The Final Appliance (Beko Cookers in general)

Member Name: aefra

Product:	Beko Cookers in general
Date:	15/10/02 (1243 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: As review

Disadvantages: As review

At last, nearly 4 months after my new kitchen was delivered , work has begun. I had to wait for Mike, the much in demand local man who is fitting it, and well worth the wait he is.

Having slid round the problem of having 2 kitchens in the same room (one fitted and one waiting) by ordering and connecting appliances, only the cooker was left until the last minute. I originally had a built in oven taking up the height of a wall together with a separate hob. Once this had been removed I was left more or less camping out as far as cooking was concerned, with a tabletop-oven, hob and microwave. For this reason, I have been waiting on tenterhooks for the new freestanding variety to be ordered and delivered by my friend Comet Online.

Needless to say, when I went into Comet's website a week ago, my first choice was not shown in white. What now? Once again, it seemed that I would have to order an appliance trusting to the information on line. I had done this successfully with the fridge/freezer and washing machine, but was concerned about something as vital as a cooker. My review on the Beko fridge/freezer, with which I am so pleased, generated a comment from Criple that she had this make of cooker and was well pleased. I had not been aware that Beko made cookers and was happy with the specifications I found on Comet, so.......

I had already seen on the website that it is possible to buy appliances with most, if not all, of the features of Bosch and Creda at less expense, and so it was with the Beko DVC61. I had expected to pay £450 for my new cooker and found the Beko at £379 with free delivery. Super! Sure enough, Comet came up trumps again and my Beko arrived on time, was unpacked in the kitchen by the delivery man, and found to be in pristine condition. Whoopee!

This is a good looking appliance with 4 elements, marked with clean white circles, beneath a smart black ceramic hob. Four further small wh
ite circles, situated at the front of the hob, light to indicate which elements are on. In addition is a hob warning light. The controls consist of handy-sized white knobs with dark grey markings and very clear figures on them. These are easy to activate however supple your fingers may or may not be. Both top and bottom ovens are behind glass doors which pick up the black interiors, so apparently matching the hob, and the bottom one has an internal light. I wasn't sure I would have chosen the oven handles which are a white loop stretching from each side of the door tops. Now I like them as an individual feature of the cooker and they sit well with the new kitchen.

The grill is situated within the top oven and is used with the door open and down. Closing the door activates all elements and the oven comes in to use. Having successfully used the top oven to cook a veggie roast, I then tried the grill. Both grill and oven pans are supplied and I spread oven chips, mushrooms and various other goodies over the bottom, before leaving to the tender mercies of my brand spanking new grill. My initial shock and disappointment when only the food laid at the rear of the pan was cooked, was allayed when I re-read the brochure. "Ensure the food is correctly positioned under the grill element" it said. The grill is at the back and is wide enough to cover the whole pan, provided it is slid right back. Here I must mention the handle which clips on to the pan(s). This is a sturdy piece of equipment which hooks under the centre/front of the grill and oven pans. I don't get on with it at all, as I find it does not "catch" without some care. This could be me, but I have reverted to oven gloves. A small inconvenience, which with my experience of the oven door, reduces the stars by one.

I know that it is a fact that many more expensive ovens have "clangy" doors. The type which need a good pull and then cause the
nice shiny rails within to rattle. Incidentally there are 7 shelf positions within the oven and 4 within the grill/oven at the top. Two shelves are also provided in the bottom fan oven, and it is suggested that you don't use the very top shelf when grilling. Anyway, back to the fan oven door. This needs a good push before it clangs closed although, in all honesty, this is improving fast. I really don't know why the catch is not rounded instead of the flat vertical type fitted. However, the top oven door opens downwards smoothly.

The fan oven is a joy for me as I have not before owned one. I could not believe how fast and evenly it cooked. I included some sausage rolls (veggie) in the first meal I cooked within it, and the pastry rose high and light as never in my old oven.

Although the oven is not programmable, I have no need of this facilty. This lack may be felt to those used to planning ahead though. The timer is digital and simple to use. I like the fact that when the timer "pings" off, the green lit display reverts to the time of day without further adjustment.

I almost forgot some basic information. The size is 60cm wide and deep, 90cm high and the adjustable legs make life easy on a less than even floor. Believe me, Mike found my kitchen less than even, as my dear old house *is* 70 years old and even the walls show this when cutting wallpaper. It doesn't look like the Crooked House, but nothing can be taken for granted when it comes to measurements.

Although Beko is a new name to me, they appear to be a successful company, with the UK centre based at Watford, giving a comfortable impression of availability. They tell us that they are one of the fastest growing manufacturers of free standing cookers in the UK and their website at http:/www.beko.co.uk gives information on after sales service. This I hope not to use, but Mike's daughter has had a similar cooker to my one for ov
er 2 years, is happy with it and has had no problems. The clangy oven door gives her no trouble and it could be that I am being fussy.

To sum up, I like the looks, the efficiency and the tasty stuff which comes out of it. Despite being less expensive than I had expected, it enhances my kitchen and I keep glancing over to look at it while writing this. I have to stop this review now as I want to go and touch it. :-)


Note. I have chosen to use the "In General" cat with the difficulties there are at present requesting items.

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