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Original poster

Help me love my Rangemaster 90

64 replies

WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 14:37

My much longed-for new range cooker, installed in new kitchen a month ago, is the Rangemaster 90 Classic Delux. It's one of those one-and-a-half size ones, with a normal size oven and grill on one side and a tall narrow oven on the other. I decided against the 110 cm one with 2 full size ovens as I thought it might dominate and didn't need 8 hob spaces on top. I freely admit I was dazzled by all the gadgets as well. As soon as it arrived I realised the bigger one wouldn't have dominated and in fact might have looked more balanced but thought the faff of arranging to send it back was too much and its still a lovely new cooker... But! The narrow oven doesn't fit any of my baking trays and tins, and I can't use the plate rack thing without taking out half the shelves. The full size oven has a handy rack thing on the door which actually just gets in the way and means I can't get to the other shelves easily. The whole kitchen was designed around this thing as a feature and I want to love it as much as I paid for it... obviously I need to get rid of the gimmicks, buy more standard shelves and trays that fit the narrow oven. Please give me your tips for what you've done to love yours!

OP posts:
Original poster
WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 14:39

This is it

Help me love my Rangemaster 90
OP posts:
LibertyLily · 12/02/2023 15:02

We used to have the Rangemaster Elan 90 (a long time ago - about 1998 iirc!) and once we'd bought it and it was onsite I felt exactly the same. I confess we actually lived with it for a few months then sold it to friends with a smaller kitchen whilst we upgraded to the 110 version.

As an oven/hob we loved the Rangemaster 110 and went on to buy another Elan (fully electric) when we moved to a house with no mains gas. DS has recently bought the same (dual fuel version) model for his young family, so good were his memories of cooking on ours at home.

I have to add it was much better than the awful (style over substance) Bertazzoni professional range we have now!!!

If you can't make the smaller size work for your space @WishIWasACavewoman I'd seriously consider biting the bullet and sell it/buy the 110.

Whycanineverever · 12/02/2023 15:06

I have a 100cm wide one and I LOVE the tall narrow oven. Granted I don't know how much of that 10cm you lose in that side oven. I find it great for when I'm cooking loads of smaller bits. Trays don't go in sideways but the slightly smaller ones go in length ways.

Whycanineverever · 12/02/2023 15:07

I also took out the rack in the main oven and the plate rack as well and they have sat in cupboard since I had it.....

HeddaGarbled · 12/02/2023 15:13

I cooked my entire Christmas dinner in a tall thin oven like that. 4 shelves ❤️ Put the baking trays in lengthways or buy some smaller ones.

BiddyPop · 12/02/2023 15:14

We have a 90cm rangemaster. TBH, while we occasionally used the 5th ring as a to be, we never used it with the wok attachekent. Mostly though it's covered with a wooden chopping board.

The narrow oven does take baking trays lengthways - I had 2 cheaply Swiss roll tins that get used a fair bit, but also invested in 2 heavier versions that get used all the time. I love being able to put 4 trays in at once - batch cooking and doing things for tomorrow while cooking tonight's dinner. Baking apple pies at the same time as roasting veggies etc.

Also the le crueset rectangular dishes fit in there well, and my round cake tins (8cm diameter no problems).

It's also useful to cook things in 1 oven and have cooked things and dishes warming in the other. Or cooking at different temperatures at times.

Chewbecca · 12/02/2023 15:16

I’ve had a dual fuel 90 for about 15 years, very happy with it and the only issue is that much of the printing has rubbed off.

I dumped the plate rack in the garage early on. I warm plates in the grill compartment. Also keep the wok holder and grill unit on top of the fridge. I don’t think I have the thing you mention in the main oven.

I use the small oven almost all the time, main oven only when I am doing a large tray of roast pots or a large tray of cakes / biscuits. My most used baking trays all fit the right oven, as does my Le C casserole dish and all cake tins. I have quite a few falcon enamel tins too (the white ones with blue trim) which all fit nicely.

Maybe go and buy a few new trays!

Good luck.

UncomfortableSilence · 12/02/2023 15:17

I've got a Rangemaster 90, much older one than yours. I also took the thing that attaches to the door in the main oven out.

You have to have slightly different size trays which you can buy anywhere for the other oven but we mainly use that oven, only very rarely the big one.

I love it and it has lasted so well.

NoCatsToday · 12/02/2023 15:19

I've got that one. I love it and like a previous poster rarely use the big oven. Just bought a few trays that fitted.

VictoriaBun · 12/02/2023 15:23

Hated ours , you have to bend double to get anything out of the oven , and 100% agree the oven door tray thing is useless.
Sorry but you won't get any Rangemaster love from me.

Malariahilaria · 12/02/2023 15:37

We have similar. I was a bit befuddled at first but realised you need to configure both ovens and trays in the way you want. Take out the door attached roasting tray if you don't need it. Remove the plate warming rack in the small oven ,buy slimmer trays etc. Just keep moving things around until it works for what you want.

