If spending over £300 on a cooker doesn’t make sense to you, you still have plenty of options. At this price, you aren’t going to get bundles of extras and tons of features, but you can get a good quality cooker that will likely last you for many years.
In this list you will find our tried and tested recommendations for four of the best cookers under £300.
What Can I Expect from a Budget Cooker?
Many people think that to buy a cooker to withstand the daily wear and tear of a busy family kitchen, you need to spend thousands, but this isn’t the case. I’ve carefully selected this list of budget models to demonstrate that you can expect great functional cookers, even for under £300.
However, buying a low-cost stove doesn’t mean that you will automatically have an experience similar to that of the high-end ones. Here are some things to bear in mind before you make your choice:
Manufacturer’s Warranty
Most cooker brands provide warranties with their products. However, it would be best if you always familiarized your self with the terms before you buy. I’ve noticed that some of the smaller companies or those producing cheaper machines sometimes don’t offer as favourable terms. If you see that the warranty only lasts for a short time, or it only covers particular situations, then you may want to reconsider the purchase.
Appearance and Finish
Wonderfully, many budget machines are finished to a high quality and will brighten up any kitchen. However, sometimes extra details in the finish and quality of the fittings are where the manufacturers save money so they can sell a cooker cheaply. To bring home a bargain, you may have to do without the chrome temperature control dials and the embossed hob indicators.
Decide on Your Non-negotiables
Making a clear decision about which features your new cooker must have and which you’re willing to do without is vital when shopping on a budget. As you will see from this list, while you have some excellent stoves to choose from, they aren’t going to have all the bells and whistles. This means that you may have to trade off one feature to gain another, for example, if you want a large oven, then it’s likely that you won’t get a separate grill as well.
Let’s get started…
In the following list, I’ve outlined what I believe to be the four best cookers available for under £300. As everyone has their own requirements for their new stove, I’ve included one from each of the four most popular types. These are electric, gas, dual fuel and ranges.
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Best Cookers Under £300
Electric – Flavel MLB5CDW
Electric cookers are already affordable compared to their gas and dual fuel counterparts, meaning you can find plenty of great electric cookers under £300. My top pick is the Flavel MLB5CDW for its clean, minimalist design and advanced functionality.
The Flavel MLB5CDW is compact at just 50cm, fitting in even the smallest kitchens. The plain, uncomplicated design also lends to its versatility. This cooker blends flawlessly with any décor. I appreciate the intuitive layout of the temperature control dials, too. Clear, simple icons above each knob indicate its function, and each one has an operational light so you can read the cooker at a glance.
This electric cooker features a well-sized 58 litre fan-assisted main oven which heats up quickly and cooks evenly. The same can be said for the full-width, variable grill, which comes complete with a grill pan and handle. Ceramic oven liners make the interior easy to clean, as does the ceramic cooker top. The four electric hobs reach temperature much quicker than old electric coils and can be wiped clean in seconds with a damp cloth.
Of course, not everything is perfect with this cooker. First, the oven shelving is a little flimsy, even sagging slightly under the weight of heavy or multiple dishes. Also, be aware that the Flavel MLB5CDW lacks a timer. This small inconvenience can easily be circumvented by setting your phone alarm or by using an egg timer, but it’s a feature many of us have nonetheless come to expect. Finally, the ceramic cooker top is highly prone to scratching and staining. Be sure you know how to care for ceramic hobs before making your final decision.
Pros
- 58 litre fan-assisted oven
- Separate, variable grill
- Ceramic cooker top
- Energy rating A
- Heats up quickly
- Compact 50cm width
- Easy to read dials
Cons
- Flimsy shelving
- No integrated timer
- The ceramic cooker top is prone to scratching
Related Article: Best Electric Cookers
Gas – Logik LFTG60W16
If you prefer the superior temperature control and long-term savings of gas cooking, the Logik LFTG60W16 won’t disappoint. This no-nonsense gas stove leaves out all the frills to so you can enjoy the benefits of gas cooking without paying a fortune upfront.
At 60cm wide, the Logik LFTG60W16 is suitable for almost any home. On one hand, I like that this cooker doesn’t overcompensate with false chrome detailing or over-design. Then again, you may be disappointed that your kitchen doesn’t feel ‘elevated’ by your new cooker. At least it’s available in black or white to suit your other appliances.
This is a cooker that forgoes embellishment to give you bold, easy-to-read icons over each knob and quick, accessible On-Off switches for oven lights. It also features large enamel pan supports that are easy to clean and built to last. Little details like that go a long way to the overall usability of a cooker and are where this one excels.
