Kitchen/cooker dilemma

[Comefromaway]

We are about to move house. Our current kitchen has all integrated appliances. The new one doesn't so we will have to buy a new cooker and fridge/freezer.

We currently have and like a gas hob and electric grill/oven. I don;t like electric hobs, I much prefer gas but dh likes fan assisted ovens as he says they cook more evenly.

Dual fuel free standing appliances are generally more expensive though. Add into the mix that we don't plan on keeping the kitchen for long. Within two years we plan to apply fotr planning permission to extend it into a kitchen diner and we will have new units and probably integrated appliances.

So it would be a waste to spend £££ on something we are only going to keep for a short time.

Does anyone have any ideas?

I agree with you that buying something good when it is destined to be replaced feels like a waste of money. have a look on gumtree for a second hand dual fuel cooker maybe?

if no joy there I would just get a cheap cooker and put up with it being non-ideal for the temporary situation before you get the new kitchen sorted.

word of warning when you buy your "good" cooker when the time comes. we spent ££££ on a high end Smeg dual fuel cooker and the fan assisted oven does not cook evenly at all - everything needs to be turned around half way through cooking or it is burned at the back and undercooked at the front.

Gas hob and electric twin ovens with fan is the best.

Given you're going to spend a vast amount of money on a kitchen extension and refurb, why not spend a tiny smidge of that on a decent cooker for the first two+ years? False economy not to, since you'll need some sort of cooker anyway. A shit one for £300, or a good one for £500? No brainer.

Ours was £500, which is nothing of say £40k for your refit.

(Indesit 60cm dual fuel btw, it's been a joy)

Can you integrate a cooker? Or do you mean built in? In which case just buy a carcass and a good cooker now. Gives you something nice to use and won't feel wasteful.

My parent's are actually gifting me a chunk of the money for the extension but because our house sale fell through we've used it towards this property and the increased stamp duty so we didn't lose this house. So once our house sells we will have the cash, however at the moment we are on a tight budget.

Also I work for a construction company and have lots of family & friends in the trade so the costs won't be as much as they might be.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't buy a SMEG anyway. I think they are overpriced compared to what you can get others for. Our current oven is Bosch. I'd been looking at Hotpoint, Zanussi, Indesit etc.

For two years, I would buy he cheapest standalone dual fuel cooker I could get (less than £400 in Curry's) but if that's beyond budget, I'd get the cheapest gas cooker rather than electric. I've had both in the past. Cheap electric hobs and ovens take forever to heat up. If I could only have one, it would be gas, any day.