It couldn’t have come at a better time. As the country reels from its first lockdown and heads towards a winter of uncertainty, what we all need right now is a virtual hug from The Great British Bake Off team. Thank goodness Channel 4 saw a way to make it happen, despite the current circumstances, as the show’s production staff, cast, crew and contestants all lived in a self-contained bubble for six weeks over the summer in order to film safely. We’re loving new presenter Matt Lucas and can’t wait to find out who is crowned the winner. What’s more, the return of the popular series has inspired us to get back to baking. During spring, Banana Bread recipes were everywhere and you couldn’t flick through Instagram without seeing someone’s artfully shot bake. That renewed interest in cooking tailed off gradually however, as many of us went back to the office and children returned to school. But now we are ready. We are ready to take on the challenge of a Battenberg, biscuit or Chelsea bun and who better to help with the technical side than Rangemaster, whose wide and varied choice of range cookers and built-in ovens offers something for every aspiring Star Baker…
Rangemaster cookers have so many features and functions for the home cook. As well as offering a huge choice when it comes to style, size and fuel type, you know you’ll be getting over 185 years of manufacturing experience with appliances that are tested, tested, and tested again to ensure you get the best results. A Rangemaster range cooker gives you bigger ovens, including multifunctional cavities that can defrost, fan, grill, brown and fan assist, as well as rapid response for speedy heat-up. Take the Elise for instance. Shown here as a 90cm model in Cherry Red with nickel trim, it comes with durable cast iron pan supports, multi-ring burner and wok cradle, two ovens and a separate full-width grill for flexible cooking.
Another bonus is that the ovens in a range cooker are usually around 20% bigger than those in an average 60cm built-in oven, so you can fit more in to feed the whole family. Multifunction ovens come with seven functions to enhance your baking, from crisping pizza bases to browning a crème brûlée. Choose a model with two ovens for even more space and to cook multiple dishes at the same time and go for one with a storage drawer to keep baking trays close to hand. Anyone who enjoys baking will love the Rapid Response feature, which pre-heats the oven 30% faster than a fan oven, so no more waiting around for that temperature light to go out. The Elan Deluxe is a perfect choice for those looking for a traditional style with plenty of professional features.
Rangemaster has both classic and contemporary range cookers to suit your kitchen as well as sleek built-in models for a seamless finish. The Classic 90 has towel rails for tea towels and oven gloves – a must for busy bakers – as well as all the hallmarks of professional cooking including a Handyrack that attaches to the main oven door so you can pull heavy trays out with ease, a Glide-out™ grill on telescopic runners, two ovens and catalytic liners for easy cleaning.
Keen bakers will welcome the use of a bread proving drawer, as seen on the Rangemaster Nexus model shown below. This unique feature to range cooking reaches temperatures of 40˚ so you can rest and rise dough prior to baking. This versatile drawer can also be used to melt butter, rest meat or warm up plates before serving. And when you’ve finished, use it to store the trays ready for next time.
If a freestanding range cooker isn’t suitable for your space, Rangemaster has a fantastic selection of built-in ovens too. Ideal for sleek, modern kitchen designs, there are Pyrolytic single ovens, warming drawers, built-under models, combi microwaves, steam ovens and coffee machines with ceramic and gas hobs to match.
If this has whet your appetite for some serious baking this weekend, we’ve selected some of our favourite baker’s essentials to get you started…
Sophie Allport’s baking collection is oh so pretty and features illustrations of tasty treats, whisks, heart-shaped cookie cutters, scales, mixing bowls and wooden spoons. Prices start at £12 for a mug, www.sophieallport.com
You’ll want to show off your Victoria Sponge or Lemon Drizzle so how about this Rattan Cake Stand from OKA? With a rattan base and glass top, it’s a timeless design that costs £75, www.oka.com
Invest in beautiful bakeware to complement your tasty treats. This range of fluted-edge stoneware is hand finished and perfect for serving straight from oven to table, with prices from £9.50 for a mini heart baker at Ford Anthology, www.fordanthology.com
Every baker needs a good mixing bowl. We love this Natural Elements eco-friendly bamboo fibre version from KitchenCraft, which is stylish, tough and biodegradeable and costs £5.65 on Amazon, www.kitchencraft.co.uk
A great little gadget with Christmas coming up is Cuisinart’s Spice & Nut Grinder. Priced £50, it’s designed to grind even the toughest nuts and spices and is perfect for pies, cakes and tarts, www.cuisinart.co.uk
