As technology advances and global awareness of ecological impact grows, many Brits around the country are taking an increased interest in their household appliances and, more specifically, the environmental impact they have.

From energy-saving lightbulbs to energy-efficient washing machines, simple choices we make within the home can make a considerable difference to the environment when multiplied by an entire nation. What’s more, they can also have a positive impact on your bills too!

However, when it comes to appliances in the kitchen, there is arguably no feature more vital to culinary contentment than the oven. Whether you’re cooking a Sunday roast or a simple casserole, the humble oven is essential.

All of which begs the question: are ovens bad for the environment and, if so, are gas or electric ovens better for the environment? Let’s find out…

 

gas and electric ovens

 

Gas vs. Electric

When it comes to oven cooking, marshals of mealtimes across the land have long wrestled with two primary choices: gas and electric.

Joined at the hip like other polarising household choices – from the bath/shower dilemma to the carpet/laminate quandary – the kitchen conundrum of gas or electric has split kitchen-dwellers worldwide for decades.

However, with the world becoming more and more aware of the environmental impact our living habits have on the world around us, eco-friendly options are becoming an increasingly important factor in the decision-making process.

So, which is better for the environment: gas or electric?

 

Skewed Statistics?

When considering the environmental impact of your kitchen appliances, it’s worth remembering that sensationalist reporting and clickbait headlines can be misleading. Scratch the surface of these articles and what lies beneath can be a different story entirely.

Case in point, these genuine headlines from January 2018:

The basis for these articles came from a study conducted by the University of Manchester, where it was claimed that “microwaves usage across the EU alone emits as much carbon dioxide as nearly seven million cars”.

Scary stuff, right? Well, maybe not, if you look beneath the selective stats.

 

Mythbusting

Such headlines have been debunked and dismissed by numerous experts since, with many specialists highlighting the misleading nature of these claims almost immediately after their publication.

One such expert – namely David Reay, Professor of Carbon Management at the University of Edinburgh – was quick to note the following:

“The statement ‘Microwaves could be as bad for the environment as cars suggests new research’ is completely incorrect in my view.

“Latest data show that passenger cars in the UK emitted 69 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2015.  This is ten times the amount this new microwave oven study estimates for annual emissions for all the microwave ovens in the whole of the EU.”

With such a polarising stance from a true expert of the game, it’s clear that the age-old adage of “don’t believe everything you read” is one that still rings true today, particularly in the age of fake news and bogus clickbait.

As such, be careful what you believe and be sure to gather your information from trusted resources backed by fact and not fiction before you buy into the lie.

 

Perks and Drawbacks

In terms of the environmental impact of gas ovens and electric ovens, both gas and electric have their perks and drawbacks.

While electricity may seem the obvious victor in eco-friendliness, electric cooking generally takes longer than gas meaning. As a result, cooking for additional time naturally uses additional energy in the process.

What’s more, while electricity may not directly burn fossil fuels to deliver heat, fossil fuels are often used in the generation of electricity, muddying the waters even further. As such, choosing between the two is a tough choice and neither one emerges as a clear-cut winner.

Instead, perhaps the best way to ensure your oven is keeping your kitchen as green as can be is to use it in an eco-friendly manner and ensure you are cooking in an energy-efficient fashion at all times.

 

Energy-Saving Oven Use

Luckily, there are a number of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint through the way you cook and none of them requires any skill or expertise to do so.

Repeatedly opening the oven door during cooking will allow heat to escape and lowering the oven temp which, in turn, prolongs cooking and uses more energy. Avoid this by keeping your oven glass clean and using that to gauge the cooking progress without opening the door.

Another seldom used tip is to turn off your oven a couple of minutes before your food is fully cooked. Provided the door remains cold, the oven will remain hot during those final minutes regardless of whether it’s on or not.

Even something as simple as turning off your electric oven at the plug can save energy, as they typically use energy even when left on standby.

 

Eco-Friendly Kitchen Appliances

If you are looking to replace your old oven with a new one, it’s naturally worth going for the one with the highest energy-efficiency rating. The highest grade of energy-efficiency for a kitchen appliance is A+++; however, anything over A+ is A-OK.

Meanwhile, when it comes to stove tops, induction electric hobs are typically considered to be the most favourable to environment, as they provide speedy heat source much like gas while also being more efficient than conventional electric, ceramic or halogen hobs.

 

For more information on eco-friendly kitchen appliances, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or get in touch online by clicking the button below.

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Your cooker, unfortunately, is like many other things in life, it's not built to last forever. Unless you've discovered an immortal, ever-lasting oven, chances are you're going to have to replace either the oven itself or some of its parts at one time or another. But how long do cookers last? Read on to learn some of the things that you can do to prolong the life of your cooking appliance.

