Kitchen Appliances

[R.C.Anderson]

one of the things i'd seen with the Zanussi and like the idea off that the hob will control the hood. does it actually work as good as it might seem ?

I wouldn't say it's perfect, but It's actually really useful.
When I turn the power on on the hob, the extractor lights turn on. Then the extractor turns on/increases speed the more stuff you have going (I assume it goes off a temperature sensor in the hob/cacluated off how much power is being used). There are some times it turns the extractor up when I don't think it needs to, and the occasional time it could do with being on, but it's not turned it on yet, but I'd say I probably only interveen & manually change the extractor level once a month at most (and we cook fresh every day).

I wouldn't buy a hob/extractor purely based on that feature, but if it was between 2 that were otherwise identical, I'd definitely get it again.

 

[R.C.Anderson]

Good post, but you have to pick one brand in a kitchen for consistency.

I know a lot of people think this, but I thoroughly dissagree. I agree that all ovens/built in microwaves etc need to be the same brand & range, so they look the same, but there's no need to get the same brand hob as oven for example. Even less so a built in dishwasher that you can't even see. Just get whichever has the features you want & is the best for your budget.

I have Neff Oven & Microwave, Zanussi Hob, AEG Hood, Hisense Dishwasher, LG Fridge & Candy wine fridge. ALl individually selected because they were what I felt were the best VFM with the features I wanted. Most branding is so descrete anyway (I wouldn't want anything too in your face), you can't tell if they're the same or not unless you go looking.

 

[China Man]

I am a bit of a snob when it comes to kitchen stuff, it is the most used room in our house and if you work out value per use and getting something expensive is not such a bad idea.

Haha yeah, Neff indeed (not Netflix).

Bosch dishwasher are great. Just get a series 4 on offer. Don't get one with the top cutlery drawer as it limits the height of dinner plates on the bottom row and first shelf.

Standard 2 shelf ones win with a cutlery basket.

I had a cutlery basket with my last Bosch and also hotpoint before that and did not find it any good. With a family of 4 those basket do not hold as many as the top tray and tray means less overlap or touching and clean better

If you move your shelf up for normal sized dinner plates, then the first level won't have enough room for stacked glasses.

The only solution is 2 dishwashers, 1 with a cutlery tray, 1 without. I miss the 2 from our last place

I need to check which model I got but I can fit large plates in bottom and pint glass at the second tray on the two side edges and top tray for cutlery

I’d love two dishwashers, If I was to redo my kitchen I certainly would go for 2 dishwashers.

Once one is done and all clean, you just leave the stuff in there and use it as storage and fill the other one. Saves you having to empty the dishwasher!

If my kitchen is big enough I would, a bit of an initial investment but if based on current design of appliance where you replace rather than repair after x amount of years you will need to buy 2nd dishwasher before your lifespan lol. If one fails you still have another running.


For cooker and hood we have Range 120cm, the gas control knobs chrome disappears after 15 years and the door closing needed re-adjusting, still going strong. Current Bosch is 5 years old and last Bosch dishwasher lasted 10 before the pump gave up, repair cost almost 1/2 of the new so just replaced instead. Most appliance are standard size so changing in the future is not such a big deal, the design and layout is more important as changing the arrangement often means taking out the whole set up !

 

[China Man]

I wouldn't say it's perfect, but It's actually really useful.
When I turn the power on on the hob, the extractor lights turn on. Then the extractor turns on/increases speed the more stuff you have going (I assume it goes off a temperature sensor in the hob/cacluated off how much power is being used). There are some times it turns the extractor up when I don't think it needs to, and the occasional time it could do with being on, but it's not turned it on yet, but I'd say I probably only interveen & manually change the extractor level once a month at most (and we cook fresh every day).

I wouldn't buy a hob/extractor purely based on that feature, but if it was between 2 that were otherwise identical, I'd definitely get it again.

