Page 9 of 12 Cooking

Think about speed, control and ease of cleaning. Induction hobs, such as the Samsung 60cm Slim Induction with Flex Zone Plus, heat fastest and give precise control, ideal if you want quick boil and responsive pans; they also wipe clean easily because the hob surface stays cooler. Gas hobs give visual flame control and work with any pan, which suits traditional cooking styles, and you can see models like the Samsung 60cm Gas on Glass on the site. Ceramic hobs sit between the two: simpler controls and a smooth glass surface that’s easier to clean than gas but slower to change temperature than induction.

Fan-assisted ovens give even cooking across shelves, so they’re useful if you roast and bake a lot. Pyrolytic self-cleaning, found on models like the Bosch Series 8 and some Hotpoint ovens, uses very high heat to reduce cleaning to a quick wipe, saving you effort though it raises energy use during the cleaning cycle. Slide & hide doors, as seen on Neff single ovens, give safer access to large dishes and better ventilation when you need to check food, which helps if you often cook big joints or multi-shelf batches.

Pick a hood at least as wide as your hob — common hob widths on the site are 60cm and 90cm — so a 90cm hob needs a 90cm hood like the Neff 90cm Box Design Chimney Hood for full coverage. Style follows install and look: chimney and box designs suit freestanding or range setups and make a visual statement, while integrated hoods such as the Electrolux 60cm Integrated Hood tuck away for a sleeker kitchen. Also match extraction power to cooking habits: higher power for frequent frying and lower for light everyday use.

Combination units, such as the Bosch Series 4 900W Combination Microwave & Oven, save space and give you microwave speed with oven functionality in one cavity, which is handy in smaller kitchens or if you want a streamlined finish. They tend to cost less than buying two full-size appliances and reduce clutter in built-in housing. If you cook large roasts often, however, a full-size dedicated oven may be more practical because it offers more capacity and flexibility.

Match the splashback width to the appliance and wall area — popular options on the site include 90cm, 100cm and 110cm Rangemaster universal black splashbacks, which fit most 90cm range cookers or a 60cm hob with extra coverage. Glass splashbacks give a smooth, wipe-clean surface and contemporary look, while black finishes hide marks for a low-maintenance aesthetic. For example, pair a 90cm black splashback with a 90cm curved glass chimney hood and a matching 90cm hob to create a cohesive, easy-clean cooking zone.