Are range cookers really superior?

[BeaLovesBrunch]

Are range cookers actually superior to nice hob and oven combination? If so, why? or is it just a visual preference?

I'm renovating my first kitchen and I'm struggling to make a decision!

It seem that a lot of opinions are based on the fact that eye level double oven is much better, as you don't have to bend over to check on your food, but we won't have any upper or tall cabinets, so that point is mute.

My options are 90cm induction range or regular built in oven and 90cm induction hob on top. but with £2500 budget it seems that flexizone induction and 2 ovens only are non existent within range cookers.

Any suggestions would be highly appreciated! Thank you!

I have a range cooker. I can't say it's any different to use than the built in cooker / oven. I have to bend down to open the oven but I don't have back issues and only use the oven 1-2 times per week so not an issue.

It's really nice to look at.

Thanks, that's really good to know.

I have a range from the 1980s, with 4 functional ovens (not just 2, a grill and a storage space like lots of them now), a 6 ring hob, griddle plate and hotplate. In all honesty, while I adore it for the visual appeal and general air of country farmhouse it gives (which is appropriate to the house), I wouldn't in a million years bother replacing it. It's far more cooker than I will ever need. A single oven and hob would be fine for me.

I've got a Falcon range cooker and adore it. I'm not a fan of eye level cookers and separate hobs.... just takes up more kitchen space.

I used to have a Britannia range oven (two ovens and 6 burner hob) - no doubt it looked lovely (when clean) but I found cleaning it to be a PITA - especially the hob.

We now have an induction hob and 2/3 eye level ovens (large main oven/steam combination/large (sous chef) warming drawer). Definitely easier to clean but haven't really noticed and difference in cooking (other than I love having a steam oven now).

I currently have a very fancy range (rental) it is an utter nightmare to clean.
Buying our own house and need to replace cooker, I'm not getting a range.

I've got an induction hob range with 2 ovens. It was bought to fill a space vacated by an old, money-burning Aga. If I had actually been redoing my kitchen, my preference would always be for separate hob and oven, preferably a double eye height oven (had this in my last kitchen which I had installed). I find the oven efficiency on my range isn't as good as when I had separate ovens, and there were fewer hob options when you need to buy all in one (one of my criteria was the oven had to be pyrolitic cleaning - this with an induction hob meant I had about 3 potential options in ovens, only 2 of which were actually in my price range).

@EmmaStone this is exactly my problem! I want pyrolytic clean oven and flexi zones on the induction which leaves me with Smeg and Bartezzoni (as far as I can tell) which are quite pricy. Can I ask what range did you go for?

At the same time I would love to have two ovens, but since I won't have tall units range seems to be the only solution.

Our Neff induction hob has flexible zones and a warming function and wasn’t particularly expensive. The only two people I know who had range cookers, couldn’t wait to get rid of them.

My kitchen is freestanding so a wall oven wasn't really an option. I've got a Rangemaster 5 zone Induction 110cm range and I LOVE it. Two ovens, separate grill and warming draw. It's beautiful

I have a range and love it because the ovens are cavernous, we have 2 ovens and a separate grill in the 100cm range plus 5 runs on the hob. To get the equivalent I would need 1 double oven plus a second single oven and then a hob. That being said the range suits my home and a more modern kitchen I would likely choose differently. My in laws have 2 ovens at eye level which works in their kitchen.

@Transformatio I'm glad to hear it's not worse to cook in, tbh! I would love to have space for two separate ovens, but unfortunately I only have one 60-90cm slot to work with

@calmlakes is it pain because of gas hob?

I've got a John Lewis one. Which replaced a Smeg from JL which was pretty much the same item. It's great because it has 6 gas burners and 2 electric ovens.

However, it's too big really. I barely use the smaller oven because it takes ages to heat as it's not a fan oven. Especially now I've got an air fryer. I find the stove top a fag to keep clean and often dream of having an eye level integrated oven and grill (the grill on my range is in the oven and entirely impractical) and a glass electric hob that just needs a wipe down. I would miss the six burners but I don't use them that frequently.

Just writing the above makes me feel a philistine though

It is a pain in several ways, mine is stainless steel which shows every mark, the cast iron hobs are difficult to get clean, the rings are removable but trap dirt.
The whole hob pulls apart in bits and traps food everywhere, I don't want to have to strip the hob on a daily or frankly even weekly basis.
Basically I hate it.

Ours is a Viking and about 15k new. Without kitchen staff don't touch it.

Lol yes!

@BeaLovesBrunch, we went for the Smeg range, which was about £1500 I think (a few years ago).

The wife of our builder nagged on and on about getting a range. She finally got her wish and is disappointed. He described it as basically two ovens side by side.
With the current fuel prices, everyone seems to be trying to reduce oven use. Air fryers and mini ovens are gaining popularity. Are you sure you need a range?

@LovelyDaaling that's actually really good point, thank you for bringing it up!

I have got a rangemaster range, 5 burners, griddle, two ovens, grill and warming draw. Its a swine to clean...works ok but meh.... In hindsight I wish I'd not bothered and would now go for an eyelevel built in oven with proper self cleaning. I wouldn't bother with a grill.

@godmum56 thanks for sharing. I went to a range/Aga shop today and was quite surprised how shallow the grill cavity actually is.