Best range cookers for family kitchens

For most families, a 90cm or 100cm range cooker strikes the best balance of cooking capacity without taking up too much kitchen space. They’re ideal if you regularly cook large family meals, batch cook, or entertain guests.

There are a few brands that are brilliant for families, it depends on what your top priorities are. If you want a premium build quality and flexible features, Fisher & Paykel, Rangemaster, Smeg, and Bertazzoni are a great shout. For great value for money with lots of cooking space, Belling, Stoves, Beko, and Leisure models make a solid choice.

It depends what you’re after. Lots of people prefer gas for its responsive and precise settings, especially on the hob. Some favour electric range cookers as the ovens bake and roast food evenly and induction hobs are easy to use and control. And dual fuel is often seen as the best of both worlds, since it combines the benefits of a gas hob and electric ovens. It is really about how you prefer to cook.

Running costs completely depend on the fuel type, how you cook, and the energy rating on your appliance. Newer models with efficient ovens and induction hobs can cost less to run compared to older models.

There are so many features that can help out big families, including lots of cavities, large-capacity ovens, easy-clean features like pyrolytic and hydrolytic settings, storage drawers, and safety features like child locks and flame failure devices on gas models.

Range cookers are large, freestanding cookers that often have multiple ovens, a grill, and a wide hob all in one appliance. They are usually larger than a standard cooker and are designed for making lots of dishes at once.

Dual fuel range cookers combine a gas hob with 1 or more electric ovens. That gives you instant heat control up top and consistent cooking below.

There’s a lot to think about when you’re shopping for a new range cooker. Measuring your space is the first port of call, and we can help with that in our measurement guide. Then you need to think about the fuel type that suits your cooking style best — gas, electric, or dual fuel. It’s also important to consider how many ovens and hob zones you need based on how much you cook at once. Then you can get to the fun bit. Features can really come in handy, like self-cleaning settings, air circulation settings, and telescopic rails — all things that can make it easier when you’re cooking up a storm. And always keep your budget in mind, so you don’t go over the top. For even more detailed advice, our buying guide’s a great place to start.