Oven cooking is, more often than not, a vital part of the evening meal-time routine. In fact, you only really realise just how vital it is when it’s out of action and no longer usable.

That being said, there’s a lot more to oven cooking than simply heating up a pizza or thawing frozen chips.

There are a number of oven accessories in particular that can really allow you to use it to its fullest potential.

To help you get the most out of your oven, we’ve listed a handful of must-have oven accessories that’ll have you loving your oven in no time.

Roasting Pans

While it may conjure up images of Sunday chickens and Christmas turkeys gently browning to a mouth-watering gold, the humble roasting pan is far more versatile than you might think.

Due to the superior air circulation, roasting pans are perfect for vegetables too, creating a fantastic even bake for perfectly cooked veg.

The size and depth also make them perfect for creating a jumbo-sized lasagne for social occasions with multiple mouths to feed.

That being said, the roast is tailor-made for meats and poultry, big or small.

Those that come with a roasting rack also have the added benefit of elevating your meat off the base allowing the fat and juice to drip off. Gravy!

Cake Trays

An oven essential, particularly when The Great British Bake-Off is on, the humble cake tray is a must for any kitchen-dweller that wants to make the most of their oven beyond the main course.

Cake trays and tins come in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as materials; e.g. sandwich pans are perfect for creating layered sponge cakes, like Victoria Sponge.

Meanwhile, springform pans are ideal for softer cake textures, like cheesecakes and tortes, while they can also make for the ideal base for deep-dish pizzas, quiche and savoury pies.

Oven Dishes

Typically made of glass, porcelain or steel, oven dishes are the Swiss Army Knife or the baking world.

Handy in a variety of cooking scenarios, these versatile vessels are capable of creating a variety of dishes, from casseroles to pasta bakes.

Another handy perk is that they can be transferred straight from the oven to the table for serving (just make sure you place it on a heat-proof surface).

Spare Grill Shelf

When it comes to cooking multiple things at once, a spare oven shelves can be a real life-saver. More accurately, it can be a real meal-saver.

Overcrowding shelves in the hopes squeezing in multiple items to cook simultaneously isn’t smart.

Not only will it result in poor heat circulation for an uneven bake, in the case of cakes and cookies, it can also result in the resulting items merging and sticking together.

A spare shelf can be just the solution, allowing you to spread your cooking over two shelves. Just be sure to rotate to ensure all items are cooked evenly.

Oven Thermometer

A must when it comes to cooking your dish to the desired amount, an oven thermometer can be the difference between burnt offerings and bon appetit.

While some ovens come with these built-in, most will not, typically leaving you to rely on the electric thermostat and the accompanying light to gauge the heat level.

Moreover, the built-in oven thermostat can lose its accuracy over time without warning, leaving you hungrily staring at an undercooked meal or cremated carcass.

Hang the thermometer in the centre of the oven on the middle rack for the most accurate reading.

For an even more accurate idea of cooking temp, you may want to invest in a meat/cake thermometer for the perfect result.

For more details on oven must-haves and replacement parts, why not drop us a line today? Call now on 02920 452 510 or get in touch via email using the button below.

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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

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

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!

Your oven can be a mystery, an appliance most of us use every day but when something goes wrong with it, it can be hard to know what has gone on. If your electric oven is not heating up then you may be at a loss at how to cook your home cooked meals! But there's no need to look for a brand new oven, it most cases it's probably one broken component of your oven that is causing problems. We often get asked how to fix an electric oven that's not heating up, so we've created this blog post to guide you through the most common reasons why this problem happens. 

What prevents an electric oven from heating up?

Faulty Oven Element

The oven element is the part of your oven that is responsible for heating up your oven cavity. When this becomes faulty your oven is pretty much useless, and unfortunately, this is quite a common issue. Luckily, we have a huge range of replacement oven elements that will have it fixed in no time. See our full range of replacement oven elements here. 

Broken Thermostat

If your oven thermostat isn't working your oven won't know how hot it is getting, which means it may not be reaching the temperature you need.  If your food is overheating or being undercooked it's important you change it as soon as possible. Find your replacement oven thermostat here. 

Damaged Door Seal or Hinge

Although you may not consider your door hinge or seal as being an important part of your oven, they actually keep invaluable heat in your oven as it cooks your food. If either become loose your oven may not reach the temperature you are setting it to. Luckily, we have a huge range of door hinges and oven door seals. 

We have a whole range of genuine and alternative replacement parts that will be able to get your cooker back up to working condition. Be sure that the part you order is compatible with your cooker by using our search filters and reading our product descriptions. Find all our replacements here.

If you have any questions about fixing your electric oven that isn't heating up, or about any of the products we offer feel free to get in touch. We are always happy to help and point you in the right direction, so don't hesitate to contact us today.