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cooking

What is the Best Type of Cooker for Your Kitchen?

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posted 1 month ago

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Hello everyone!
I am thinking of getting a new cooker for my kitchen and thought I would discuss it here. Some cookers are traditional and durable, some are modern and electric with multiple functions, and some are induction-compatible, which are energy-efficient and safe. I am confused whether fast and modern features are more important or if a traditional and reliable option is better. Based on your experience, which type would you recommend and why?

Matt McSpadden

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Location: Central Maine (Zone 5a)

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posted 1 month ago

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Hi,
Welcome to Permies!

When you say cooker, I'm guessing that is what we would call a stove or a stove/oven combo. For the stove, I prefer simple. I would always want a propane (or natural gas) stove top. Most can be lit even if you lose electricity, and once you shut it off... the heat goes away much faster than electric. And you don't have to make sure you have the right kind of pot like an induction stove.

I will say that those glass top stoves sure are easy to clean though.

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Nancy Reading

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posted 1 month ago

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Next time I get a cooker I'd like to make a Walker cook stove!
Look at tony uljee's build of his continental cook stove here:

source

They are cheap if you DIY, can be made to fit your kitchen style, have hot plate for cooking on and oven for cooking in, and can be configured to give hot water too, as well as potentially running a mass for cheap home heating.

I think my Esse range will last a few more years yet though.

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Timothy Norton

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posted 1 month ago

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I have all the 'standard' cooking appliances and small appliances you could expect in a house but my decision would come down to how much I would be cooking.

For two people, I could get away with a portable hotplate personally. I'm a fan of propane but an induction could be fun in the right circumstances. Where it gets trickier is when I would want to bake things. Perhaps a large air fryer would give me enough space to be dangerous?

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John F Dean

master steward

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Location: southern Illinois, USA

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posted 1 month ago

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I am happy with LP gas (propane). My cook stove is a little fancier than I would like. It has electronic pilot lights. So, in good times gas is saved by not burning the pilots 24/7. When electricity is out, I can still light the burners with a match….and…the electronics will work off an inverter and battery. The gas burners get much hotter than on our previous electric stove. A 100 pound tank lasts about a year for the two of us (13 months last year) …that includes fall canning. We normally only cook one meal a day, but my wife does a lot of baking.

I need to add that the oven cannot work off a match. It requires electricity to maintain the temp.

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Anne Miller

steward

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Location: USDA Zone 8a

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posted 1 month ago

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There are so many cookers for a kitchen. Maybe too many.

I got a pressure cooker, a pressure canner, instant pot, air fryer, toaster oven, a retired George Foreman Grill, a bread machine, and a propane range.

I have thought of doing the induction burner as Timothy suggested.

And I love the Walker stove as Nancy suggested though I just don't have the room in my tiny house.

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Jane Mulberry

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posted 1 month ago

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In my new kitchen, I'm going to have an old-style woodburning cook stove with oven for winter cooking and heating. We don't have room for that and a gas or electric range, so we also have an airfryer, an Instant pot, and an electric frypan to cook with when it's not cool enough to want the wood stove burning.

For summer use and for canning I also would like to set up an outdoor kitchen. The Lorena stove with canning option would be good. I have the plans, but I'm not sure I have the capability to build one.

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