Being nosy, what type of cookers/stoves [whatever you call them] do you use? Here they normally have gas hobs - four or five - and an electric oven/grill. If you have an electric hob, is it the ring type, solid, ceramic, halogen or induction? Jus' wonderin'
Yesterday being the first day in many months that I closed my kitchen window, was the first day in all those months that I was able to use my gas hob. Window open = gas blowing out so I use an induction hob during the long summer months. I do not have a proper cooker as I do not need one and I needed the space it took up for a new base unit in my miniscule kitchen, the cupboard being made to my measurement requirements by the husband of a friend. My cooker was put outside on the pavement, our version of Freecycle, and went in a blink! It was actually the only cooker here that had not only the five burner gas hob but two ovens/grills, the larger one being gas, the smaller being electric. I bought it a few months after I came here and never saw a cooker with a gas oven after that. So I have a three-burner gas hob and a large "toaster oven" which both sit on the base unit with space enough between them for my single induction hob, and when that is not in use I put a board on it and when my small halogen oven or a slow cooker is needed they sit safely on that. So yesterday I used a gas hob - and even though it was set on the lowest flame for simmer, it burned my food and the saucepan because I could not stand over it and watch it. I think I will stick to my induction hob and just keep the gas one for emergencies such as long power cuts!
Charles is a meat eater - so we cook different foods. We have a halogen hob on the cooker, but also use a George Foreman grill, electric frying pan, microwave, and one of those circular halogen ovens (fab!). I hardly use the main oven these days - except for storing a couple of the above. We had an induction hob, which was great but it died after a year or so, and I haven't replaced it.
Ive always had gas before but village doesn’t have natural gas ,we inherited with the property a ceramic induction hob, and electric oven with built in grill, which I find a pain as you cant use oven and grill at same time
Duel fuel - gas hobs, and a double electric oven underneath - one conventional, one fan. I find having the two ovens very useful if I'm doing things which need different temperatures. Used to make bread in the oven, now I cheat and use a breadmaker. And something which is used every day for veg is my electric steamer.
In my kitchen I've got a gas oven and hob which I only use in summer because in winter I use my wood burning "AGA type" stove instead for cooking. It has a small oven which is smashing for cooking casseroles and my favourite rice pud as well as a large hob and it keeps the whole house toasty warm! (I also have gas central heating).
@Janet - I have a three-tier electric steamer but I rarely use it as I prefer to steam or blanch vegetables in the microwave. And the microwave is something I could not manage without now, having had one for well over 30 years actually cooking in one, not just using it for re-heating. My original one was a Sanyo, bought from Dixons in Brent Cross. I think it was only 500watts but it had a turntable - which was new in those days - and it came with a book - not a booklet - called Microwave Miracles. It taught me how to convert recipes to cook in it - and even though I am now on my fourth since then, the latest being 1,000w and having a grill [which I will never use], I still refer to that book from time to time. I suppose that if I was cooking for a family and not just myself I would need a proper cooker, but as there is only me I manage just fine with small electrical appliances, using whichever one is required for the particular purpose at the time.
Well the wood/coal one was in when we moved & it also heats the water, I bought a gas aga as I fell in love with it (went shopping for dishwasher & ended up buying the aga instead) the electric one my sister was throwing out so I had it, its great having 3 agas has I use one for cooking meat for my men & dogs, other one I use for baking cakes biscuits & 3rd one for cooking fish & vegetables. Nearly forgotten I use the wood/coal aga to cook my glasses, hearing aids & keys.
Tina dear, an Aga is for cooking food. Not spectacles, hearing aids and keys... ...but then again, what else would you use for cooking your spectacles, hearing aids and keys? [Malka pauses for thought... Malka gives up!]
@Malka its like this I come in chuck keys, glasses & hearing aids down on butchers block (not really looking where they land) then put the baking trays back in wood aga which sometimes as my glasses keys & hearing aids on them (I take the baking trays out if going out & back in when home) I don't realise I have cooked them until the horrible smell hits me (melted plastic don't smell nice) but on the bright side I get to buy new shinning baking trays every week or so
@Malka I have the Microwave Miracles book too. My first one had the square glass tray and no turntable. It was still being used for heating pies etc. in my friend's staffroom when she retired a few years ago - for all I know it might still be there!
I won my microwave in a raffle about 10 years ago. At first I was petrified to use it because I was positive it would explode and for months I only used it for heating mugs of water I used to press the start button and retire to another room. Of course it never did and now I wouldn't be without it.
@CaroleC - long time ago! My little Sanyo was, I think, the first one with a revolving turntable. I brought it to Israel with me - the glass turntable and the turning ring being packed with the crockery [all done by the shippers - and nothing broke!] and the microwave itself had a duvet stuffed inside! Well, shipping charge was by volume, not by weight, so anything that could hold anything else did. I mean even my pedal bin [suitably scrubbed and - I forget the word] had things stuffed in it. Not that I had intended to bring it but the guys who came to do all the packing suggested it. They had previously delivered a load of large strong cartons for me to pack clothes and things. I had been quoted X amount for X amount of volume, and when the packers arrived, at 8am the due morning, all I had had to do was put labels on things for storage or for short term storage [ie what could go in the temporary small apartment for new immigrants] and what would have to go in longer term storage. Although I was actually able to have everything in the little apartment as I did not bring that much. So, 8am they turned up, leaving at 1pm with a load of large brown paper packages [actually removal "blankets"] which then went to their whatever to be packed as a part container load. And then the kids and I walked round to Mother's house with the suitcases we were going to take with us, and stayed there for the two weeks before we actually left England. Our "lift" as the shipment was called, arrived at Ashdod port three weeks later - I had to go there to sign papers and list everything, value etc, and the following week it arrived at our temporary apartment. Such a long time ago.
Mircowaves scare the hell out of me too Pork1epe1 , we got one but I hardly ever use it, last time I used it the food started exploding so me stop it quickly & cooked something else instead.
im gas hob and cooker. but i hate it, i used to have electric fan oven with gas hob and thats what i want again as the gas oven doesnt make my cakes as good. i hardly bake now as there not as good with this poo gas oven
