subject: What’s Cooking? – Choosing the Right Cooker for your Kitchen [print this page] Cookery and Chef TV programmes have rejuvenated our interest in our kitchens, with all the ideas flying around people have not only developed a taste for more exotic food but also being able to cook the food themselves in their kitchen. Many of us will have typical kitchen appliances such as an oven, a hob and perhaps a microwave for those quick tasks. Choosing a cooker now though is a decision many people are taking more seriously as they have learnt techniques and seen people using specialised features that they want from their kitchens too. Choosing a cooker now depends on a range of factors from fuels sources to the energy efficiency ratings which in itself is a key concern in recent years. The fuel source is one of the first things we notice about cookers, you can easily differentiate them by how the hob works, if it has flames then it is gas, if it has a heated surface then it will be electric. There are advantages and disadvantages with both to the point that many modern kitchens use gas burners but electrical fan assisted ovens in tandem. Having electrical cookers means you dont have to pay two lots of energy bills but gas has its advantages such as a more controlled heat as electrical cookers tend to take a long time to cool down if you want to lower the heat. Energy efficiency ratings apply to electric ovens as they are regulated by Trading Standards, gas ovens and microwave ovens are currently not monitored via this process so you should be careful to use them sparingly as they are not under the same restrictions as electric cookers. Gas ovens should have what is known as a flame failure device, this is an important safety feature that should be fitted with any new cookers as it stops the gas pouring out if there is no flame, it is now law that this is present in flats and multiple occupancy dwellings such as student accommodation. A lot of kitchens with more space will be able to house two ovens side by side, perfect for cooking large meals where you would normally be stuck waiting to use the oven for another tray of food like vegetables or meats for a Sunday roast. Likewise some homes have more than the usual four gas burners, instead having six or even eight so that they can cook many objects all at once at different temperatures. When choosing cookers and microwave ovens make sure you get what you want and check all the models available to see what will be best in your kitchen.
Whats Cooking? Choosing the Right Cooker for your Kitchen
