Best Cooker 2020 – Buyer’s Guide

A freestanding oven for all of you out there who find that getting an appliance which can handle your baking is essential.

There is a generous amount of settings and functions included, such as the PlusSteam moist fan baking function which can ensure your cakes, bread and muffins all come out of the oven wonderfully soft and just as they should be. It adds the right amount of steam to the chamber before you pop in the goods, so the outer is crisp too.

The main oven is fan controlled and the second is conventional, so whatever your desired results there is a chamber which can help you out. Both have a very good capacity too, so if one of your main concerns is space as you love to make big meals, you’re covered.

You get two shelves included, and there are five positionings in the main oven, so plenty of scope to expand on this. A minute reminder will let you relax while the oven is at work, ticking down until it is all ready.

Catalytic liners make cleaning the oven a lot easier as nothing should stick or burn on; just give it a wipe occasionally. They absorb the grease and splashes, destroying them, so you don’t have to.

For safety, there is a hot hob indicator, so you know not to touch anything with residual heat. These zones are ceramic, so heat much faster than your traditional electric solid hotplates.

We think it is a good price for an appliance which has so many features, is so generous in capacity and room, and is overall very reliable and well-built. Not just one for the Mary Berry wannabes, either.

A single oven with an integrated grill, which is perfect if you need something plain and simple but which offers reliable results.

The oven is conventional, where heat rises from the bottom, ensuring evenly cooked food. It is particularly great at pizzas, meat and cakes, where you need crisp outers but moist inside. There is also the grill, which opens up the possibilities a little – everyone loves a bit of cheese on toast to tide them over before dinner.

All of the heat stays firmly within the cooking chamber thanks to the double glazed window on the door. This also allows you to watch the progress without opening the door periodically, which we all know results in a drop in temperature, longer cooking times and a faceful of steam.

It is rated A for energy, so won’t make a painful impact on your bills or the planet. Access to the oven is from a door which pulls down, which will appeal to anyone who doesn’t like side doors for space or difficulty.

As there is only one chamber for both the grill and oven, it may not be the best for large families or households where a few foods need to be on the go at the same time. It also doesn’t come with the power lead, which is a little strange but can easily be remedied with the help of a professional installation.

All in all, it is a good price for an item which offers a lot of opportunities and for anyone who wants something which purely does the job.

Thanks to the two ovens and integrated upper grill, there is plenty of scope to get your meal components cooked at the same time without having to cram it all in. Plus, it’ll be evenly cooked as well which is down to the fan distributing heat across all levels equally.

The main oven is quite a generous capacity, so it should be easy to accommodate anything from a huge casserole to the Christmas Day turkey. To match, there is also a large baking tray included so you won’t struggle to find one which is the perfect fit. In fact, it is 25% larger than your standard ones you’d be able to find elsewhere.

With a triple-glazed window, you’ll be able to view your food as it cooks without continually opening the door and letting the heat escape. No more burnt chips or facefuls of steam.

The control knobs feel a bit plastic-y, but they turn well and smoothly for good control. The overall design is very pleasing and modern, perfect for any kitchen layout or design.

Beko have given us a great quality electric double cooker for people who don’t care about flashy design.

This oven and hob combo might not be the nicest to look at, but it does what it should. With a good energy efficiency rating and a nice ceramic hob, you can’t go far wrong for this price.

Inside the top oven, you will find a full-width grill. You can use this at the same time as using the bottom oven if you have a full meal on the go. Everything is controlled by touch buttons, and the display makes it simple to see how long you have left, and what time it is set to.

As the main oven is fan assisted, heat is evenly distributed. There is a 69L capacity and two wire shelves, so everything will fit nicely. Cleaning is easy thanks to the internal enamel coating so an occasional wipe will suffice. It may not be the prettiest, but the white/black and stainless steel combination still makes it an attractive fit for any kitchen decor.

An attractive silver gas model from Hotpoint, this is perfect for anyone who loves the power and ease of gas but finds safety is a key concern. This stainless steel all-in-one offers a compact alternative to more expensive gas range cookers.