I guess there will be a way to turn off that function? We do a fair bit of steaming and slow cooking and would not want the hood to be on at all.

 

[Reuben klang]

I am a bit of a snob when it comes to kitchen stuff, it is the most used room in our house and if you work out value per use and getting something expensive is not such a bad idea.


I had a cutlery basket with my last Bosch and also hotpoint before that and did not find it any good. With a family of 4 those basket do not hold as many as the top tray and tray means less overlap or touching and clean better

I need to check which model I got but I can fit large plates in bottom and pint glass at the second tray on the two side edges and top tray for cutlery

If my kitchen is big enough I would, a bit of an initial investment but if based on current design of appliance where you replace rather than repair after x amount of years you will need to buy 2nd dishwasher before your lifespan lol. If one fails you still have another running.


For cooker and hood we have Range 120cm, the gas control knobs chrome disappears after 15 years and the door closing needed re-adjusting, still going strong. Current Bosch is 5 years old and last Bosch dishwasher lasted 10 before the pump gave up, repair cost almost 1/2 of the new so just replaced instead. Most appliance are standard size so changing in the future is not such a big deal, the design and layout is more important as changing the arrangement often means taking out the whole set up !

True but you’d expect it to last twice as long as it isn’t getting used as much as the burden is being shared.

 

[China Man]

True but you’d expect it to last twice as long as it isn’t getting used as much as the burden is being shared.

Not if they design the wear and tear parts with built in expiry, for example the water pump will use parts which will start to corrode and rust as soon as you start using it and exposing it to water corrosion. Electronic circuits where the corrosion starts as soon as it is in humid environment/steam from washing. Conspiracy theory box ticked

 

[mattyg]

Bosch or Neff. Same company.

We've had NEFF stuff for just over 8 years

2 ovens
Microwave
warming Drawer
Dishwasher

Microwave just had a new magnetron £240
Dishwasher faults on eco mode. Cant be bothered getting that looked at as never use ECO mode. All been great that aside.

 

[sparton_SPA]

If budget can allow, spend the money on NEFF and have less worries in the long run.

 

[Reuben klang]

Bosch or Neff. Same company.

We've had NEFF stuff for just over 8 years

2 ovens
Microwave
warming Drawer
Dishwasher

Microwave just had a new magnetron £240
Dishwasher faults on eco mode. Cant be bothered getting that looked at as never use ECO mode. All been great that aside.

I always use eco mode, I just set it up on the timer so it does it during the night. Open the door on the way out with the dog first thing then empty when I get back.

Saves money and water. Win win for me.

Not if they design the wear and tear parts with built in expiry, for example the water pump will use parts which will start to corrode and rust as soon as you start using it and exposing it to water corrosion. Electronic circuits where the corrosion starts as soon as it is in humid environment/steam from washing. Conspiracy theory box ticked

Yeh, true, never thought about that! That’s actually true though, isn’t anything conspiracy about it! SYSK done a pod on it, it’s required to keep companies afloat most of the time.

I’d still love two though would be so good.

 

[shaynemawer]

well, thanks everyone. some great info to take into account.. also after having a browse through Which? for a few days, even more confused and undecided now lol.

 

[R.C.Anderson]

I guess there will be a way to turn off that function? We do a fair bit of steaming and slow cooking and would not want the hood to be on at all.

I'm pretty sure there's a way to disable fully, but I've never tried. There's a button on the hob to turn off the control though if you want to. TBH unless you're boiling the pants off the steamer etc, I don't find it turns our extractor on during a small use like that anyway (and if it does, it turns onto setting 1 & because of the extractor I chose, it's quiet enough I don't mind).

 

[shaynemawer]

Well think i've finally decided, well at least narrowed it down. Surprisingly some of the Zanussi stuff scores pretty well on Which? taking into account the cost etc.

But am starting to lean more on the Bosch stuff. Apart from the washing machine / dryer. Misses wants that to stay Beko as she really likes it. So far gone with the following.

