People are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their modern lifestyle and the planet’s dwindling resources.

This is motivating many of us to move back to more traditional ways of living, which has put solid fuel firmly back on the agenda.

All of which has led Rayburn to re-design its existing solid-fuel range cookers with sustainable living in mind, whilst still producing models that are relevant for life in busy homes.

Rayburn’s new solid-fuel models run on a variety of natural and manufactured solid mineral fuels, including sustainable wood-derived products, which have the advantage of a zero carbon rating and minimal emissions.

There are four solid-fuel models in the Rayburn range:

– One cooker-only model.

– One providing cooking and hot water.

– Two which provide central heating and hot water.

The newly re-launched range cookers have the classic good looks and styling we have come to expect from Rayburn and are available in Cream, Black, Pewter, British Racing Green, Claret, and Dark Blue.

web: http://www.aga-web.co.uk/
tel: (08457) 125207

Since the very first Aga cooker was made more than 80 years ago, 70% of each new Aga has been manufactured from previously used material, which shows that Aga have been aware of the importance of recycling from the start.

Car gearboxes, guttering, old m a c h i n e r y, cookers, door fittings, drain covers and lampposts have all gone towards making the famous Aga cooker.

Because of their commitment to recycling, Aga is offering any customer who wishes to change their Aga cooker a £500 discount on a new Aga, when they trade in their old one. The old Agas will then be melted down and made into new ones, thus completing the cycle.

The Aga keeps on cooking for years and is renowned for its longevity, which is why some people say an Aga lasts a lifetime.

The long-lasting Aga is of real benefit to our environment in today’s disposable culture and since they are almost completely recyclable, you’ll probably never find an Aga in a landfill site!

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207

If you have never cooked a Christmas turkey before it can be a daunting prospect!

Alison Trinder, Rangemaster’s very own Home Economist, is an expert on giving a Christmas turkey the perfect golden glow.

Here are her top turkey tips:

Before you buy: frozen or fresh? A fresh turkey will always win on taste.

What size? The Rangemaster Excel 110 range cooker accommodates a 25lb turkey enough to feed a large family.

Preparation: Untie the legs and remove the giblets, remembering to keep them for the gravy.

Flavours: Season the turkey with salt and pepper and fill the turkey with bay leaves and an onion. Rub the turkey with butter and lay streaky bacon across the breast.

Cooking: Start by cooking the turkey breast side down to keep the meat moist, but only for half an hour, otherwise the skin will tear ruining the final appearance.

Timing: Allow 18-20 minutes per1lb and cook the turkey at 180°C. Cook the stuffing separately as this can slow down the process.

Finally: Once cooked, leave the turkey to rest for 30 minutes whilst you enjoy a break with a delicious glass of wine.

The new Rangemaster Excel 110 provides the perfect support for Christmas cooking:
Cook the turkey in one of the two main ovens whilst roasting potatoes and parsnips in the other.
Grill sausages in the separate grill whilst vegetables simmer on the seven burners.
Finally warm plates in the dedicated slow cook oven.

The Rangemaster Excel 110 range cooker is priced from £2,049 and is available in gloss black, ivory and silver.

Web:  www.rangemaster.co.uk  (visit the website for more great Turkey Tips)
Tel:  (0870) 755 6485

Neff is a brand leader on the European kitchen appliance stage and has built a reputation for making appliances that not only look great, but also cook brilliantly.

In response to customer demand, Neff has added a third range cooker to its 2006 collection with the F3460, which is a very desirable double cavity multi function cooker.

It joins its triple (model F3470) and single (F3430) counterparts, to provide a choice of generously sized range cookers designed by Neff to cater for all types and styles of kitchens. 

Finished in fashionable stainless steel all three models are solid, chunky and practical and sure to make an eye catching style statement in any new kitchen, whether classic or contemporary in design.

Both the new double cavity model F3460 and the award-winning top of the range triple cavity model F3470, measure 100 cm wide and feature a large integral 6-burner gas hob in combination with the appropriate electric oven capacity, to give maximum cooking flexibility.

 All six burners have removable cast iron pan supports and a flame failure device for total safety during cooking.

The single cavity model F3430 is just 90cm wide and ideal for the smaller kitchen.

The three new range cookers are extremely easy to clean and all include the Neff ‘EasyClock’ system to ensure that programming is simple too.

