New oven surprise

Si_Clist

Two weeks ago our 9 year old bog-standard Whirlpool built-in fan oven decided to die on us, so after a lot of research online, we replaced it with a basic fan oven made by Stoves.

Having lived with this thing for a couple of weeks now, we're still being amazed by the difference in electricity consumption. It's obviously impossible for us to state accurately how much electric we're saving, but as an example of the difference, to bake a 2lb loaf ...

Old oven - 10 minutes to pre-heat to 240°C then 40 minutes baking.

New oven - 30 minutes from cold at 220°C

And it bakes a better loaf too!

We had no idea at all how inefficient the other one was!

macman

But those figures say nothing about efficiency. They just say that it bakes faster-and timing has nothing to do with efficiency. It could take twice as long to bake a loaf but still be more efficient.
You could only know if it's more efficient if you could measure the exact kWh usage for the old and the new oven.Though if it's any consolation, it probably is more efficient.

Si_Clist

macman wrote: »

But those figures say nothing about efficiency. They just say that it bakes faster-and timing has nothing to do with efficiency. It could take twice as long to bake a loaf but still be more efficient.
You could only know if it's more efficient if you could measure the exact kWh usage for the old and the new oven.Though if it's any consolation, it probably is more efficient.

Yes, of course.

How silly of me to post what I did!

MillicentBystander

Do they teach pedantry in schools nowadays?

macman

:DNope, entirely self-taught...

Pincher

As an ex-engineer, sort of, I applaude the functional approach to buying your oven.

Alas, I must confess, the sole criteria for my last oven was that it had to be white, to match the kitchen units. The Siemens was 15 years old, and the door didn't close properly any more, but the colour was spot on. I could never get the hang of the digital controls. I was quite keen on a Bosch with a smoky white glass door, but came across a Hoover for £200.

Initially unpromising, as the Hoover was all analogue with a count down timer that winds down audibly. Now I love it better than all the fancy ovens. It has a double glazed door, so is perfectly well insulated. The timer is just a quick twist, none of that hold down the minute button to get near the time, then tap tap tap to get to a precise number. Best of all, the smoked glass looks as good as the £600 Bosch.

How does it cook? I burn my food less because I tend to set the timer for shorter time periods, because I have to check on it any way, and it's easy to add more time by just twisting the knob.

Forget about those Pyrolytic lining ovens. In order to get to 500 degrees, you need 6mm oven sockets, not regular 13amp sockets. Even then, you still have to get the oven cleaner out.

Cheap and cheerful is much better, and you get more choice in colour. Just about all the top of the range ovens come in stainless steel.