Having previously used a good quality touch control halogen hob and separate oven (Baumatic) we were looking forward to our nice new high tec super dooper cooker.
First impressions were excellent - a sexy and cool looking cooker - geat for showing off and the controls were easy to use and had tons of features.
So off we went to use it..... The ovens - especially the fan oven is easy to use, very versatile and get's to optimum temperature (200c) within 7-8 minutes. The convection top oven we have only used once - we mainly use the grill, whioch again is extremely efficient in getting to temperature and has an excellent heat spread - one of my bugbears.
The controls - Lot's of options, child locks, delay timers etc and all the usual you would expect with touch control The timer - WHAT A PAIN. it has two options - up or down. It slowly churns in ten second intervals until it get's to 3mins 50 then it races (and I mean races!) in 1 min increments - then very slowly back to the time you need. All it needs is a simple hours, muinutes, seconds allowing simple setting - not taking over a miunute to set the timer!
The hobs - a waste of my time and energy. Take one pan of cold water (and remember in winter is is even colder), add fresh cut vegetables, pasta or whatever, turn on the alleged fast heat zone area.........and wait 20 to 30 minutes ( at least) to eventually see the few bubbles that will eventually appear. Try the same with pre-boiled water straight from the kettle and still bubbling. With Pasta, the pasta was actually cooked and the water was still not back to the boil.
I have tried this with cheap thin pans through the range to what we normally use - Circulon - and there is little difference
Only physical problem was the fan bearing went after 6 months. It was replaced the following week no problem. Pro's:
Looks great Easy to use controls Great flexibility with the two ovens 2The grill is great with a very fast heat-up rate and good spread (reduced cool spots) Easy clean
Con's: The hob is nowhere near as efficient as it could be - Takes over 20 minutes to bring cold water to the boil The timer is awkward as hell to use Not woirth the money they are asking
After using this for 6 months I would give my eye teeth to get rid. So much so that we are looking to miodify our brand new kitchen at a cost of at least £600 to replace this with a separate hob that cooks with reasonable speed.
If you periodically like to attempt cooking using a hob - do not buy this.
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Welcome to Ciao.. A great first review If you feel you would like to add or expand on the details in the review at any time in the future you can do this by pressing the edit link in the centre at the top of your review as you read it. . Fionaxx
Aug 24th, 2007
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