Forum Thermomix
Welcoming Center, Management and General Chat => Chit Chat => Topic started by: droverjess on June 16, 2013, 06:35:19 am
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Dear All
We will be moving again soon to our very own permanent home with an ancient Aga. Yippee.
We will keep this but also revamp the kitchen which will be doing lots of meals breakfast and some dinners for the bed and breakfast.
Shall I have a range cooker with gas top, and electric ovens or wall ovens with mix of two, one with steam.?
Ergonomically the wall ones are more appealing for creaking knees!
What experience is there on here with steam enabled domestic ovens?
Thoughts and comments please.
Thanks
DJ xx
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sounds very exciting dj;D
personally I would go with the wall ovens I hated my free standing, bending down a lot is the pits plus under my oven I have drawers for storage so I found that a bonus.
can't help with the steam side of the question though but pretty sure there are some on here that can.
good luck xx
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DJ, design a kitchen to suit YOUR needs. I can only dream of an AGA. I have a large gas range and double electric ovens. No steam. For steaming, I use several steamers, of different sizes, depending of what I am cooking. Even have 2 steamers that fit the Microwave. Choose wide ovens that have fast elements in the top so you can brown things quickly. One of my grill elements is fast, the other slow. Bench space is important as is a good size pantry. I have a butlers pantry with large laundry size basin. Essential when entertaining.
We have stayed in many B and B's in England, Ireland , France and Italy. All were different. It was the hosts that made the difference, not the food. You will do an excellent job, with your people skills, to say nothing about your excellent cooking. Best wish with this new enterprise.
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Thanks chookie, all good advice. I hope you come back to UK one day and will visit. I am actually going to knock down the existing pantry to make a L shaped kitchen/living room for us. There may be scope for putting in another panty, depends on how we join house to garage for annexe where young will live and then be holiday let eventually when they've gone.
I think I agree Suzanne, but need to go look, the Aga is conventional height and great for roasting and slow cooking. Would have gone today to look in John Lewis (45mins away) with DD but unexpected lunch visitor so can't.
I have designed several kitchens to date, and technology moves on which is why I wanted to ask about new combi and steam ovens.i had a brilliant one but it was sold when we moved last year, bought from a cousin and never used.
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As an AGA owner (and I love it), the things I think (off the top of the my head) you need a backup for are grilling, wok frying, controlled temperature cooking (not that I have really missed that).
With regard to current kitchen equipment I wonder whether Janie at UK Thermomix might be helpful. I think she has an AGA (or at least understands them really well) and is probably well up with which of the modern gizmos would be useful and which are more gimmicks.
Hope this helps and if you have any AGA related questions, do get in touch
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DJ if ever I have a choice to design a new kitchen I would,definitely have a steam/ combi oven.
Gert
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I agree with chookie, it's your choice DJ. I know nothing about steam owns, but love my wall oven (great height with handy drawers below as Suzanne said). It preheats in 5mins, has a quick and effiecient built in grill function and self cleans (one less job to do). All the best with the revamp and B&B. I am looking forward to reading all about it.
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Thanks very much.
The Aga is very, very old and I don't know what sort of condition the ovens are in. I am sure be good for slow cooking and roasting.
We've had a lovely afternoon DD and I in John Lewis the big UK department store getting various ideas and have lots of cooker brochures to read. We won't be able to do anything until we have possession and can measure properly. However it is fun window shopping
Ps tried to post Aga pic but it won't work, don't know why!
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The Aga looks in good condiction DJ.
I love John Lewis stores. ;D
Have a look at Howdens (http://www.howdens.com/) for kitchen design.My brother is installing a new kitchen in his house and are using their products.
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Funny CC, the last house that was done up for us had a Howdens kitchen designed and chosen by me. I agree it looks ok on outside, haven't seen ovens inside yet. It is a very old Aga though, converted to oil.
It is really info on the domestic steam ovens I am seeking. This is kitchen no 4 designed by me. 1985, 2007, 2011 and now 2013.
Plenty of work tops and cupboards and a raised dishwasher are my usual starting point.
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hi DJ... This is all wonderful news!! Fingers crossed that everything goes super smoothly for you!!! Never thought of a raised dishwasher.. I'm at the point now where I'm thinking everything should be raised ;D ... A totally "no bend" kitchen!!! ;D ;D
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Yes it is GF. Lawyers have been instructed, so exciting.
Hoping we'll get 15 to 20 yrs there. It is the penultimate home for us, we hope.
After this one it will have to be walking distance from shops, station and bus routes.
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Great news DJ, lots of kitchen bench space, and sliding shelves in cupboards.. :)
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I have a Rayburn (poor mans aga ) it was in the house when we moved in and I love it... I was quite surprised that everypart could be bought new here in Australia. My rayburn is wood so I light it every night in winter but don't really use it much in the summer, I have a upright gas cooktop/oven and a microwave convection oven, ( oh and a glass turbo oven ) I was replacing my oven with a new one but then I bought my Thermomix, because of the TM I very rarely use the upright gas stove, I even had a timber top made for and the TM now sits on that under the range hood, I do have so many gadgets in the kitchen ( pressure cooker, slow cooker pizza over etc etc etc ) For the type of cooking I do the TM and a good oven are the two most used and most important things in my kitchen. Its a shame you cant try the Aga first then do the kitchen reno later once you decide what points you like about it. It honestly took me about two years to get used to cooking in the Rayburn and its still not ever my first choice for cakes and biscuits, but great for sensual slow cooking.
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Sounds like some great times ahead for you DJ. I'm no assistance with the steam and combi ovens although from what I've read they get great reviews.
