Our guide to buying the best gas range cooker

The average gas range cooker buyers guide tends to focus on recommending specific brands and models. As market leaders, names such as Belling and Rangemaster will always come up. However, we think it’s more useful to look in some detail at the many issues you should take into consideration when trying to decide which will be the top gas range cooker for you. Once you know what features to look for, you’ll be in a great position to make your own choice to buy best gas range cooker rather than simply taking our word for it.

Why buy a gas range cooker?

Let’s start with this basic question. Range cookers are manufactured in a variety of fuel configurations, all gas, all electric and dual fuel being the options. The debate about whether gas or electricity is best will never be conclusively settled but if you are already a gas user, you’ll probably want to retain the advantages of the responsive temperature controllability of gas and the frequently moister results of gas ovens.

Gas is also preferred by many because it works out cheaper than using electricity. Aesthetically, too, a high-quality gas range cooker can make a huge impact and really enhance the look of your kitchen but don’t be tempted by models that are strong on looks and less so on performance.

In some households there may not even be a choice because if no high-current electric circuit is available, then gas may be the only feasible option.

What size should I buy?

There are three standard sizes, 90cm, 100cm and 110cm. It’s possible to by a mini range which is just 60cm wide, but it rather defeats the object since it is no larger than an ordinary cooker.

A 90cm model will be more than sufficient for a large family, and is likely to have five burners and a tall fan oven which is ideal for batch baking or keeping cooked dishes warm. 100cm range cookers are a step up towards a professionally equipped kitchen, with two or three large ovens, and grill and as many as seven burners. The largest category is 110cm which, at twice the size of standard cookers, makes a powerful statement for those whose kitchen is the centre of their domestic world.

What colours and finishes can I get?

The most common finish is probably the pure stainless steel look, which is associated with the top gas range cooker preferences of internationally renowned chefs. However, you’ll find a wide choice of colours, especially from a manufacturer such as Rangemaster. Cream is extremely popular, but greens, blues and reds of various shades are available, as are variants on grey and white. There are different styles of control as well, so you needn’t settle for the simplest of dials. Handles too vary, from straight, plain bars to elegant twisted steel, from full-width to corner settings.

Do I need a gas connection for a gas range cooker?

While it is possible to run a cooker on propane, butane or even liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the vast majority will used natural gas which is fed to the home from a utility company. In some particularly remote regions, the other options may be unavoidable but generally speaking, although it isn’t technically essential, it makes life a lot easier if you do have a gas line. Just because you have gas central heating don’t assume there will also be a gas cooker connection. It’s likely but not guaranteed so it is conceivable you will have to have one installed by a Gas Safe registered engineer. They will also be able to inspect your set-up and confirm that everything is safe in accordance with the relevant legislation.

How efficient is a range gas cooker?

Although there can be very good reasons to choose electricity, it is well-established that gas is more energy efficient, but how does a gas range cooker compare with a standard gas cooker? In practice, each element in a gas range cooker should cost no more to run than its equivalent in a standard model. Oven size will make a difference but you’ll only notice a substantial price differential if you’re using two or three ovens at once in your range. But if you need that many ovens you’d probably use a single one for three times as long, thereby cancelling out much of the price difference. You should always check the energy ratings of any model you consider buying.

One word of caution – modern cookers of all kinds are designed for maximum energy efficiency. None of these measures will apply to traditional ranges that may be many decades old but still in use. Buying new is the safest option.

Budget

This will be the decisive factor for many people. The best gas range cooker may not necessarily be the most expensive, but there is a correlation between price and quality. Prices for domestic gas range cookers range from £1000 to £2300. It’s possible to spend even more than this but those who have both the funds and the inclination will be small in number.

Key Features

Aside from these broader issues of capacity, style and efficiency, there are many features of gas range cookers that can make life in the kitchen appreciably easier. How many of them you feel you need and whether you’re prepared to pay the corresponding price is a matter of personal preference. The following is a brief round-up of the most common ones.

Cleaning

Cleaning ovens can be a terrible chore. Choosing a range cooker that makes it easier is a very sensible idea. There are three main options, the most widespread of which is easy-clean enamel. The surfaces resist and limit the build-up of dirt and grease and make it fairly simple to wipe away whatever does accrue. Then there is catalytic cleaning, which uses liners which absorb food and grease, break them down and burn them away during cooking. Lastly, there is the pyrolytic method which doesn’t use a liner, but has a cleaning program which heats the oven to 400 degrees or more and over the course of a couple of hours reduces debris to ash which can then be brushed out. Range cookers that feature this latter method tend to be pricier than others, so it’s worth balancing convenience with cost.

Cooking Functions

Depending upon your needs, you may want to check whether a particular model has a wok burner, a handy rack for roasts and a range of grilling functions.

Controls

Other convenient features include interior light functions and accessibility, timers and automatic safety shut-offs. Many gas range cookers come with lids for the hob burners which not only protects them from wear and tear but also stops careless hands from touching scalding metal.

Here at Knees Home & Electrical, we are experts in cookers of all kinds and we hope that this gas range cooker buyers guide will help when making your own choice. If you are in any doubt, please don’t hesitate to ask our friendly team for advice. We’re always here to help.