Range cookers are one of the most desired items in a country style kitchen, providing a centrepiece to the room as well as giving you lots of space for family cooking. There is a wide choice on the market though, so where do you start if you’ve decided to put a range at the centre of your new kitchen design?
What Fuel Will It Burn?
The first thing to look at when considering a new range cooker is what you are going to use to power it. If, for example, your home isn’t connected to a gas main, that may rule out ranges with gas hobs and ovens. Dual fuel, combining a gas hob with an electric oven is perhaps the most popular choice, but you can also get modern range cookers which are all-electric, with an induction hob. The choice is purely a matter of personal taste, no one style of range cooker is better than the others.
Buying a Range Cooker – Budget and Choice
Range cookers can cost anything from £400 up to £4,000, so it’s important to set a budget before you hit the internet or kitchen stores. Although there is a wide range of options online from the major appliance manufacturers, it’s often best to go into a kitchen showroom and look at what’s available. Seeing the ranges might help you decide whether size of oven is the most important factor for you, or the configuration of the burners on the hob. Use the staff in the showrooms for advice but remember also that their main role is to try to sell you something.
What About an Aga Range Cooker?
Although most people think an Aga is just a style of range cooker, there are important differences between the two things. Aga is a Swedish company, and has been designing their iconic stove since the 1920s. Modern Agas run on a range of fuel but the key difference is that they are never really off, they run constantly using fuel economically. Cooking in an Aga takes some getting used to as there isn’t a simple way of controlling the temperature and it’s really a matter of learning by trial and error. An Aga is most definitely an investment piece; prices start at around £3500.
Installing a Range Cooker
Whether your new range cooker is gas, electric or a mix of both fuels, installation is most definitely a job for the professionals. If you are buying your new range from a large online or high street store, they will often offer installation either as part of the cost, or for a small additional fee. It’s often easier to take them up on this rather than trying to find an electrician or gas fitter separately. Depending on the size and power of cooker you have had previously this often isn’t just a simple matter of plugging it in; you may need a new cable running from the range cooker into the consumer board.