Modern cookers are designed to last as long as possible, especially those that offer the highest of specifications, but there will always come a day when it just seems to have given up. This may happen after many years, or soon after purchase, but it is always important to be aware that where electronics, heat and moving parts are present, there is the potential for something to go wrong. Like anything, if you don't properly care and look after your cooker, it's not going to work. Therefore it is vital to thoroughly clean your oven as regularly as possible to prevent grease and other detritus from building up and causing damage. If dealt with and removed early enough, your oven is far less likely to exhibit issues with functionality further down the line. A good scrub and clean not only improves the overall health of your cooker, but it also benefits hygiene. So, there will be far fewer chances of unusual tastes when eating your food!

If getting dirty while on your hands and knees to keep your cooker alive doesn't sound very appealing, then there is always the possibility of taking your oven in for a service. Most cooker manufactures will provide this as standard when you purchase your cooker, as well as any repairs that are covered under warranty. This, however, will ensure that if there are any parts such as fans or filters that need replacing, they can be found and dealt with as soon as possible. 

One of the most common signs to look out for to tell if your cooker is on the way out is when getting up to the required temperature takes longer than usual. This could indicate one of two things; either there is an issue with your cooker's seals or there are deeper issues with the heating element, indicating an irreversible decline in your oven's performance. You cooker, to some extent, may still work, but continuing to cook in this state may lead to more costlier issues in the future.  

So, what's better than cure? Prevention. Which is why it's extremely important to take note and practice the things talked about above. Regularly cleaning and replacing faulty parts will on average keep your cooker working for around 10-15 years, depending on the type and model. So, it is definitely worth taking that extra bit of time out every now and then to properly care for your oven!

If your oven is experiencing issues and you believe it to be due to faulty or damaged parts, then there is no reason to go out and buy a whole new oven, go ahead and get those parts replaced! We supply a wide range of like-for-like or high-quality alternatives here at Cooker Spare Parts for popular cooker brands such as Hotpoint, Belling and much more.

To view our full list of manufacturers, simply click the button below - for further information on our range of spare cooker parts, please do not hesitate to contact us today.

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Cooker Kobs

Are you searching for a new cooker but not sure which type to go for? The cooker you choose will depend on the previous cooker you have used and, of course, your personal preference when it comes to cooking. This blog highlight’s the pros and cons of gas and electric cookers, to inform you of which cooker is suitable for your needs. While both of these style cookers do a great job, they both have advantages and disadvantages.

Which is cheaper to run?

Both gas and electric cookers cost money to run, but they do differ greatly in how much they cost. If you use an electric cooker, you will use less energy but as electricity costs are more than gas per unit, you may end up paying slightly more for an electric cooker.

If you were to use your cooker for around five-hours per week, tests have shown an electric cooker will cost you on average £40 per week while a gas cooker will cost around £17 per week. Not to mention, gas cookers tend to retail cheaper also. While we understand, it’s not always about how much it will cost you, this will influence which cooker you purchase.  

Advantages and Disadvantages; Which cooker is best?

Gas Cooker

 

Gas Cooker

 

Advantages

  1. Gas cookers are great for simmering food as they offer quick and easy-to-control heat temperatures. Overall, the cooker hobs provide even heat for the base of your pan. Therefore, you spend less time preparing your dinner to get it cooked properly.
  2. They are also cheaper to run, compared to electric cookers. As a result, you’re going to save more money if you cook with a gas cooker.

Disadvantages 

  1. Gas hobs are a lot slower than electric hobs, meaning they take longer to warm larger volumes of food. If you’re planning on cooking large meals each night on your gas hob, we recommend you safe yourself some time and go for an electric cooker.
  2. Gas hobs can sometimes be harder to clean as they have raised burners and pan supports. Trying to clean them does become slightly trickier and time-consuming. As gas hobs have raised burners and pan supports they are more susceptible to collecting dust and excess food from spillages.
  3. A gas cooker has less even heat distribution in the ‘oven’ compartment compared to electric ovens, making it harder for the heat to circulate around the cavity of the oven. This means the heat will stay at the top of the oven, rather than the bottom. While this is seen as a disadvantage for some, others utilise this element as they cook different foods, with different cooking instructions, at the same time!
  4. Conclusively, installation of a gas cooker can also be a tricky one and you are required to have a qualified professional to install your appliance – this does cost, so bare this in mind if you are thinking of purchasing a gas cooker.

 

Electric Cooker

Electric Cooker

While there is no definite answer to which cooker is best, as experts, Cooker Spare Parts can advise you of the advantages and disadvantages of each cooker, to make sure you’re buying the most suitable cooker for your home and your requirements!