Washer - BEKO Pro Aquatech B5W5841AW
Dryer - BEKO bPRO 500 B5T4823IW

Oven - BOSCH Series 8 HBG7741B1B
Hob - BOSCH Series 6 PIV831HB1E
Cooker Hood - BOSCH Series 4 DWK87FN60B

Dishwasher - BOSCH Series 6 Perfect Dry SMV6ZCX10G

Fridge Freezer - HISENSE PureFlat RS818N4TFE

 

[RedMogg]

We replaced our LG direct drive washing machine & tumble dryer when.we moved 3 years ago: bought Hisense machines as they were in budget and well-reviewed:
Washer: WFQA1214EVJM 12kg load, steam option, 1400rpm
Dryer: DH5S102BW 10kg Heat pump, condenser (plumbed in to waste pipe to avoid emptying condensation hopper)
Both from Costco with 5 year warranties. They've been excellent - as a family of 5 with extra needs, our washing machine is on constantly, morning til night.
The dryer is only really used to finish off line-dryed stuff - my only gripe is that the super-efficient heat pump does take a lot longer to dry clothing straight out of the wash (but you're saving so much more in electricity). On the days where we do need tumble everything, it is a pita that a full load can take 4 hours to fully dry.

Fridge-Freezer is a stainless steel Samsung (5 year warranty), dishwasher is from John Lewis (5 year warranty), both bought in 2018.and still going strong. I've added both to our D&G extended warranty policy for peace of mind.

You can help your washing machine last by using a scoop of soda crystals in each wash (prevents limescale build-up) and run the clean cycle each month:
I don't bother buying washing machine cleaner, just use the following (which is pretty much the exact ingredients, but costs far, far less)...

1 cup of soda crystals + ½ cup bicarbonate of soda in the drum,
½ cup citric acid + 1 cap of Dettol in the liquid dispenser, then set machine to hottest setting (90°), chuck in an old towel (helps collect anything grotty and wipes the drum clean), then give the insides of the rubber seals a good wipe dry.

 

[Reuben klang]

Well think i've finally decided, well at least narrowed it down. Surprisingly some of the Zanussi stuff scores pretty well on Which? taking into account the cost etc.

But am starting to lean more on the Bosch stuff. Apart from the washing machine / dryer. Misses wants that to stay Beko as she really likes it. So far gone with the following.

Washer - BEKO Pro Aquatech B5W5841AW
Dryer - BEKO bPRO 500 B5T4823IW

Oven - BOSCH Series 8 HBG7741B1B
Hob - BOSCH Series 6 PIV831HB1E
Cooker Hood - BOSCH Series 4 DWK87FN60B

Dishwasher - BOSCH Series 6 Perfect Dry SMV6ZCX10G

Fridge Freezer - HISENSE PureFlat RS818N4TFE

I’d get a flexi induction hob if I was you. I got the circular one and regretted not getting the flexi one.

You’d be able to use a 24cm+ saute pan or a long griddle with ease. It’s defo the way to go!

Bosch stuff is amazing. I’d get their french fridge freezer. French style is way better as the fridge section is at the top which is what you use more often and you’ve got loads of space to put bigger items in rather than a 300 hundred tiny little shelves.

 

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Most importantly. Don't get a separate microwave!

One of the ovens (or if you only have 1 oven), ensure it has a microwave function. The metal grating and one of theal alloy trays will be microwavable. Saves having a silly little standalone or built in microwave.

Siemens kit is lovely, especially the studioline. But it is spendy.

 

[shaynemawer]

Well we are sorted on Appliances, ended up with Neff as we was able to have better discount so didn't cost us anything more. We've ended up with

Neff single oven - B54CR711G0B
Neff compact oven / microwave - C24MR21G0B
Neff 80cm Induction Hob - T68FUV4L0
Neff Chimney Hood - D85IFN1S0B
Neff Dishwasher - S187ZCX03G