Freestanding cookers: How to choose a cooker Cookers FAQs

Electric ovens are ideal for baking muffins and cakes

Which type of cooker should I buy?

If your kitchen can’t accommodate a built-in oven, or if a range cooker is too big, then a freestanding cooker is a great option. 

If you’ve got a new fitted kitchen, a built-in oven and hob would look good. And if you do lots of cooking and have plenty of space, a range cooker would be an ideal choice – but they're pricey.

When using your oven, make sure you read the cooking instructions, taking note of how long to cook for and at what heat. 

And make sure you use the right shelves inside. If you find that the results aren’t perfect first time, change the cooking time or temperature slightly.

Grill

Always make sure that the food you’re grilling is in the right place to receive the right amount of heat. Moving food around during cooking makes sense to make sure it’s properly grilled.

Extra cooking zone for larger pots

Hob

Make sure pots and pans are receiving the right amount of heat. Some electric hobs have flexible cooking zones, which allow you to increase or decrease the amount of the hob being used to fit the size of the pan.

How can I save energy when I cook?

Here are our top tips for using less energy when cooking on a hob:

• Use pans that are the right size for each burner or plate. 
• Always put a lid over the pan to bring things to the boil and reduce the heat afterwards. 
• Slicing vegetables into small pieces and cooking them in as little water as possible will help to reduce cooking times.

What’s the relationship between gas mark and Celsius?

Sometimes cookbooks and recipes will only give temperatures in gas mark or degrees Celsius – our quick conversion table will help you switch between the two with ease.

How do I keep my cooker clean?

Stainless steel

Remove fingerprints as soon as possible or they will become harder to clean off. Wipe over with a clean damp cloth, then polish off all water with a soft dry cloth. 

The E-cloth developed for stainless steel is a great buffer – you can buy it from some supermarkets, electrical retailers and environmentally-friendly product web sites. 

Remove stubborn marks using a stainless steel cleaner, or rub in a few drops of baby oil to restore stainless steel finishes. Don't use cooking oils, as they contain salts, which can damage the metal. Avoid wiping down with wire wool or other scrubby pads, which can scratch the surface.

Oven

Always read the manufacturer's instructions. On enamelled surfaces, wipe the affected area with a damp cloth and mild detergent. 

Remove stubborn marks using a paste or cream cleaner or well-moistened soap-impregnated steel wool pad, rubbed gently so as not to damage the surface.

How do self-cleaning ovens work?

Catalytic linings

Ovens with catalytic linings keep themselves clean by catching spills and splashes on rough surfaces which then absorb and break them down. They are then burned off during normal cooking.

Pyrolytic programs

Pyrolytic oven programs burn off dirt and grease at up to about 500°C – all you do is sweep out the ash afterwards. Pyrolytic programs can take two hours, and for safety the oven door will lock during this time. Pyrolytic cleaning programs aren’t yet standard on freestanding cookers.

Can I use oven cleaners in self cleaning ovens? 

No. If you have a self-cleaning oven, don't use oven cleaners, alkaline or acid cleaners, or detergents to clean the oven.

To find the right cooker for you, check out our reviews of freestanding cookers, range cookers, cooker hoods and built-in ovens.