Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Aug 08, 2008 10:48 am Hi,
I have been reading this forum for a while and I have picked up a few great tips. We are in the process of planning a major reno to our house that includes a whole new kitchen. At the moment I am trying to decide what kind of cooktop/oven to have. One of the negative things I have heard about freestanding cookers is that you tend to get food spilling down the side of them, through the small gap that still exists between the cooker and bench top. I would love some feedback on whether this is a problem or not. Is there anyway to seal up the gap or is it just a matter of getting the bench top as close as possible?? Thanks for your advice and I am sure I will be back with lots more questions in the near future. Allison Re: Freestanding cooker advice 2Aug 08, 2008 10:59 am Yes, i am afraid this is exactly what happens, I have one, loved the stove but... it will get a clean soon when we remove old cupboards and the next one will probably be 20 or 30 odd years into the future as we intend to stay in this house, I cannot see any other way. Some free standing stoves are on a flexible hose, like the gass heaters and you can move them, our sunfortunately is on a fixed one, I might try to convince the plumber to change that when we have the kitchen refitted.
I have noticed that we, in Aus have mostly inbuilt hotplates and ovens where as in the US they tend to have them free standing. Maggie Re: Freestanding cooker advice 3Aug 08, 2008 11:08 am Unfortunately I think the idea of a freestanding cooker is a where an idea from the past is adapted to the modern.
Free standing ovens come from when the cooker was a timber stove with a cookplate on top and sat in a hearth. In my line of work I spend a lot of time with rural customers on old farms - in their natural environment old style free standing cookers are just that - "free" standing - usually sitting in the hearth were the old cooker was, no cupboards around them. I'd hate to think of the scunge that builds up next to the cooker - and yes you could put the cooker on a braided gas line - but honestly how often are you going to move this big heavy appliance. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Freestanding cooker advice 4Aug 08, 2008 11:22 am I've tried to be really practical for everything with the build, but this was one where the look won out over practicality. I love the look of the big semi commercial cookers and I know they'll get gungy. I know a seperate oven and hotplates would have been far more practical but.... .
I'm just going to get a soft bottle brush and that should get off most of the scum if used regularly before it builds up. Then I'll wizz a pipe cleaner over it with stainless steel cleaner. These should get down the little gap quite successfully. Or am I totally unrealistic? This can simply be part of the routine when cleaning the hotplates (which I do after every use) and I think it should be ok. I'm prepared to go to the extra effort as I really wanted a freestanding cooker. But realistically I know seperate would be much, much easier. Jo I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Freestanding cooker advice 5Aug 08, 2008 11:31 am Proceedings of Joles vs The Freestanding Cooker August 2008 The defense states that: joles This can simply be part of the routine when cleaning the hotplates (which I do after every use) and I think it should be ok. I'm prepared to go to the extra effort as I really wanted a freestanding cooker. The prosecution refers you to the following: joles Paula, let me explain something. You know how most people make their colour selections based on what will hide the kids mess? I have to make them based on what will hide my mess. I'm bloody hopeless. Too light carpet means no red wine while reading, no coffee while reading, no vegemite toast while reading, etc, etc, etc. So then I'll end up not using the room. There's black leather chairs going in there and a black bookcase. I'm thinking almost black carpet might be a bit much. And on black carpet I'll have to worry about biscuit crumbs. Your honour....the prosecution rests....! mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Freestanding cooker advice 6Aug 08, 2008 11:36 am Going to disagree with the consensus here. We've had freestanding cookers in 2 houses now, and have put one in the new house too. Never had any major issues with dirt etc down the sides.
As long as it's fitted properly and is snug between the bench tops I don't think there's any more of an issue than with the gunge that can build up under the edges of a fitted cooktop. You can always run a thin bead of sealant down the sides if it's a problem. If you have a big gap (+5mm) then it might be an issue. Our new one has just 1mm either side of the benchtop. Re: Freestanding cooker advice 7Aug 08, 2008 11:43 am to_do_list Proceedings of Joles vs The Freestanding Cooker August 2008 The defense states that: joles This can simply be part of the routine when cleaning the hotplates (which I do after every use) and I think it should be ok. I'm prepared to go to the extra effort as I really wanted a freestanding cooker. The prosecution refers you to the following: joles Paula, let me explain something. You know how most people make their colour selections based on what will hide the kids mess? I have to make them based on what will hide my mess. I'm bloody hopeless. Too light carpet means no red wine while reading, no coffee while reading, no vegemite toast while reading, etc, etc, etc. So then I'll end up not using the room. There's black leather chairs going in there and a black bookcase. I'm thinking almost black carpet might be a bit much. And on black carpet I'll have to worry about biscuit crumbs. Your honour....the prosecution rests....! BUT I am exceptionally clean when cooking!! Bathrooms, toilets and kitchens are always spotless. My mess is from spillage. I drop things all the time. I also tend to fall over randomly but I always clean it up immediately. No light carpet because it's hard to clean, but I will clean. I'm clumsy Mike not filthy! The defense rests! I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Freestanding cooker advice 8Aug 08, 2008 11:45 am joles I also tend to fall over randomly but I always clean it up immediately. Interesting sentence....one wonders why you tripped? mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Freestanding cooker advice 9Aug 08, 2008 11:48 am Oh the clean up related to the spillage not the falling over!!
