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The fundamentals of any kitchen are the tools for efficient meal preparation and storage. Storing food is the easy essential, every kitchen needs a fridge. Cooking appliances on the other hand are less than simple, and it all comes down to preference. If you’re shopping for an integrated kitchen your essentials are a countertop hob and a built-in oven or microwave, in which case you don’t need to purchase a cooker. However, if your kitchen is built and ready to go, you’re likely to be looking for a freestanding cooking appliance, and you’ll need a cooker at the very least to ensure you have a hob and oven for cooking food. Don’t forget your extraction too! Kitchens require ventilation to remove moisture and smoke generated from cooking, making your choice of extraction another cooking appliance essential.

Cooking appliance energy ratings work on the standard A-G efficiency scale, with A being most efficient and G being the least. You can find your appliances’ energy rating on the colour-coded sticker that comes with your new appliance or on the manufacturer’s website. Energy ratings for cookers, ovens and hobs help you identify the running costs and environmental impact of your appliance. Newer energy rating labels (excluding ovens) come with a QR code that allows you to investigate the energy rating further, including the kWh energy consumption and noise levels. More sustainable or environmentally conscious households will strive to purchase the most efficient energy ratings for their cooking appliances.

While most cooking appliances do require installation, not all do. If you’ve purchased a cooker, hob, oven or microwave that requires gas or hardwired electricity, then you will need to hire a professional to install your cooking appliance. Cooking appliances that only simply plug into an electrical wall socket can be completed by yourself. Attempting to install a cooking appliance without using a professional will affect your appliance’s warranty. There’s also the risk of gas leaks, fires and explosions. Where gas is involved, you must hire a Gas Safe Registered engineer to install or disconnect your appliance. Similarly, the UK Building Regulations requires hard circuit electric ovens, hobs and range cookers to be hardwired by a qualified and registered electrician. Installing integrated appliances, on the other hand, requires a level of precision that makes hiring a professional all the more worthwhile too.

New build homes come with the opportunity to integrate your kitchen appliances before you move in, keeping with the sleek, clean vibe that new builds have to offer. And, with the regulations around new builds requiring certain environmentally friendly features, choosing energy efficient appliances often follow in tow for the new homeowners. A staple for any new build kitchen is a built-in oven, seamlessly integrating into your new cabinets to save space and provide a modern look. Another cooking essential for a new build is a hob, whether you prefer an induction hob, gas hob, air venting or domino hob, it’s a must have kitchen appliance to keep with the sleek aesthetic new build kitchens come with. Extraction is required for all kitchens, and, if this isn’t built into your property, you’ll need to invest in a good extractor reduce moisture and smoke build up. Cooker hoods offer the opportunity to provide a kitchen statement if that’s your taste, or you can continue down the seamless design of a new build kitchen with a built in extraction unit instead.

Performance, reliability and cost are often the three main differential factors when you’re comparing quality brands of cookers, hobs, ovens and microwaves. There are a number of quality brands that consistently rank highly for cooking appliances that last, including Miele, NEFF, Bosch, AEG, Bertazzoni, Siemens and more. Neff often comes with unique features that are favourites amongst the cooking community, such as the Slide&Hide® disappearing oven door. Siemens and Bosch offer cutting-edge technology and premium designs. Bertazzoni comes with its luxurious Italian handcrafted design and style, and are well known for its durability and professional performance. Miele ovens have incredible temperature control within its larger oven capacities. AEG often comes with unique features, such as SteamBake. If you would like advice on which brand or cooking appliance is right for you, give the team a call on 0115 965 1937.

Registering the warranty on your cooking appliance is easy. Warranties need to be claimed via the manufacturer’s official website, and you will often need to register your appliance within the designated time frame. Some manufacturers allow 28 days for registering your appliance for warranty, whereas others may extend this as long as 90 days. You will need information on the brand, model number, serial number, date of purchase and proof or purchase. Some manufacturers require further information, but it’s not likely. There is an option with some manufacturers to register your warranty by phone or mail too, if online is not suitable for you, however we recommend checking with the manufacturer directly to be sure.

Most major manufactures of cooking appliances, such as ovens, microwaves, hobs and cookers, do include a manufacturer’s warranty as standard, however it is not always the case. Before purchasing a cooking product, check the product page for any mention of warranty, how to register for warranty and how long it lasts. Where manufacturers do offer warranty on its products, this usually lasts for a between two to five years but varies on the cooking appliance and the manufacturer itself. It’s also worth noting that standard warranty typically applies to domestic use, in your home, and commercial use may require a different warranty. Always check and confirm. If you’re unsure and it’s a product we sell at Appliance City, you can call our team on 0115 965 1937.

If your old appliance is in good working condition, donating it to a local charity or giving it away is a great way to make room for your new appliance, whether it’s a hob, cooker, microwave or oven. If you want a quick and easy solution, here at Appliance City we do offer recycling services with the purchase of a new product. All we ask is that it’s disconnected from any supplies, drained of any excess water, and it’s clean and ready to go at the delivery point when we arrive with your new appliance.

Most leading appliance brands now priorities energy efficient products in their range, including Bosch, NEFF, Samsung and Miele. For example, Bosch is well known for its energy efficient electric ovens and induction hobs, NEFF is well adverse in faster cooking innovations for less energy use, and Samsung uses smart energy-saving modes across its microwaves and smart ovens. The answer to the most energy efficient cooking appliance brand comes down the type of products you’re looking for in your kitchen and how you like to cook. If you’re looking for the most energy efficient brand for a particular set of products, you can call our team on 0115 965 1937.