Hi there,
I'm looking for feedback on a Belling 540mm Electric Double Oven Freestanding Cooker, model number BFS54DOCG.
It appears to be the only induction cooktop in that width, and the wife likes the double oven idea, but I see a LOT of old (5-10 years ago) complaints about it.
While it's a UK brand, I can't find an exact match on .uk sites or reviews of similar.
It's a bit beyond out budget, but there aren't many options at that width, we can't afford to renovate and our old gas oven is falling apart so looking for the best option to fit and last.
Have you had experience with this oven that you could share please?
Thanks,
Matt
We lived with one of these in a rental (as tenants) for 18 months and it was quite good. But it's not an induction cooktop, it's a ceramic electric cooktop. So it's easy to clean like an induction but is just an electric stove and doesn't have the efficiency of induction.
Only downside we found was that the bottom oven is very close to the floor so you needed to be careful opening the door so you didn't blast yourself with hot air. And it wasn't great for lifting up a heavy cast iron baking dish from that low down.
It did cook well and is the best electric stove I have used.
We now have induction and it is way better but can understand your budget constraints and desire not to do a full renovation.
Westinghouse make a very similar 54cm stove and it is cheaper than the Belling.
If you want to stick with all gas, we put in a 53cm Emilia in our investment property and our tenants were happy. It does however only have one oven.
While it's a UK brand, I can't find an exact match on .uk sites or reviews of similar.
The Farmhouse 60E looks to be the closest match but is wider at 60cm. www.belling.co.uk
The major disadvantage with a weird size appliance is finding a replacement that fits the hole in 10 years time without having to re do the kitchen
The major disadvantage with a weird size appliance is finding a replacement that fits the hole in 10 years time without having to re do the kitchen
Except it isnt a weird size
I dare say they are prob replacing an old chef unit who have been making this size for literally decades
The key clue is looking specifically for 54 cm
Except it isnt a weird size
I had the same dilemma
over 20 years Replaced a Chef with a westinghouse with an Aldi then replaced the kitchen
Nearly everything else I really wanted was 600 and I couldnt get them until I replaced the kitchen
I live near the ocean everything rusts and dies quicker
I had the same dilemma
over 20 years Replaced a Chef with a westinghouse with an Aldi then replaced the kitchen
Nearly everything else I really wanted was 600 and I couldnt get them until I replaced the kitchen
Back in the day stuff was 54cm or about 70
Wall ovens were larger than 600 so theres the problem of replacing those 80’s ones
However its a lot easier putting a small unit in a big hole than the other way round
Thanks very much LTDedition. And thanks for the tip re induction – the guy in the shop even gave us the speech about checking our pots and pans (perhaps he was thinking of the 60cm version)!
Re complaints I've seen:
When the cook top was set to a medium or low setting, did it provide steady heat at that level, or did it turn on and off to achieve the desired heat?
Likewise, with the oven itself, you didn't notice any problems with lower or higher heat than set – unpredictable heating?
And the knobs didn't come off?
Thanks kindly,
Matt
When the cook top was set to a medium or low setting, did it provide steady heat at that level, or did it turn on and off to achieve the desired heat?
Those issues sound like common complaints with induction cooktops. Our experience was that it gave an even heat.
Likewise, with the oven itself, you didn't notice any problems with lower or higher heat than set – unpredictable heating?
No, it seemed OK. But we didn't try cooking any soufflés in it. Was fine for roasts, oven chips, pizza, cakes etc.
And the knobs didn't come off?
Knobs stayed attached. But then I have had stoves where the knobs were designed to come off to help with cleaning. Pull the knob off, clean around it, then push it back on. My mum's Westinghouse cooktop and oven does this.