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Range cooker or built in double oven?

(36 Posts)
kittylester Wed 29-Dec-21 09:21:35

It is almost 20 years since we had our kitchen installed and we now need a new sink and work tops. We also fancy a boiling water tap.

However, Christmas proved that my range cooker is not up to the job. The big gas oven took ages to roast all the potatoes.

Apart from at Christmas, I mostly use the tall fan oven and can cook a whole roast dinner for DH and I in it.

So, do we replace the range with a new range or buy a built-in double oven which will, obviously, be a much bigger job but might allow us to change the kitchen around a bit to reflect the way we live now.

And, if we buy a built-in oven, what would you recommend?

CanadianGran Wed 29-Dec-21 23:06:16

Envying all your fancy-smancy kitchens! Mine is very basic electric range with glass top electric (not induction).

Luckily we have two kitchens... downstairs was once a granny suite which we took over when kids were older. Now we have the whole house including the downstairs kitchen. I use the oven down there when doing a larger dinner, and we also have another full size fridge, mostly used for beverages. When DH is cleaning fish or crab he is relegated to downstairs.

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 22:36:19

Deedaa

Gosh, you all seem to have massive kitchens! I couldn't possibly fit a range or a double oven in. The microwave has to sit in the utility room as it is. I have an electric fan oven and a gas hob, I can't get on with an electric hob at all.

I think that's the best combination, Deedaa although a gas hob is more difficult to clean.

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 22:35:14

Chardy

Had a new kitchen 15 years ago with gas hob, electric double oven (one is a fan). When the ovens needed replacing, they slotted out (?) and the new unit slotted in.
As with lots of threads in Gransnet, think of your parents when they were the age you'll be in ten years time - what would have suited them best?

What age are you thinking of Chardy?

Deedaa Wed 29-Dec-21 22:33:52

Gosh, you all seem to have massive kitchens! I couldn't possibly fit a range or a double oven in. The microwave has to sit in the utility room as it is. I have an electric fan oven and a gas hob, I can't get on with an electric hob at all.

Rosina Wed 29-Dec-21 22:32:00

I really like two double ovens- identical, side by side built in electric fan ovens, so that I can use the smaller oven in one for just us, and both ovens - four if necessary - for entertaining. An induction hob has been a greaat addtion to the kitchen, and everything is so easy to clean.

Chardy Wed 29-Dec-21 22:18:41

Had a new kitchen 15 years ago with gas hob, electric double oven (one is a fan). When the ovens needed replacing, they slotted out (?) and the new unit slotted in.
As with lots of threads in Gransnet, think of your parents when they were the age you'll be in ten years time - what would have suited them best?

marymary62 Wed 29-Dec-21 18:46:33

We have a dual fuel range master and it looks as new as the day we bought it - 15 years ago. The gas hob isn’t great to clean though . We’re moving to somewhere that has no gas and I think will go for induction as I get on ok with them and as there is no gas ..... not sure about eye level ovens though .... If you get a range cooker at least you can change again if it breaks down - more awkward with built in things and they do tend to by pricier I think

Kalu Wed 29-Dec-21 15:24:25

May just be me but I think Range types are the heart of the kitchen. We got rid of an ancient Aga when we redid the kitchen extension and replaced it with a duel fuel Rangemaster.
Does the job perfectly. We have had a Quooker for a few years now and I wouldn’t be without one.

MiniMoon Wed 29-Dec-21 14:56:45

My Stoves double oven is on it's last legs.
I would like to replace it with a large capacity single oven that would fit into the space. I don't need a grill at all. The problem is, I can't find one! ☹️

Nannarose Wed 29-Dec-21 14:09:00

I too love my Quooker.

I recommend Miele as a brand. You can go to their showroom to see all of the ovens working - and if you do an 'experience day' you get a discount.
2 things I suggest looking at:
A steam oven, or more usefully, a combi-steam. I love mine!
A deep warming drawer that functions like a slow oven.

If room for only 2, I'd have an oven and a combi-steam, but in our kitchen, in the '2 oven' space we can have all 3.
I am surrounded by Aga / Rayburn-lovers, who will not admit that my combination puts theirs to shame!
And definitely easy to clean and maintain. Not cheap (much cheaper than many range ovens though) and much more efficient to run.

dragonfly46 Wed 29-Dec-21 13:27:30

Btw I love my Quooker - we have the one with water filter as well.

kittylester Wed 29-Dec-21 12:14:18

Well Kitty, we left our duel fuel Rangemaster in the kitchen when we downsized. ( ? didn’t know we had the same cooker)

J52 it was inevitable really!!