Cooking with gas is extremely rewarding thanks to the easy temperature control and fine tuning ability. With the HUG61X, ignition is done with just one hand, by turning and pushing the control knob. Great if you’re stirring something else with the other hand. This also increases safety because it can’t be knocked on accidentally.

The oven has a timer, which not only offers perfect results and precision but also turns it off when done. We have all left the oven on after using it and only realised when we are doing the washing up. Those will be days of the past.

It still has all the basics though – catalytic cleaners break down any fat and grease which has been burnt on. Just wipe it afterwards once it is cool. A capacity of 109L in total will keep even the biggest of families in check, and the variable grill can be set to full or half width. Plus there is high energy ratings. Essentially, you’ll never use more energy than you need to and it is very purse-friendly to run.

A model which will look great in any kitchen. This gas oven is available in both black or white, meaning you can pick the style which suits your decor the best and enjoy the power it gives you.

The main conventional oven is perfect for baking and thoroughly cooking deep-dish foods such as pies or bakes, as the heat rises. This makes it hotter at the top, and also ensures all parts of the dish are cooked. The second chamber is also conventional, but comes equipped with a grill setting too.

Because there are two sections, there is plenty of room to get everything done. You could even use the grill and oven simultaneously. Both doors are double glazed, which keeps the heat in the oven and also makes the glass cooler to touch, to prevent nasty accidents.

If life often gets on top of you and distracts you from the important tasks, there is a minute minder timer which will alert you when the job is done. A handy display screen also tells you how long you have left.

The only negative we would point out is that the hob burners are rather large, so small pans or items such as coffee makers have to be used on the lowest heat, which can cause issues with time. If you usually use large pans for cooking for all the family, it shouldn’t be a problem, but anyone who lives alone or often cooks with small pans may want to consider this.

From the Hotpoint and Jamie Oliver partnership comes this double gas oven. With an A+/A energy rating, it will be kind to your bills as well as your meals.

The main conventional gas oven will give you an easy chamber to make dishes such as casseroles and cakes. Because the heat rises from the bottom to the top, they will be thoroughly cooked yet crisped as it is hotter at the top.

There is also a second chamber. This is where the grill is, which will open up your culinary opportunities.

If there are splatters and spills, the catalytic liners will absorb them and then the heat will allow them to be wiped away once cooled. This will keep it looking as good as new. However, the standout in our opinion is the slow cooker function, which allows you to make stews, casseroles and other dishes with ease over a long period yet let you quickly warm plates too.

Our pick for the best budget gas cooker, if you’re looking for this specific energy source yet don’t want to spend the earth.

The main oven is conventional, where the heat rises from the base, which makes it perfect for baking and long roasts. It is also rated A for energy, so you aren’t going to see your bills leap up, no matter how much you use it.

There is a grill function too, for when you need to make some crispy bacon for a BLT or finish off a lasagne with a crispy topping. The hob features four burners, which are all nice and roomy so can be used at the same time if you’re cooking a big meal, and the pan supports are both sturdy and simple to keep clean.

It looks very basic, hence the budget price. There’s no digital display, the knobs are very plastic and it is quite a dull black colour. But it still has all the essentials, such as flame failure safety, an LPG convert kit and the ceramic interior to keep it clean. All of the settings are clearly labelled, and the flame quality of the oven is fab so you probably won’t need it on as high as your previous model.

Modern yet a classic look too, this AEG cooker is not only energy efficient, but makes cooking whatever you fancy ever so easy.

The main oven is conventional, so the heat rises from the bottom. This doesn’t only mean that dishes are thoroughly cooked, but it is also perfect for things such as garlic bread or baking cakes where the base needs to be crispy but the insides moist and softer. It also means those dishes which need to be a bit crispier at the top, such as pasta bakes, are sorted without having to transfer them to the grill.

If you do want to grill anything though, just move it to the second cavity where you will find an electric grill. As the two are split, it makes it a perfect oven for anyone who always has to adjust their timings or keep something warm while another food type cooks if you currently only have one chamber.

