Types of cookers
Freestanding cookers can stand alone or next to a run of cupboards. They’re usually 50-60cm in width, so are ideal for smaller families or homes.
If you’ve got a bit more space, or more hungry mouths to feed, a range cooker might be more up your street. At their largest, they can be 3x the width of freestanding cookers – which means loads more room in the oven and more space on the hob.
Cooking lots of dishes at once? Because you can have different compartments at different temperatures, it means you can get starter, main course and dessert done all at once!
Chloe, Currys tech expert
How to measure for a new built-in oven
Measure up the available space for your oven, taking note of height and width. Please note, if you’re planning on having a gas hob to go with your oven, you’ll need 75cm of space above your hob for safety purposes. If you’re going electric, that’s 65cm. You’ll also want to make sure your kitchen cabinets aren’t directly above your hobs. If you’re looking to upgrade your existing cooker, just measure what you already have.
NB: Always make sure you install your oven on a solid, flat surface. Carpet or soft flooring is unsafe.
Installing a new cooker
Before buying a new cooker, check all your connections. You’ll need to make sure you can hook your new cooker up to an electric plug, gas pipes or both. Here’s what to check:
Things to consider when choosing a new cooker
Induction hobs are so efficient that they can boil water even faster than a kettle. AEG’s PowerBoost function can boil water in just 90 seconds!
Katrina, Currys tech expert
Extra cooker features to consider
Easy clean ovens
Cleaning out the oven can be a time consuming and messy job. It almost puts people off doing a roast in the first place. Fortunately, modern assisted cleaning makes it so much easier. Look for ovens that have steam or pyrolytic cleaning features. Catalytic liners are also a great shout – they absorb dirt and grease as you cook.
Cooker programs
Look out for cooking programs that match what you love to make. Multi-function cookers can do it all, while fan cookers are great for speeding up weeknight dinner. If baking’s your thing, look out for steam cooking functions – meaning your bakes will have a soft inside, but perfect golden crust.
Wok burners
Love your weeknight stir fries? If you’re looking for a larger range cooker, look for one with a special wok burner in the middle. They’re designed to give you a high, even heat so you’ll have beautifully stir fried veg in minutes.
Pyrolytic cleaning may sound technical, but it just means that the oven gets heated to 500°C and any burnt-on food gets incinerated in the process. Then all you have to do is wipe away the ash. Simple!
Mish, Currys tech expert
