POSH COOKING. (Zanussi ZBS773X)

Member Name: thingywhatsit

Product:	Zanussi ZBS773X
Date:	26/06/06 (382 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, consistent results.

Disadvantages: Parts are pricey but very available.

This oven is an amazingly posh looking oven, but it is also very intelligent, probably moreso than me as instead of forgetting cooking times as I tend to do, the oven is easily programmed to remind you when the cooking is done.

What I like about this model is its sleek lines. It seems to want to be cherished, and it really is. There are no nasty little corners where grease can get trapped, and the brushed stainless steel finish is superb, easy to keep clean, and it at the moment my pride and joy.

I feel like I am being spoilt. This cooker has many functions that I am taking full advantage of i.e. simple to use electronic controls that are very responsive and easy to set. There is a clock which is clear to read, but the clock section of the oven acts also as a timer which not only counts minutes for critical cooking times, but also can be programmed in advance to cook food whilst you are out shopping which means less fuss, and coming home to the smell of cooked dinner which pleases me.

Setting the timer is a doddle. I followed the instructions in the leaflet that the previous owner left me and I am happy that the instructions were adequate for even an amateur like me.

The oven has many features, and I like the fact that the oven light is bright and that you can see clearly the progress of your cooking, even though the window area of the cooker looks limiting at first. There is a defrost setting which is a great aid when dealing with frozen food that you need defrosting quickly.

CONVENTIONAL COOKING

Here the oven is heated from top and bottom thus ensuring an even flow of heat to the food. I like the conventional settings for cakes and biscuits where quickness is not of the essence, but results are.

TOP HEATING ELEMENT

You can chose with this cooker whether you want the oven to heat from the top element only, and this is very handy for browning off dishes that have cheese toppings. It is not a grill, and is a real oven setting, but the heat is in the right direction for good quick results.

BOTTOM HEATING ELEMENT

This is where the heat comes from just the bottom of the oven, and can be used when you are cooking food that needs a more delicate heat such as souflees etc.

FAN COOKING

Now here the oven is outstanding !! The time that I save is amazing. With the fan assistance, the heat is circulated to cook evenly but quicker. I find this setting excellent for pies and dishes that have a lot of "middle" to them. I suppose that for a meat eater, this setting would be the favourite, although I do not cook meat in it at all. I tried this setting with nutroast and it was amazing because it was cooked right through to the centre without being too crispy on the outside.
Here, also I would advise against using the solid meat tray because it stops the air from circulating correctly.

INNER GRILL

Now here, Zanussi have been quite clever. If you are only toasting a small dish, what is the point of having the whole of the top of the oven lit up in grilling area ? Most of it would be wasted down the sides of the dish. This is a setting for small areas. Simply place the dish in the middle of the oven, and the oven does the resst.

DOUBLE GRILL

This lights up the whole grill area at the top of the oven and when cooking for numbers of people, or any large quantity of grilled food, this would be the setting to use.

THERMAL GRILLING

What this means is that the grill works in conjunction with the fan. This is an ideal setting for pizza, especially the thin ones where the base would get overcooked in a normal oven whilst waiting for the top to brown. Here, the grill browns the pizza, and the fan assists hot air around the food which is gentle enough not to burn.

THERMOSTATIC CONTROL

Here you can chose temperatures ranging from 50 degrees to 250 Maximum.

OVEN TEMPERATURE LIGHT

When you turn on the oven, a temperature light tells you when your oven is at the correct temperature. No more guesswork. This one is spot on.

SAFETY

This oven gives the user the assurance that if the main thermostat blows, there is no danger of fire because an emergency safety device will cut in and turn off the power to the oven in case of malfunction which is nice to know.

GREASE FILTER.

This is supplied as standard with this oven and when cooking meat or splashy type foods, in my case roast parsnips, the filter should be fitted in place to protect the fan. This is an excellent idea. Zanussi not only thought about day to day use, but they also thought out a plan of action to keep the oven running well. This filter clips easily in place and can be taken off and wiped after use.

CLEANING

I have found that if I wipe the oven whilst still warm after each use, then it stays spotless and I like it that way. It is not adviseable to use abrasive materials on the enamel surfaces or to use bleach as these damage the surface of both the enamel and the door glass.

INSTRUCTIONS

The instructions were full and concise and even included ways in which to replace oven light, check the door gasket etc., and also gives a whole page of symptoms and solutions for things that may go wrong, although after using the oven, I believe that most of the things that go wrong with something as solidly made as the Zanussi, are usually human faults, rather than faults with the equipment.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND SPARE PARTS.

Information in the users manual is sufficient to cope with all requirements in this field. Recently, the heating element on the cooker's fan assisted area failed, and the part was easily available and fitting took the electrician just a short time, and the cooker still works like new. I also ordered a second tray and this arrived very quickly from the makers and was not expensive.

GUARANTEE

One year, although Zanussi do offer an extended guarantee if the buyer requires it.

DIMENSIONS

59.4 CM High, 56 cm wide with a depth of 55 cm and these are the outer measurements for the cavity that would be needed to fit this oven.

INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALLER - also included.

MY OVERALL CONCLUSION

This is the best quality oven that I have ever used and I have no excuses for bad cooking any more, although I never realised I could be pursuaded to like cooking, to experiment and try new things until I tried this oven, and already, my experiments are innovative and successful.

This is a super buy and enhances the looks of the kitchen, and the amount of attention the cook gets from her husband. Believe me. I know.

PRICE WHEN NEW : £450.00

Summary: A super cooker that gives superb results.

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