owners of electric hobs will be doing less cleaning. A modern ceramic hob can be cleaned in a moment - one wipe and you’re done. Furthermore, electric cookers are generally easier to operate. There’s no fiddling around with matches in the event of a sparked out ignition button – just turn the dial and you’re away.

Safety first: With no naked flame to see, it’s easy to forget when a hob is hot. But many modern models have safety features and warning devices built in to protect you and your family. And remember, if you are using your electric supply to do all your cooking, you’re going to have to check you have a sufficient connection. A separate 30 or 45 amp supply is for the best here, although single ovens can be run from a 13 amp supply. It’s advisable to contact a registered engineer to install your electric cooker for you.

Dual-fuel:

If you've weighed up the pros and cons of both options and you still can't decide, there is another choice. Dual-fuel cookers take the best bits of both and lose most of the downsides by simply combining a gas hob with an electric oven. But don’t forget, that means you need both an electric and gas supply, which can be expensive if you don’t have the pipework and wires in place already.

Does it measure up?

Cookers are generally available to fit 3 different sized gaps; 50cm, 55cm and 60cm. Take a tape measure with you to avoid making a mistake.