Nobody loves cleaning their appliances, which makes the catalytic liner on this model so perfect. No grease or grime will be absorbed, so it is there to wipe away once the unit cools. You get a glass lid for protecting the hob when it isn’t in use, and an electric clock/minute minder will ensure you can remove the dishes without relying on watching the clock. It isn’t LPG convertible, so bear this in mind if you don’t have mains gas as there may be extra costs included.

If you want the classic range look but in the handy space-saving form of a standard cooker, then look no further than this dual fuel model.

Not only is it from range masters Belling, but the colours are classic. Choose from black, cream or our personal favourite hot jalapeno to really add a touch of colour and country vibes to your cooking space.

There are two chambers. The first is an electric fan option which circulates the air thoroughly throughout the compartment. This is great for ‘al forno’ dishes such as lasagnes or cottage pies, which have several layers and may need to be placed on a lower or higher shelf.

We love the slow cooker function too. It will cook the oven contents at lower temperatures and for longer times, putting all of the hard work in regarding getting the balance. This would make it a fabulous option for anyone who loves casseroles, stews and other slow cooker classics, but doesn’t have the room for storing all of those separate small appliances.

Oriental cuisine is also possible; one of the hobs is a large PowerWok burner, which is larger than the others and also more powerful and reaches higher temperatures for the quick flash frying required. When you’re done with the meal prep, if there has been any splashes or spills in the oven, they will only be on the surface thanks to the ceramic enamel interior, which is anti-stick so you can just wipe it clean.

A spacious multifunctional cooker with loads of room for all your food, whether you cook for a large family, batch make for the week or love your baking.

There are loads of programmes, so you can really narrow the choice of setting down and perfect your food. Circulaire technology ensures even heat distribution around the whole chamber, for a perfect cook throughout. The temperature should also be more accurate than some rivals.

On top of this, you can cook different dishes at the same time without the flavours and smells transferring. When you’re done, the vapour release function cleans any burnt on grime by releasing it from the surface, where it is then simple to wipe away once cooled.

The clear LED control screen shows the timer and how long your dinner has left, and there is a four burner gas hob which gives quick yet reliable results. One ring is suitable for use with a wok as it reaches high temperatures and is ultra rapid, so you can cook some Oriental dishes too.

Offering versatility and the best options for every cooking eventuality, this Hotpoint dual fuel model is great for any households which cook a range of dishes.

The main electric fan oven is great for those larger meals, as it allows the heat to circulate better and results in more thorough cooking. Just what you need if you always find your lasagne to be far too crispy on the top but not done enough in the middle. It also makes it great if you want to cook two dishes at once as the flavours won’t transfer, so your homemade apple pie won’t have a roast beef joint taste to it.

Conventional cooking is great for those quicker cooks, and this can be found in the second smaller chamber. There is also a full-width Solarplus grill. If you’re wondering what that is, simply put it means that it is a little quicker and more energy efficient than your standard grill.

Catalytic liners are in place to reduce the amount you have to scrub the oven every month – a wipe down when cool should do the trick. It is fast to warm up, and the cast iron hob supports are sturdy and give a safe base to all your pots and pans. We love the style, which has hints of a range cooker design, and the fact we can’t find a bad word to say basically says it all!

If you’re after a freestanding, dual fuel cooker around 60cm in width to fit your kitchen, then this Hotpoint Ultima should be a big consideration.

A roomy 65L oven chamber should be big enough to accommodate your bakes, cakes and roasts, and a separate grill compartment means you can use both at the same time.

The four burner gas hob comes equipped with a glass lid for when it isn’t in use, which can also act as a splashback when it is up against a wall. Moving pans around on the hob means the stands can get a bit wobbly as there are four as opposed to two large ones, so be careful.

The knobs were a bit different in the fact that their function was written underneath, rather than some form of image or drawing. It would be better if it were above each dial for easier viewing. For the grill, getting the hang of which way round you turn for full and half grill is a bit confusing.

They’re also set a bit of an odd way round, not the most intuitive layout so that all takes a little while to get the hang of. But once that part is done, actually turning them is fine and easy.

Despite its downsides, the heat is very generous, and it seems to cook the food well. They are all things you can adapt to, rather than issues which take away the enjoyment of the cooking.