Ideal Home's top tips on buying a cooker

Before you buy

1 Decide what sort of hob you want.
A gas hob is easy to control, ceramic hobs have a glass surface so are easy to clean, and the latest induction hobs are faster and more controllable than gas.

2 Choose the right combination
A second oven is useful and a double oven could save on energy and money if you cook small amounts and only need a small oven most days. Check before buying – on some double-oven models, one cavity is only a grill.

3 Make cleaning easy
Keep a look out for new easy-care enamel or catalytic liners that make cleaning a lot easier. A pyrolytic function adds to the price, but will do all the hard work for you.

4 Check the rating
Electric ovens are rated for energy – save on bills by going for an appliance with an A rating.

5 Think about what you need
Advanced features push up the price, so decide if you'll really use them all before buying.

Features to look out for

Fan oven
The fan distributes heat evenly, making it much faster to cook things than a conventional oven.

Multifunction oven
Gives you a choice of fan, grill, grill with fan, top and bottom elements or defrost.

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.

Pyrolytic cleaning
Burns off deposits in the oven cavity, leaving just a light ash in the bottom to wipe away.

Removable door glass
Makes regular cleaning easier.

Minute minder
A timer that sounds an alarm when the cooking time is up.

Automatic timer
A more advanced type of timer that you can set to switch the oven on and off as required.

For more information, see our selection of the best free-standing cookers.

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