If you’re someone who cooks frequently or is a cooking enthusiast or simply shopping around for a new cooker, you’ve probably heard of a dual fuel cooker.
But what is a dual fuel cooker?
As the name suggests, a dual fuel cooker uses two different fuel sources to cook—both gas and electricity—instead of either one.
Highly convenient, might we say?
To learn more about this wonderful invention and its pros and cons, read our quick 101 to everything ‘dual fuel cooker’!
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Understanding The Workings Of A Dual Fuel Cooker!
A dual fuel cooker, or dual fuel range, is a freestanding structure that features a cooktop and an oven below.
As mentioned earlier, the cooker works on both electricity and gas, using the former to power the oven and the latter to fuel the cooktop/ hob.
For the dual fuel cooker to work, the gas hob needs to be connected to the natural gas pipeline. Switch it on as you would any normal stove—turn any knob and wait for the flame to catch on as the ignition clicks.
As with any gas stove, the heating is almost instantaneous, as gas allows a quick heat up and cool down time. This makes searing and frying possible in minutes, as the cookware quickly heats up.
After cooking, you don’t need to move your utensil to a cold burner—thanks to the open grate design, heat isn’t stored as it is in an electric hob.
The ovens sit directly below the cooktop/hob, connected to and fuelled by your home’s electricity supply.
The oven comes with the range of advantages that accompany any electric cooker, such as even heat distribution ensuring that there are no cold spots, and consistent baking temperatures regardless of the weather outside.
Most decent dual fuel cookers feature two ovens, so you could be roasting beef and baking brownies at the same time, regardless of the vastly different temperatures and cooking time both dishes need!
If you’re willing to splurge a little, you’ll even find dual fuel cookers with warming drawers—these keep your dish hot after you’re done cooking it, so instead of having the dish cool down and then going through the hassle of reheating on the stove or in the microwave, you just pop into these handy contraptions!
Some dual fuel cookers even feature a separate grill for that perfect sear!
The Advantages Of A Dual Fuel Cooker
Dual fuel cookers are a staple in professional kitchens, and it isn’t hard to see why. They come with a range of advantages that reduce cooking time and unpredictability while giving you the best of both worlds!
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the advantages of a dual fuel cooker:
Better Results:
Dual fuel cookers have a steady, uninterrupted power source, which reduces the risk of inconsistency while cooking.
Thanks to steady temperatures internally and instantaneous heat on the hob, chefs are assured of the same result each time they cook a dish—an extremely important factor in professional kitchens.
One-Appliance Cooking:
Whether you want to bake, roast, grill, sear, or fry, a dual fuel cooker has you covered.
Your sauce can gently simmer on the stovetop, while your cookies beautifully brown in the oven—you don’t even have to step away to check on either!
To make things even more convenient and easy, several dual fuel cookers come with programmable timers and fans, in addition to the aforementioned grills and dual ovens.
Professionally Approved!
As mentioned earlier, many chefs swear by dual fuel cookers for their efficiency, citing them as a must-have when they’re whipping up their signature dishes!
If you want to up your cooking game, a dual fuel cooker is a step in the right direction!
What Is A Dual Fuel Cooker? The Final Word
Dual fuel cookers are revolutionising the world of cooking, earning many fans in the process.
However, as it is with most things in life, dual fuel cookers do come with their own cons.
For one, they’re more expensive than individual ovens, cooktops, and single-fuel cookers. The installation process is also more complicated and warrants the professional service of an electrician and a plumber, adding to the cost of the cooker itself.
Additionally, dual fuel cookers, mostly freestanding, take up more space in the kitchen (at least 60 cm in height and 120 cm in width), whereas ovens and built-in hobs fit right into the existing space and design.
Lastly, dual fuel cookers can be quite hard to clean, even if you’re the world’s cleanest cook, as these cookers do not have sealed surfaces like their electric cousins.
Now that you know all that needs to be known about dual fuel cookers, you can weigh them against your own preferences, needs, and cooking style, and make an informed choice about whether or not to invest in one.
We believe that owning a dual fuel cooker could turn out to be more advantageous than disadvantageous, but the choice, as always, is yours!
