So which electric cooker? There are three main choices with electric cookers, single oven with grill (oven & grill in one cavity), twin cavity (separate oven and grill) or double oven (small oven usually has grill). Whichever choice of electric cooker you decide on, you will need a proper cooker point or heavy duty electric point. If you are in any doubt consult an electrician before you purchase, as if you do not have this it can be very expensive to have installed.
Single oven/grill, grill combined with oven: This is the budget option with prices ranging from £150.00 up to several hundred. The main downside of combining the grill and oven is the fact that you cannot bake and grill at the same time. Also, as the grill element is inside the oven it can get covered in grease and fat, then when the grill is tuned on it can produce quite a lot of smoke until it is burned off (we have heard of smoke alarms being set off). This is worse if the grill is only used occasionally.
Twin cavity, separate oven & grill: This is by far the popular choice, a lot less expensive than a double oven with prices ranging from just below £200 up to several hundred. You can grill and bake at the same time and some models are available with an automatic oven.
Double oven, small oven has grill combined: The best option if the budget will allow, two ovens, one small one large with the small one accommodating a grill. Usually it will have a fully automatic programmable main oven and minute minder. You can bake and grill at the same time, or use the small oven to keep things warm in.
Ceramic or Sealed Plate hob? Sealed plate hobs are much cheaper, but are very slow to warm up or cool down. If you can afford it the ceramic hob is a much better choice, its easier to keep clean and much more controllable.
Low back cookers: Although considered old fashioned, low back cookers are actually very practical and we still sell lots of them (especially to our older customers). With a low back cooker the controls are placed on a panel on the back of the cooker which are easily reached. This allows the grill and oven to be raised up slightly from the floor. One of the most common complaints about slot in cookers is the fact the oven is almost on the floor. At the time of writing this article only Tricty with three models, and Belling with one model still make low back cookers.
This guide is only a brief list of do's and don't's, if you require any further info or feel we should add something please contact us.
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