which freestanding cooker?

[wigglybeezer]

For reasons of space and freestanding units I really need a 60cm freestanding cooker, I naively thought this would not be a problem but there is a distinct lack of choice if, like me, you are looking for an attractively designed, mid price, dual fuel cooker, preferably without plastic knobs!. John Lewis has let me down as their own brand one is badly reviewed by users. Range cookers seem to have taken over but I don't want to sacrifice the worktop space, it is at a premium.
I have read a gazillion online reviews and have yet to find jus what I want, one model ticks most boxes but it is "C" rated, should that put me off?
I am actually considering having housing made to put my old built under oven and separate hob into, would that look a bit odd?

[NovemberRainbow]

Would you consider Induction at all?

We have a free standing Belling cooker with induction hob and its amazing.

[wigglybeezer]

I have been tempted by the AEG induction hob cooker in Currys, its a thousand pounds though! it does get the best score of all freestanding cookers in Which though. My friend goes on about her induction hob all the time.

[NovemberRainbow]

Think our Belling was around £600. We bought it from appliances online, they have videos of some of there products, so you can see what they are like.

I would never go back to gas after having induction. Also much safer around small children who may touch the hob.

Inductions really worth considering imo

[RaisingSteam]

For same reason as you I had to get one, decided black was the least cringy colour. Started with a black Stoves Sterling gas, looked nice but a PITA with gas hard to light etc, sold it. Now have got a Cannon Harrogate in black, so far very good. Sorry about Stoves, British made and all that, but the Cannon is much better to use. It's my third Cannon, should have stuck with them.

I think a freestanding double oven is a pretty good option TBH, you get a separate grill, a spare small oven and a really big main oven.

[RaisingSteam]

IKWYM about design, plastic knobs etc but in the end I just gave up and wanted a decent cooker that worked. What sort of look were you after - modern/traditional?

[HappySunflower]

I have a dual fuel hotpoint. Its absolutely brilliant-can't fault it!

[MillyMollyMama]

My induction hob was nearly £1000 on its own! Utter magic though. I think freestanding cookers are a sod to clean behind and down the sides if you spill something. I have not had one for 27 years and I definitely would build in because you will get way more choice with hob and oven sold separately.

[wigglybeezer]

I was put off the hotpoint Happysunflower, because it did not have a wee simmering ring, something I use all the time and the pot stands seem a bit flimsy.

Style wise, I have bought The freestanding solid beech units that Habitat made a few years ago, they are somewhere between traditional and modern a nd can go either way, my taste veers towards modern and we have been given a stainless steel fridge.

I am completely fed up of fitted kitchens, chipboard carcasses etc. so am willing to put up with cleaning down the side occasionally.

[HappySunflower]

Mine has a simmering ring-it was one of my must have functions!

[wigglybeezer]

You are going to have to tell me the model name now Happysunflower. I need to know, I have been driving myself mad with comparisons, it's worse than buying a car!

[RaisingSteam]

Is this any good - has 3 burner sizes

www.cannoncooking.co.uk/products/professional-60cm-dual-fuel-cooker.shtml

[wigglybeezer]

That one is on my short list, Raisingsteam, along with a kenwood and a hotpoint, Which says I should buy the Hotpoint but it has no tiny ring.

[HappySunflower]

This is the model I have, but in graphite rather than black as shown:
www.johnlewis.com/hotpoint-hud61ks-dual-fuel-cooker-black/p575845

I will take a photo of the size of the hob brings later if you'd like me to? :)

[wigglybeezer]

I have looked at it in John Lewis and it only has two sizes of ring, the smaller of which is larger than the little one on my current hob and some of the reviews mentioned this as a problem but if you say you can get a nice slow simmer on it I will take note of that! It is the one Which recommends and it uses less energy than the Cannon or Kenwood ones I am thinking about.

Many thanks to everyone who could be bothered replying to my extremely dull thread!

[HappySunflower]

One of things I like most about it is the range of ignition control. I can have it on a really tiny amount or get a great amount of heat from it. Its certainly been fine for me anyway.
The other thing I love is that it is a total doddle to keep clean.
I really wanted one with a lid that came down and there were lots of brands and ranges that just didn't offer that-this model was the only one that ticked every box for me!

[wigglybeezer]

Now I have to decide which colour to get.

[HappySunflower]

Oh, once I had eventually decided on the model, I got totally obsessed by the colour options!
The white looked a bit too clinical, the black just not me at all, so it was between the stainless steel and the graphite. The graphite won in the end and I'm still really pleased with it.

[RaisingSteam]

That Hotpoint is the clone of my Cannon Harrogate, not sure how Which managed to find a difference between them . I don't think you would go wrong with either. Choose the colour you like. I didn't go for stainless steel because the dark colours show less dirt and the black enamel top can be scrubbed without fear of scratching it.

I have not yet had a problem with simmering, perhaps the rings have good adjustment to the lower end of the range. You could buy a heat diffuser for £10 at lakeland and never worry again.

Also those models have a bit of a niggle with the hob labels hiding below the knobs - you can fix that with some stickers from ebay

[wigglybeezer]

I saw a lot of complaints about hob labels, my memory is a bit rubbish but I am sure I would soon learn which knob lit which burner, I have long since scrubbed the markings off my present hob!

[WetAugust]

I bought a New World dual fuel 60 cm cooker recently. I think it's this one although I ordered mine from John Lewis..
www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4778754.htm?CMPID=GS001&_$ja=cgid:8745471542|tsid:41408|cid:179089862|lid:47487012662|nw:g|crid:38920666022|rnd:9545207408730012342|dvc:c|adp:1o4

Really good cooker and what swung it for me was the drop down glass lid. When up it provides a splashback and when down it becomes additional worksurface. Not many dual fuel cookers had a lid. Plus the oven sizes on this are very good.

I like it.