3 Decisions You Need to Make When Choosing Kitchen Appliances

If you’re creating a new kitchen, this can be a really exciting time. Kitchens often form the hub of people’s homes, so are well worth investing in. Not only do the best kitchens look good, they also suit the preferences and habits of the people that use them.

This simple fact is why it’s worth putting time and effort into choosing your kitchen appliances. Picking the first or cheapest things you can find might be tempting initially, but in the long run can waste money and cause frustration. To help you create a kitchen that’s suitable and works for you, we’ve come up with 3 decisions you need to make when choosing kitchen appliances.

1. Freestanding vs. built-in oven

Freestanding

If you want a freestanding oven, you’ll need to buy a cooker. These stand on the floor and fit between your kitchen units. Most conventional cookers have 4 hob plates, 2 ovens and a grill. If you want even more you can get a range cooker. These usually have 6 or more hob plates and up to 4 oven compartments.

The main benefit to freestanding cookers is that they’re flexible. They’re available in lots of different sizes and you can put one almost anywhere in your kitchen – as long as it’s within about 1.5m of a power source (plug or gas outlet). Plus, if you move house you can take your cooker with you.

Built-in

Built-in ovens are installed in kitchen units. If you choose to get one then you’ll need to buy a hob separately. Although this is initially more effort than just buying a cooker, it will give you more choice and flexibility. Lots of people fit their oven in a base unit with the hob directly above it. But you could also fit your oven in a higher up unit if you prefer and have your hob elsewhere.

Built-in ovens usually have 1 or 2 ovens so don’t have the capacity that range cookers have. However, built-in hobs often have more advanced options, like electric induction, that most cookers can’t provide.

Unfortunately, it’s usually very difficult or impossible to move built-in ovens. So if you move out the chances are that you’ll have to leave your oven and hob behind. This can, however, increase the value of your home and mean you get a higher price for it.

2. Fridge-freezer vs. separate appliances

Fridge-freezer

The main advantage of fridge-freezers is that there are lots of different models available, so you can choose one to suit you and your kitchen. You can pick whether you have the freezer at the bottom or the top and a model with the most convenient fridge-to-freezer ratio. The standard ratio is 60:40 but if you want more freezer space you can go with 50:50 or if you want less you can choose 70:30. Another practical benefit to fridge-freezers is that most designs are stacked so take up less floor space that separate appliances sitting side by side.

Separate appliances

If a fridge-freezer doesn’t float your boat then you can buy separate appliances. The main benefit to having a separate fridge and freezer is that you don’t have to keep them together. If you’ve got a small kitchen and want to maximise your cupboard space then you can just have your fridge in the kitchen and put the freezer in a utility room or garage. Or you can separate your appliances within your kitchen so your fridge is in a convenient place for cooking – near to your cooker or main worktop perhaps – and the freezer is more out of the way. And of course, another obvious benefit to separate appliances is that if you don’t actually want or use a freezer, you don’t have to have one.

3. Combi vs. standard microwave

Combi microwave

Combination microwaves have lots of benefits that can make them an indispensable kitchen tool. Most can act as an oven or grill as well as a microwave, which can be really handy if you have limited space in your regular oven. Plus they often cook more quickly than a standard oven, which is great if you’re in a hurry.

Standard microwave

The ultimate benefit to standard microwaves is that they’re cheaper than combi microwaves. If you’ve got a tight budget then the choice is a bit of a no-brainer. Plus, if you have a large oven or multiple ones, or simply don’t do a lot of oven cooking, then buying a combi microwave is a waste of money. If you just want an appliance to heat and defrost food then you’re much better off with a standard microwave.

Putting some careful thought into making these 3 decisions should mean that you end up with kitchen appliances that you like and suit your habits. To get advice on installing your kitchen appliances, see our articles on kitchen regulations and qualifications.