LuciaPop · 12/02/2023 15:48

I have a Rangemaster 90 and love it. Definitely dump all the plate rack/wok holder type things- totally pointless. But the tall oven is great and a very useful size for our family of 4, great if you're doing a big roast with multiple sides. Has been completely reliable.

Original poster
WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 15:57

This is exactly the intel I need. Somehow I was thinking I had to make all the accessories work, but of course that's bonkers.

I'm making a list of the tips for things that do work: so far heavy duty Swiss roll tins, Le Creuset Square casserole, for the tall oven and a third shelf for the main oven to replace the bastard handy rack, keep 'em coming!

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Laska2Meryls · 12/02/2023 15:58

We have a dual fuel one also, it came with the house when we bought it 16 years ago and was barely a year old.. it has been brilliant and id definitely get another.. .. I laughed at the idea of the wok holder at first but use it all the time.. I also dumped the plate thingy and have only used the griddle plate a couple of time for making american pancakes ( and once crumpets ..)
I love the smaller fan oven and use it more than the larger one ...I have several smaller trays now..
We use the fifth ring( other than with the wok mainly when we are making larger family meals ..but it is also great if you make jam or chutney etc as it is just the right size for a maslin pan ..

Original poster
WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 16:00

This is the handy rack, for those asking. It blocks the lower shelf, scrapes the higher shelf if you put something like a chicken in it, if you pull the door open against the latch magnet too hard it slops hot fat on your foot and the tin itself is guttered so you can't make gravy. Into the shed with it!

Help me love my Rangemaster 90
OP posts:
Laska2Meryls · 12/02/2023 16:01

I have never used the door rack either, it seemed like a daft idea

LuciaPop · 12/02/2023 16:09

Very useful for basting a chicken if you are 18 inches tall.

JadeSeahorse · 12/02/2023 16:10

I have a black rangemaster 90 dual fuel - main oven and hob is gas and small oven electric - which is 18 years old and I love it.

I too built my kitchen around it and plan to do the same with my next kitchen.

The only accessory I don't use is the griddle plate. I haven't taken out anything else but yours looks a slightly different design to mine in the oven. I love the "Hanging tray" in the main oven but mine doesn't catch at all. Perhaps you just need to shuffle the shelves around.

I don't use mine as much as I used to now as I tend to use the air fryers where I can but I used to use the small oven for baking, Yorkshire puddings, heating through frozen products etc. and the main gas oven I used for roasts. I also do make gravy in my ridged tin too but, in fairness, I am just so used to it now.

Original poster
WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 16:15

Maybe I've given up on the ridged tin too easily... but doesn't the roux and the browning just get stuck away from the liquid and burn?

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Original poster
WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 16:17

I do actually use the wok burner - Monday night is stir-fry night - and the griddle- Friday night steak night - it's the gubbins in the ovens that I need coaching through

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Screwedupworld · 12/02/2023 16:20

We have just bought the Teppanyaki Grill for our classic full size and it is hands down the best purchase. I took the door tray off the oven as it was annoying. I use the tray tho in the oven.

Lightninginabox · 12/02/2023 16:21

Oh gosh I opened this with great trepidation as we only have space for the 90! And going induction at that!

Further replies have calmed me down!

Your explanation of what happens in practice with the door thing makes so much sense.

Treedecsandtinsel · 12/02/2023 16:23

I have the same one because DP loved it for years and wanted it. Take out the door rack- it’s a pain. Invest in some small trays for the little side. The little side heats up fast so it’s great for roasting veg , heating frozen stuff, cooking baked potatoes.

I use the big side for doing bulk cooking as I can fit our two casserole dishes in together which makes it more economical.

we use the wok ring about once every 6 months.

honestly I think it’s style over substance. Not being able to see in without opening the door is annoying. It’s a bugger to clean.

but DP loves it.

Enviromont · 12/02/2023 16:50

Every few years I take myself off for a cooker demo day, pretend I'm interested in buying an Aga or something. It reminds me how brilliant and easy home cooking can be.
Nothing like seeing a Pro pull a cooked breakfast, a hot lunch, a stew thing and a cake out, apparently effortlessly to make you think twice about pulling out the freezer food, again.

dew141 · 12/02/2023 16:57

WishIWasACavewoman · 12/02/2023 16:00

This is the handy rack, for those asking. It blocks the lower shelf, scrapes the higher shelf if you put something like a chicken in it, if you pull the door open against the latch magnet too hard it slops hot fat on your foot and the tin itself is guttered so you can't make gravy. Into the shed with it!

My goodness, I forgot mine had that, now I'm wondering where on earth I put it a good decade ago! As you say, totally impractical.

I'd also second getting smaller baking trays - some do fit in and some you can even slide some directly in the brackets where the wire racks sit.

Actually I quite like my Rangemaster but my Samsung American style fridge freezer with it's tall but stupidly narrow freezer gives me the rage and I'd love it to break (I'm sorry that's not very Greta).