Electric cookers have a few more advantages than they do disadvantages and this is why;

  1. Electric cookers evenly distribute its heat, this is because they have fans, which help circulate hot air around the cavity. This means your food will tend to cook evenly and will take less time (this is a great benefit if you are cooking large meals or are looking to cook a meal quickly).
  2. Electric ovens also tend to have different heating elements that you can utilise to your advantage. With this element, you can cook multiple meals at the same time. For example, using your grill and fan to cook different meals (perfect for families with children or those with different food preferences).
  3. If you tend to cook a lot, have a large family or, are a messy cook (this is not a bad thing), then an electric oven would be the cooker we would recommend. Electric cookers are much easier to clean and take less time to clean – so, if you’re in a rush or cooking a lot, it saves you a lot of time and stress when it comes to the deep clean.
  4. If you purchase an electric cooker that has ‘induction cooking’ you can speed up cooking times; induction cookers heat up faster which is great if you’re in a rush and are looking to whip up a quick meal.
  5. Finally, it has been proven that electric cookers are better at grilling food to that of gas cookers. So, if you like to grill your food then we’d recommend an electric cooker.

Disadvantages 

  1. Electric cookers cost fractionally more, so your energy bills will be slightly higher if you opt for this cooker style.
  2. Electric cooker hobs tend to take longer to cool down as they retain heat after they have been switched off – be careful if you have little ones, as they can be very hot to touch after they have been switched off!

Cooker Spare Parts can inform you of the types of cookers available and how they can work for you. However, it really depends on your cooking preferences as to which cooker is best! Both gas and electric cookers do a great job at cooking but they do have different functions so, make sure before buying, you are aware of their pros and their cons.

If you do have any questions about which cooker is best, don’t hesitate to give our friendly advice team a call or email; you can find their contact details here. Additionally, at Cooker Spare Parts we stock a range of gas and electric cooker replacement parts so at any time you find your cooker in need of fixing, we can help too!

Range of Ovens

If your oven has stopped working or you have noticed a fault, then carry on reading. This blog post targets common oven problems and how they can be fixed. The majority of problems that occur among most ovens can be fixed independently and it doesn’t take too long either. I bet you’re thinking – “what oven parts do I need?” Well, think no further! Cooker Spare Parts provide a range of oven parts that help make fixing your oven that little bit easier and, a lot quicker. This post will explain the different replacements you will need if certain parts of your oven have stopped working and require replacing. 

  1. Not heating up

Firstly, if you have noticed your oven is not heating up how it should be, there’s no need to panic - this could be an easy fix.  

Gas oven:

If you have a gas oven, the issue could be down to a faulty igniter. In order to find this out, you can test one of the gas stovetops to see if it ignites. To check the temperature and turn on the gas of your oven, you more often than not press down on your dial, hear a few clicks and then the stovetops ignite. If this does not happen for you, you might want to consider replacing the igniter.

To replace the igniter, you can simply turn the oven off by disconnecting it from the main power socket. Remove your oven door so it’s easier for you to access your cooker’s igniter; remove the screws holding the igniter in place, and disconnect the wiring connection; connect your new igniter and then put everything back together – it’s as easy as that.  

If you’re still finding that your oven isn’t heating up as expected, you may have a problem with your thermostat. Your oven’s thermostat controls the amount of gas within the oven and allows the oven to reach a desired temperature (and of course, stopping it from under or over heating). If your thermostat is faulty, this can stop your gas oven from heating up correctly.

Electric oven:

If you have an electric oven, often, due to constant use, the heating elements can wear and stop working. You can often tell if an oven element is faulty if it doesn’t fully glow red/orange, or from its physical appearance. Visual indications are bulging; bright spots; or obvious cracks. If you notice any of these faults, then this is normally a sign that it’s time to replace your heating elements. Changing this only takes a short amount of time if you use the correct replacement part, and by following this step-by-step guide.

 

  1. It’s not heating to the correct temperature

It can sometimes be frustrating when your oven suddenly stops heating to the correct temperature but these appliances don’t last forever, and it is important to keep checking regularly, to make sure your oven is doing its job.

Gas oven:

If your gas oven isn’t heating up to the correct temperature, it may be because you need to change your oven thermostat. However, it could be simpler than that, and the part that could be causing you trouble could be as simple as a door seal. Heat may escape from your oven door and therefore, resulting in your food not being cooked properly.

Electric oven:

If you notice your food is coming out of the oven partly cold; or it’s not heating up at all, this is normally a sign that the temperature sensor inside your oven is broken. Before replacing your temperature sensor, make sure to check that your sensor is not touching the inside wall as this affects your ovens capability of measuring the temperature. If you find your oven is still not heating to the correct temperature, you can use an ohmmeter to test your sensor. Replacing the temperature sensor is also an easy job!

