Oven Dilemma

black-saturn

I have a big dilemma with my oven. The oven I use has been in this house since the early 1960's. It was here when I moved in. It has so much burnt food on it that it won't come off. I've tried everything and it is literally welded on there. It keeps going out in the middle of cooking and sometimes won't light at all. Now here's the real dilemma. I went out and bought a brand new gas oven. When the fitters came to install it they said they couldnt as safety regulations say that you should have a 6 inch gap between the top of the oven and your kitchen cupboards with a gas oven. There is only about a 1 inch gap. So they had to take the oven away again and I got a refund. I can't move the kitchen cupboards upwards as they are up to the ceiling already and I can't move them anywhere else as it is a very very small kitchen. I have thought about the option of having an electric cooker but there is no electric point to plug it into and I would have to have a wire put in. So has anybody got any idea about how to get round this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Bossyboots

We had to put a wire in for an electric cooker when we moved here. It was actually quite a simple quick job so it might be worth you looking into getting that done.

Otherwise it looks as though you will have to take the cupboard out and do without it but I don't know if that is a practical prospect either (it certainly wouldn't be in my kitchen).

black-saturn

I wouldnt be able to take the cupboards out. There are only 4 small cupboards in my kitchen and 2 of them are those ones and they are chocker block with stuff. I will look into having a wire put in. But does anyone know if the same regulations apply to an electric oven i.e. with the space above it?

Bossyboots

When you say a 6" gap are you talking about an oven with an eye level grill? I have to presume you are otherwise you wouldn't get a saucepan on the ring with a six inch gap, never mind a 1".

Why don't you get a low level cooker? There are still height restrictions on these but if you currently put a high cooker in and have a gap, you should be okay.

I have had a quick look around for the regs but can't find a reference to heights as yet.

black-saturn

The oven I ordered was a low level oven and they still said it was too small a gap inbetween that and the cupboards. I'm thinking maybe the only option is to get a baby belling oven instead

windym_2

What about a combi microwave. I have an Aga which is turned off in the summer (too hot). So I rely heavily on my clapped out old panasonic microwave. It is a combi which has oven and grill. If you use it properly it will save time and money (on electricity). Wouldn't be without it.

Got to be better than a belling.

I haven't shopped around but this link will give you an idea of what I mean.

http://www.comet.co.uk/comet/html/cache/25_199133.html

Dont know about other makes, but with jacket potatoes for instance, I just put them in and press the button for jackets, no weight or time to faff around with, its all automated. Perfect. I even roast a chicken (about 1.8kg) in 40 minutes and its gorgeous.

black-saturn

Sorry, it's not clear from the link. Has that combi oven got hobs on the top of it? If it has it looks like the kind of thing I'm looking for. Thanks.

windym_2

No it doesn't. But I use an electric steamer for my vegetables and any boiled potatoes. Any other comes from the micro.

black-saturn

OK, I'll look into that option. Thanks :T

windym_2

Just thought the micro would give you more versatility than a belling oven. Anything you would cook on a hob can (nearly) always be cooked elsewhere. The Panasonic is a good size oven too. Coupled with the steamer, which you can pick up dead cheap, and can be put away giving you more worktop space £8.99 at Argos http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4220271.htm. I know it can seem that you won't be able to cope without a hob, but think about what you cook and it is easily possible to live without one! Another option would be a slow cooker http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4225173.htm or http://www.tesco.com/electrical/product.aspx?R=8251780. You can go on and on but at the end of the day, things like micro combi and slow cooker will save on the electricity bill too! :T

black-saturn

Plus if I have that old oven took out I would have room for a tumble drier which I am in dire need of.