5 Free-Standing Cookers | 4Homes

Shopping Guides 5 Free-Standing Cookers

1. Buyer's Guide

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1. Buyer's Guide (Image 1 of 6)

In the world of kitchen design, these days all the noise is about built-in ovens and ranges, but the classic free-standing cooker still has a place in our hearts. It doesn't hog space, it can just slot into a suitably-sized space, it doesn't usually cost much and it can be taken with you when you move.

By Kerry Young

You don't have to forego the top-end bells/whistles - the best and brightest of free-standings have all the pyrolytic cleaning, multi-function, energy efficient, halogen technology you could hope for. Just to convince you, we have sourced the loveliest around.

Jargon Busting

Minute Minder
A simple timer that sounds an alarm when the time is up.

Programmer
Slightly more fancy than a minute minder, this can also be set to switch the oven on and off when it suits you.

Multi-Function Oven
An electric oven that gives you a choice of cooking functions that would put the most brilliant multi-tasker to shame - fan, grilling, grill with fan, top and bottom elements (for crisping flans), defrost, you name it.

Removable Door/Glass
Simply makes cleaning simpler.

Catalytic Liners
These absorb odours and grease and burn them off at higher cooking temperatures, so you don't need to clean the interior of the oven - oh yes.

Pyrolytic Cleaning
A high temperature function that expertly burns off oven grime, leaving just a light ash to be wiped away - preferably by your staff.

Credit: Paul Massey/Mainstream Images/naomicleaver.com

*All products and prices correct at time of publication - February 2008.