Both ovens:

If you have changed your temperature sensor and thermostat, and your oven still doesn’t heat correctly, one common problem is that it needs to be calibrated. To check that your oven knows when and how to heat up, you must test it by using an oven thermometer. Preheat your oven to 176°C and take the temperature reading after twenty-minutes, and every twenty-minutes or so for the next two-hours - make sure you write your temperature readings down as you go along. After your final reading, add up the total temperature heating and divide this by the number of readings you took. If you’re findings are different to the average 176°C, this will indicate that you need to adjust your oven’s temperature dial. Hopefully this will fix the job!

 

  1. It doesn’t cook food evenly

Another common oven problem is that it doesn’t cook your food evenly! If you have recently cooked some meals and noticed that they are cold in some parts and boiling in others, then this tends to sign that you have either a faulty heating element and thermostat, in your electric oven or thermostat and igniter, in your gas oven.

This problem can be easily fixed. All you have to do is preheat your oven and see if your heating elements light up (electric oven) or ignite (gas oven) and check that the temperature of the oven is the same as the temperature’s sensor. If after this diagnostic test your oven still isn’t working as desired, both heating elements and thermostats should be replaced, for electric ovens or thermostat and igniter, for gas ovens.

Additionally, if you are using baking trays or other trays whilst cooking, give them a clean or replace them. As trays are reflective, if they are not clean, the heat cannot bounce off them and therefore, cook your food as well. 

 

  1. Door won’t close properly

Lastly, the easiest fix and an extremely common oven problem is that your door doesn’t close properly. If you find your oven doesn’t heat up as well as it used to it may be because your oven has a loose door. As we use our ovens daily, the hinges; catches and seals can become faulty, especially if we open and close with some force. This is probably the easiest fix and can be done in minutes. All you need to do is replace the hinges and/or door catch/pin; and your oven will be as good as new! For help replacing your oven door hinge, check out this easy to follow guide.

There are many common oven problems that you encounter, but most of them are a really easy fix! All of the products advised to change faulty parts of your cooker are from Cooker Spare Parts. If you encounter further oven problems and would like guidance or advise, don’t hesitate to contact the Cooker Spare Parts support team.

Note: before ordering any parts, make sure they are compatible with your specific oven model/type. Your model type and details can be found on your oven and we have a search bar that allows you to directly search what you are specifically looking for.

 

Types of Oven
 

In short, the different types of ovens are electric, gas, conventional and convectional.  Your cooker is an incredibly important appliance. It is of course responsible for cooking your roast dinners and your frozen pizza's; and without it, you're left with your microwave to cook your meals - which would be a real struggle. That's why it's important to know the difference, and we can help. 

 
Because your cooker is so vitally important, you want to make sure you're purchasing the correct cooker to suit your needs - whether that is an electric or gas cooker, or a conventional, or convectional oven. We're going to help you decide which cooker you need, by creating a handy guide of the different types of oven that are available. 
 

Electric Ovens

We start this guide with the most popular choice of oven - the electric oven. An electric oven works by using heating elements placed on the walls of your oven cavity, which heat up when an electrical current is passed through them. Electric ovens are cheaper to buy than a gas oven, but because they run off electricity, they're a tad more expensive to run.
 
Electric ovens are easier to use, and will cook your meals more evenly than a gas cooker. If you're too concerned about your energy bills, and you want a high performing cooker, then an electric cooker is the choice for you. 
 

Gas Ovens

A gas oven cooks your meals by using burners instead of using heating elements. Gas is sent to your oven burner and a spark electrode will ignite your oven burner, producing heat and cooking your meals. Gas ovens tend to be a little more expensive than electric ovens, but a gas oven is cheaper to run that an electric oven, so you'll make this money back over time. But, it's important to consider that a gas outlet is needed in order for the cooker to function, and installation would be an extra cost on top, if you don't have one already fitted.
 
Gas ovens tend to be more popular with bakers because they heat and cool quicker than an electric cooker; they allow you to have exact control over the temperature of the oven; and because gas ovens allow for additional moisture which will prevent baked goods from hardening and becoming brittle, before the inside of the baked the treat is cooked.  
 
As well as choosing how you want your oven fuelled, you also have to decide if you want your oven to be fan assisted.
 

Convectional or Conventional

Conventional ovens heat the air inside your oven to cook your meals, whereas Convectional ovens use fans to circulate this hot air around the oven cavity, cooking your food faster and more evenly. Convectional oven tend to cost more but provide a better quality of cooking. The choice really depends on how often you use your cooker, and whether or not you'll value the added bit of quality. 
 
No matter which type of oven you decide to choose, you'll be able to a spare part for it amongst our range of cooker spare parts if your cooker ever becomes faulty.