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Congrats! So very exciting...new place, new kitchen :) :)
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I agree with chookie, it's your choice DJ. I know nothing about steam owns, but love my wall oven (great height with handy drawers below as Suzanne said). It preheats in 5mins, has a quick and effiecient built in grill function and self cleans (one less job to do). All the best with the revamp and B&B. I am looking forward to reading all about it.
Kimmy, what brand is your oven? I'm looking for one and have finally short listed a Siemens pyrolytic oven. But I'm still open to other brands ;D
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I have a Siemens, BZB, and I'm very happy with it. Have you been to the showroom for a cooking demonstration?
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How exciting DJ, Good luck with it all. Also agree with Chookie. Bench height was also a big factor with my kitchen, many kitchen benches are too low for me. Sorry, cannot help with steam ovens.
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I have a Siemens, BZB, and I'm very happy with it. Have you been to the showroom for a cooking demonstration?
Good, good, good! Been to the cooking demo twice, beyondbeeton.
First time to check out the rangehood whilst they demo'd induction cooking. Was quote convinced to get their induction cooktop then...but have since gone back to getting an AEG gas cooktop. I do a lot of wok cooking, and gas is better I think.
Second time for the oven demo even though I was going to get an AEG oven. Their demo food is soooo yummy :P That's when I tried their butter chicken....!!! Divine. So now I'm going to get a siemens oven. Hahaha.
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Thanks everyone this is proving to be an interesting topic.
Here is some more info:
1) I am keeping Aga anyway and am used to them but
2) will be running B and B and with evening meals so need almost a professional kitchen.
3)Will be getting two more ovens and calor gas hob. One with steam and the one wide one like chookie suggested so that's 2 full sized ones instead of a double one as I know the small me in a double oven is too small for the cooking I will be doing.
The only wide oven we saw yesterday was an AEG and we Quite liked the AEG gas job with 5 rings, but 4 rings probably enough with Aga. It's just if we do get good summers would turn Aga off.
Any comments on ceramic or induction jobs? At work there was induction but it not all the pans worked and it was maddeng. I didn't like the finger sensitive controls either as they didn't always work either and I'd stand there madly trying to get it to to go on or turn down feeling very stupid, so am not so keen, however they are much easier to clean than gas.
I shall seek out manufacturers show kitchens with demos now.
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sounds exciting Jess. :)
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DJ How exciting, I wish you all the best. Where abouts is your B&B going to be?
Ovens love my Miele, nice & wide. Cooktops, gas for me, I dont like cooking on induction.
Agas loves them too, but dont have one.
:)
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DJ this is all wonderful news. If I was doing my kitchen again I would minimalist the bending. The knees aren't what they used to be. Also I don't like microwaves high, where you have to lift food down and out of it.
So exciting. I am very happy for you. I hope you received the menu planner and it isn't in cyber space between us. :D
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I agree with chookie, it's your choice DJ. I know nothing about steam owns, but love my wall oven (great height with handy drawers below as Suzanne said). It preheats in 5mins, has a quick and effiecient built in grill function and self cleans (one less job to do). All the best with the revamp and B&B. I am looking forward to reading all about it.
Kimmy, what brand is your oven? I'm looking for one and have finally short listed a Siemens pyrolytic oven. But I'm still open to other brands ;D
I have a blanco and am very happy with it. Siemens is a good brand too BZB. Go for one that you can leave the side shelf supports in when doing a pyro clean. Much easier to just pull out shelves, rather than everything ;)
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Great advice, Kimmy. Thanks :)
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Just spoken to customer helpline for a German company, they admitted, when questioned that their steam 'reservoir' was no better than a dish of water at the bottom!!!!!!!!
I asked what difference is there to putting water in a tray, she said NONE!!!
Possibly back to drawing board on this one!!!
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I think Tenina has mentioned using that method for people without a steam oven DJ. Certainly a lot cheaper.
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Thanks JD have done that for years but was trying to be up to date when starting afresh, plus emptying the tray is not a very safe task when hot, And sometimes one needs the oven space.
Apparently there is an add on gadget neff sell that makes all ovens into steam ovens. Am off to google that now. It was from a non cooking salesman so needs investigating.
And Electrolux do a a cheaper 90 cm that AEG. But I have to remember oven housing is standard for standard ovens.
It's getting complicated aready!
So much variation in customer service in these fact finding missions too.
Now booked myself on miele demo day called lets do lunch. DH always says no research is ever wasted and I hope to learn more about these combi ovens. Not sure budget will run to miele but will be an interesting day. ;D
And I'd better buy a lottery ticket in the meantime!!
Oh googles the steam thing and its an enclosed oven bottom steamer, not what I meant at all.
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Miele demo sounds good, dj :) The European brands are terribly expensive in OZ. We can't even bargain for miele and AEG products. The agents have set their prices. They are folks here who import directly from UK for their own use. Lots of savings that way!
Good luck with your research. Eager to hear your decisions, as we are planning our kitchen reno too.
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Droverjess I thought you were talking about a steam oven (that cooks using steam) as opposed to a normal oven with a steam assist function for baking? If the former I think it is a good idea if you think you will use it, I don't see the value in the latter at all (vs just using a dish) but that's just me.
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Thanks beyond beeton, I think I was thinking the latter but am off to the miele demo to learn about both. It will be interesting, but the budget has to do a whole Reno, not just the kitchen so there will be compromises. I'll get a good lunch anyway!
Hopefully we can get a long way though the project before deciding on final appliances as we can use the Aga and thermy as we go along. Plan is to take down old pantry wall at the start, to clear the mess away and useold units, then furnish the kitchen later as this will help cash flow and we can manage better that way.
The miele appliances are mega mega £.
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meile oven here is $11000
ouch :)
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Well I said I was only looking and learning and I wasn't joking ;D
Oh and buy a lottery ticket. ;)