J52 Wed 29-Dec-21 11:42:47

Well Kitty, we left our duel fuel Rangemaster in the kitchen when we downsized. ( ? didn’t know we had the same cooker)
We bought a house with a built in double oven. I must say it is lovely not to have to bend down to use it.
The original one in the house, was all digital with many programmes, it eventually got ‘confused’. We replaced it with a Stoves, but that was mostly because it matched the other combi M/W, heating drawer and hob. The hob is induction, which is marvellous. If I ever had another Rangemaster, I’d get the one with the induction hob.

MayBeMaw Wed 29-Dec-21 11:23:32

Maytime - I paid about £70/80 to have my 4 oven, 7 gas ting range cleaned by Ovenu (other firms are available) including replacing all the oven lights and it was worth every penny.
You may find it is not as expensive as you fear.

Calistemon Wed 29-Dec-21 11:08:09

I would have liked a range cooker but we replaced the old double oven with a Neff double oven, the top oven also being a grill.
The main oven was conventional or fan and I found turning off the fan for cakes, roast potatoes etc worked well. However, it went wrong very quickly, within guarantee and we replaced it with a double electric oven, main is fan only
It's ok.

The hob is gas and I wouldn't be without that now due to having had some power cuts.

maytime2 Wed 29-Dec-21 10:42:40

I had an inbuilt oven with pyrolitic liners installed in my previous house on the advice of my sister , as she pointed out that bending down to clean an oven would get harder as I got older. That was about 15 years ago.
When I moved in 2019 into this modern 4 year old house I was dismayed to find that it had the bog standard floor standing oven. There is no way that I can get to clean it, so in the time I have lived here, I haven't once attempted to try. (I'm ashamed, I know). I do intend to have it professionally cleaned once festive season is over. I have gone so far has to google tel. no's etc. It will be interesting to see how much it will cost. If it will be over £100 perhaps it would be better if I put the money towards a new oven that suited me better.
Ideally I would like to have a remodelled kitchen, so that I could have an in-built oven, but there is not enough room for that.
Sorry to ramble on , but I think as one gets older ease of use and cleaning has got to play a big part in deciding what type of oven to go for.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 29-Dec-21 10:35:44

MayBeMaw

Oh and the “Quooker” boiling tap - DD 1 has one and it is brilliant, but of course takes up space under the sink where all those under-used cleaning products seem to languish! Again, tempting but expensive.

I think the quooker is worth every penny, there are more economical brands on the market, we had one before for several years.

The water reservoir doesn’t take up that much room, I am just more careful with my cleaning products hoarding habit

annsixty Wed 29-Dec-21 10:31:47

I would most definitely futureproof by putting in a built in double oven.
I have had one for many years now and certainly couldn’t bend down never mind get back up with a heavy casserole or roasting tin.
I would recommend the neff where the door slides under so no reaching over to pull things out.

MayBeMaw Wed 29-Dec-21 10:27:46

I think my range sounds the same as yours Georgesgran - six gas rings plus a wok burner and 4 ovens including a warming oven/drawer.
How on Earth did I feed a family of five, and run a semi professional catering business in the “olden” days with less than half that capacity? confusedconfused

Mapleleaf Wed 29-Dec-21 10:27:40

If it’s any help to you, kitty, my built in oven is a double oven - a smaller non fan oven at the top and a slightly larger fan oven underneath. It’s an electric one, and I find it so much better not having to stoop down to lift out heavy pots.
My hob is a gas hob.

dragonfly46 Wed 29-Dec-21 10:24:52

I have a built in oven and microwave above. All my appliances are Miele and I cannot recommend them highly enough.
I also have an induction hob which is amazing and so easy to clean. You can get all sizes in induction hobs.
I find my eye level fan oven big enough but I do not have as big a family as you.
At Christmas I used a heated trolley so tend to cook in stages keeping things hot in there.

MayBeMaw Wed 29-Dec-21 10:24:47

Oh and the “Quooker” boiling tap - DD 1 has one and it is brilliant, but of course takes up space under the sink where all those under-used cleaning products seem to languish! Again, tempting but expensive.

MayBeMaw Wed 29-Dec-21 10:23:04

I had a range fitted when we did the kitchen about 12 years ago and I love the rustic country kitchen effect but if I had a couple of grand kicking around, begging to be spent, I would replace it with a wide induction hob over two side by side AEG ovens. The only trouble is I really can’t justify it as the range works perfectly well and I am no longer cooking for an army !

BigBertha1 Wed 29-Dec-21 10:17:57

We have a Neff built in double oven which works beautifully well however I would have preferred a range cooker for the number of hot plates I could have - 4 is a tight squeeze for me. The modern range cookers are very efficient I think and they look great. Although I like the idea of a hot tap they are very expensive.

Georgesgran Wed 29-Dec-21 10:15:39

A dual fuel range here - side by side electric ovens. One is fan assisted and gets up to temperature really quickly.
Separate grill and warming drawer and 6 gas burners.

I’d definitely have another - it’s a big gap to fill otherwise.