You're making me sound like some old granny that can't control her bladder!! That's not me! That's my mum! I leave you to fend for yourself, figure things out yourself. Terrence Malick Re: Freestanding cooker advice 10Aug 08, 2008 12:08 pm Oh Jo please leave your mum alone, even younger women have bladder problems, it depends how big your kids were, if you happen to give birth to a 5kg elephant it is very likely you will have bladder problems at the age of 20.
Back to stoves, i will beg my plumber to refit mine, we will see what he says, and it is not that difficult to move mine but it is not one of those industrial beauties. Maggie Re: Freestanding cooker advice 11Aug 08, 2008 1:14 pm I saw an interesting idea in a commercial kitchen
There was a freestanding stove (900mm wide) They used an "L" shaped stainless steel to cover the gap between the stove and the bench top edge to stop food etc from falling down the gap Best Price Wardrobes Sliding door robes | Walk in robes Deco panel | Mirror | Melamine 26 to 28 Cottage lane Hackham M: 0402 927 376 http://www.bestpricewardrobes.com.au Trade welcome Re: Freestanding cooker advice 13Aug 08, 2008 2:01 pm maggie This might be a great idea, Kevin, a T shape would be even better, will have to have a look for those. Maggie "T" shape would work only if the top of the cooktop was level of the bench top, but this is rarely the case. Otherwise an "L" shape butted up to the side of the stove and sealed in with stainless steel colour silicon would work Best Price Wardrobes Sliding door robes | Walk in robes Deco panel | Mirror | Melamine 26 to 28 Cottage lane Hackham M: 0402 927 376 http://www.bestpricewardrobes.com.au Trade welcome Re: Freestanding cooker advice 15Aug 08, 2008 2:28 pm This is a "T" shape
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ This is an "L" shape (turn this 180 degrees) Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Best Price Wardrobes Sliding door robes | Walk in robes Deco panel | Mirror | Melamine 26 to 28 Cottage lane Hackham M: 0402 927 376 http://www.bestpricewardrobes.com.au Trade welcome Re: Freestanding cooker advice 16Aug 08, 2008 2:36 pm albi Kevin and Maggie, Please forgive me (I am just a newbie !!) but I can't quite visualise what you mean - can you please give a bit more description Thanks Suspect this is what the boy's and Maggie have in mind.... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Freestanding cooker advice 17Aug 08, 2008 2:41 pm Thanks mike that explains it better Best Price Wardrobes Sliding door robes | Walk in robes Deco panel | Mirror | Melamine 26 to 28 Cottage lane Hackham M: 0402 927 376 http://www.bestpricewardrobes.com.au Trade welcome Re: Freestanding cooker advice 18Aug 08, 2008 4:42 pm Thanks Mike and Kevin, that explains thing very well.
I can see that this would be a good solution for food but would you also be able to seal such a join to stop liquid getting down, or would it be such a tight fit that liquid wouldn't get down there anyway You may not be able to tell, but I am a very messy cook and I nearly always slop things everywhere Thanks again for your advice Allison Re: Freestanding cooker advice 19Aug 08, 2008 4:45 pm albi Thanks Mike and Kevin, that explains thing very well. I can see that this would be a good solution for food but would you also be able to seal such a join to stop liquid getting down, or would it be such a tight fit that liquid wouldn't get down there anyway You may not be able to tell, but I am a very messy cook and I nearly always slop things everywhere Thanks again for your advice Allison It think that's why Kev suggested the sealant...er...not because you're a messy cook...but because it would good practice. Besides on the rare (extremely rare) occasions that I cook I slop everywhere and use twice as many dishes I need to. mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard Re: Freestanding cooker advice 20Aug 08, 2008 4:54 pm Thanks Mike - after reading back over Kevin's post, I realise he already suggested a sealant (and even a colour) so my question was a bit redundant
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