The retail prices are as follows:

F3430 = around £1800
F3460 = around £2200
F3470 = around £2400

Web: www.neff.co.uk
Tel: (0870) 513 3090

After a busy day in the office, the new Rangemaster Excel 110 is the ideal range cooker to create your evening meal as speedily as possible.

It has a new “Rapid Response” function which reduces the pre-heating time by 30%, and it also includes a programmable oven, a multifunction oven, a smooth action glide out grill and a even a slow cook oven!

Available in gloss black, ivory and silver, the dual fuel Excel 110 is priced from £2,049.

web: http://www.rangemaster.co.uk
tel: (0870) 789 6110.

Do you fancy a traditional range cooker but worry about installation problems and high running costs?

If so, Everhot the British manufacturer of range cookers can provide the perfect solution. They offer a hand built electric range cooker, designed to make a real statement in the kitchen, whilst also saving energy and fuel costs.

Everhot cookers function efficiently at optimum working temperature 24 hours a day, thus ensuring ambient kitchen warmth and creating a real “farm-kitchen range effect”.

The Everhot 90 features include a standard 900 mm width, two large ovens, an integral grill and a large cast iron hotplate.

All parts of the cooker are regulated from the control box, which is discreetly hidden away behind a front-opening door. A standard 13amp plug provides up to 500 watts of power, so no hard wiring is necessary.

The retail price of The Everhot 90 is approximately £4,475.

web: http://www.everhot.co.uk
tel: (01453) 890 018

The Falcon Deluxe 900 and 1092 range cookers are now available in two exciting new colours: cranberry and china blue (pictured). Models in both colours have softly brushed chrome trim and a new heavy-duty roll out grill with extra smooth gliders.

The 1092 model is also available with a special French Cooktop, made from enamelled cast aluminium. The French Cooktop allows you to rotate several saucepans at the same time. The heat intensity decreases as you move outwards from the centre, so you can boil in the centre and simmer on the outer edges.

The Falcon Deluxe 900 costs £3195, and the 1092 costs £3695. The French Cooktop costs £100.

web: http://www.falconappliances.co.uk
tel: (0870) 755 6486.

The latest series of range cookers from Rayburn is everything you would expect from a Rayburn, but on a larger scale.

All cookers in the 800 series have two cast-iron ovens of equal size - the largest in any Rayburn. The top oven is brilliant for roasting, baking and grilling, and the lower one runs at a temperature which is 60% lower, and is perfect for slower cooking.

Cookers in the Rayburn 800 Series are also able to provide all the heating and hot water your household could need - the largest one in the range will comfortably run more than 20 radiators.

The Rayburn 800 Series cookers currently run on oil, but gas models will be available soon. They are all available in a choice of six colours: cream, black, pewter, british racing green, claret and dark blue.

Prices for the 800 series start from £6,495.

web: http://www.aga-web.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125207

If you hanker after an Aga, but your kitchen is just too small, or you like the Aga style, but prefer a more modern cooker, this could be the answer.

The Aga Four Two mini has three burner sizes, conventional and fan ovens, a ceramic grill, and even a timer. Everything you’d expect to find on a state-of-the-art conventional range cooker, plus an Aga badge.

The Four Two mini is also rather more compact than a traditional Aga range cooker at 595mm wide, so it will fit between standard kitchen units. So now you don’t need a huge farmhouse kitchen to have an Aga.

Pictured is the Special Edition (with the chequered flag pattern) - but if that’s not your cup of tea, the Four Two mini range cooker is also available in a wide range of (single) colours.

The Aga Four Two mini special edition costs from around £2,950.

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207

Welcome to UK Home Ideas. We’re looking forward to bringing you the latest information on interesting and exciting products for your home. Many will be brand new, some will be classics, and others simply beautiful or inspiring. You can be sure there will be something new to see every single day.

So after months of planning and preparation, this is it - day one, article one. I’m surrounded by information and photos of superb products for the home - the dilemma - what shall I choose for the first ever article on UK Home Ideas…

Actually it’s not that hard. The kitchen is the heart of the home - a family space, warm, comfortable and inviting. Perhaps that’s why even in the technological maelstrom of the twenty-first century, it’s the Aga, a cast-iron range cooker designed more than 80 years ago that’s still says “home” to a lot of people.

Of course the Aga hasn’t stood still - you can now buy an Aga cooker with gas burners, or a halogen hob, and choose from a rainbow of colours. But it’s this, the standard Aga, with the traditional hotplates that thousands of people still aspire to have in their homes.

Pictured is the two oven Aga, in Claret, priced from £5,650.

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207