Many of us say we want a range cooker, but we don’t have the same product in mind. So what is a range?
There are two genres of range cooker: the traditional heat-storage cast-iron stove that needs a flue and is on all the time so that it, in turn, is always emanating heat into the kitchen. The other is a large heavy-duty freestanding cooker with two or more ovens, five or six burners, and turns on and off.
Heat Storage
Heat-storage ranges, which date back a few hundred years, are made by AGA, Rayburn, Everhot, Esse, Redfyre, and Stanley. Their products run on gas, oil, or wood, and some models have a boiler to provide hot water and central heating.
These products are undoubtedly less in demand than they were, mainly because of the steep rise in fuel prices. Whereas running a gas-fired range might have cost £1 a day a decade ago, costs today may well be around £30 a week.
So who would need one? If you reside in the country, not on the gas grid, an oil-fired or wood-burning range that heats your water and radiators is a god-send. In addition, many products today are far more energy-efficient than they were, such as Rayburn’s Heatranger 680KCD, which features an A-rated condensing boiler.
There are, of course, people who like them traditional ranges because they are homely and keep the kitchen warm, and we appreciate the way food tastes cooked in them.
Tradition Meets Electricity
The rise in fuel costs has forced traditional manufacturers to introduce electric versions of their products, which may be turned off. Redfyre’s Electric Range with Warmfront Technology has become its best-seller, while AGA has likewise has launched its high-tech Total Control model, which can be turned on and off.
Cooking in Quantity
The other range is a big on/off a multi-oven appliance that cooks beautifully and is associated with professional kitchens. French brands Lacanche and La Cornue are popular with well-known chefs, while manufacturers of stylish, high-end appliances include Falcon, Britannia, Steel, Wolf, and Rangemaster. Mid-range manufacturers of excellent ranges include Stoves, Caple, Smeg, and Belling. And as Rupert Cotterell of Lacanche points out, A standalone cooker also has the benefit of portability.
Fuel Type
Choose from gas, electric, or dual fuel. And it’s worth noting that many manufacturers can convert their models to run on LPG. Many fields come with gas hobs, but a lot is available with induction hobs. Perceived wisdom has been that it’s best to have a gas hob and electric ovens. Still, induction hobs are considered more energy-efficient because some 90 percent of the heat goes into the pan, whereas a lot of heat from a gas flame dissipates in the room during cooking time.
And in the days of rising gas and electricity prices, why not consider a wood-burning range? The Esse 990 burns wood or mineral fuel and heats quickly from cold, so it doesn’t have to be on. So don’t dismiss wood-burners as being a bit “Tom and Barbara” from The Good Life, which for non-UK residents was a hilarious BBC series in the 1970s about a middle-class couple trying to live off the land their garden…in suburban Surrey.
Aesthetics
Choose from the 1930s enamel stove look with electrical products from AGA or Redfyre, or perhaps you prefer the modern professional stainless steel look. But I don’t think a range should look dark and industrial to mean business. Lacanche makes heavy cast iron ranges, but they are available in almost any color and look very chic and 21st century in tangerine or lime green. Italian manufacturer Steel has a range clad in panels that can be changed if you tire of your original shade. So throw color caution to the wind and make a design statement.
Sizes
Whatever size your kitchen is, you will find a range to fit. For example, stoves make an endearing mini range cooker just 552mm wide for the studio-flat dweller, while if you live in a chateau, you’ll need the 1800mm Grand Palais range from La Cornue. However, the 900mm and 1000mm widths are most popular, accommodating in many UK kitchens.
So before deciding on what to buy, consider what you want the range for, what fuel best suits your budget and location, and then find the model with the cooking features you need. Then you can be sure it’s a buy that will endure decades.