The Logik LFTG60W16 has three burner sizes across its four hobs: small, medium, and large. The two medium hobs are in the back, while the one at the bottom right is large and the bottom left is small. I like the versatility here, allowing you to use the perfect amount of flame for the job. The pan supports are a bit uneven, though, resulting in them rattling against the stovetop while you cook.
Its cooking compartments include a 41 litre conventional main oven and 19 litre variable grill above. Both are protected by double-glazed viewing windows that can be fully removed for easy cleaning. The oven also includes enamel liners to lessen the chore of cleaning your cooker.
Inside the oven, there are five different shelving positions and an anti-tilt bracket that keeps dishes from sliding off the shelf when you pull them out. Safe, practical, and low-maintenance, the Logik LFTG60W16 is an excellent value gas cooker.
Pros
- 41 litre main oven
- The main oven has an enamel coating and double glazed window
- 19 litre separate grill
- Anti-tilt brackets
- Four-burner hob
- Easy to temperature controls
- Energy rating A
Cons
- Not the most stylish appearance
- Uneven pan supports
Related Article: Best Gas Cookers
Dual Fuel – ElectriQ IQDFC1W60
Get the best of both gas and electric cookers with the ElectriQ IQDFC1W60, my top pick for best dual fuel cooker under £300. It is a prime example that you don’t have to break the bank to get excellent performance. It’s a free-standing, white dual fuel cooker that cooks evenly and accurately, it’s not got the looks of some models, but under the hood, it’s got what it takes.
There are two enamel lined ovens, one with that also acts as a grill and both with simple knob controls for easy adjustments. The four-burner gas hob provides you with instant heat and gives you the precise control that you don’t get with electric hobs.
The main bottom oven offers electric and fan-assisted cooking with a capacity of 58 litres. The top electric oven has 36 litres of space and is ideal if you want to cook two dishes separately at different temperatures or without transferring any flavour. Two shelves and a grill pan handle set come with it, but you can opt to purchase more should you need them.
While the ElectriQ IQDFC1W60 can’t boast of an excess of additional functions, it does the basics to an excellent standard. It also includes useful safety features like an automatic gas shutoff should the flame ever go out. Also, it comes with a kit to convert it to run on LPG gas should it be necessary.
Some things show this to be a budget model, such as lack of glass hob cover, but when it comes to cooking experience, it’s got everything you need to exercise your culinary skills to their full potential.
Pros
- Two enamel lined ovens
- The main oven is fan assisted
- Four gas burners
- Over 90 litres of combined oven space
- Simple but hard wearing knob controls
- LPG conversion kit
- Instant flame shutoff
- Main oven energy rating A
- Secondary oven rating B
Cons
- No glass hob cover
- Few additional functions
- No self-cleaning oven lining
Related Article: Best Dual Fuel Cookers
Range – Logik LFTG90X18
Although the Logik LFTG90X18 is normally listed at over £300, smart shoppers can use discount codes to get it under budget. If you can wait for the right discount, I highly suggest you do just that, since this cooker blows the rest on this list away with its overall features, design and capacity.
The Logik LFTG90X18 is a 90cm wide dual fuel cooker with gas hobs and electric oven. Its width affords it a generous 99 litre multi-function oven and integrated grill. The oven preheats rapidly and keeps even temperature throughout for consistent results every time. Leaving no stone unturned, the fan-assisted oven comes with two sturdy shelves and five shelving positions for ultimate flexibility. Anti-tilt brackets keep food from slipping and improve its overall safety.
Thanks to its impressive size, it accommodates five total gas hobs, including a large centre wok burner. The sturdy enamel pot supports are easy to clean and well designed so that pots stay flat while you cook.
In addition to all its wonderful features and beautiful design, the Logik LFTG90X18 has an impressive energy rating of A. Savvy shoppers who manage to get this remarkable cooker on sale or through discount codes are getting the absolute best value for their money.
Pros
- Dual fuel gives you the best of both worlds
- Large 99 litre oven with integrated grill
- Enamel coated oven
- Fan assisted oven keeps an even temperature throughout
- Sturdy shelves with anti-tilt brackets
- Spacious five-burner gas hob
- Easy clean enamel pot supports
- Energy rating A
Cons
- There’s no smaller oven or separate grill if you just want to cook something small.
- You will need to do some serious bargain hunting to get it down to below £300.
Related Article: Best Range Cookers
Final Thoughts
Cookers are one of the most important appliances in any home. They need to be reliable, durable, and effective, but they needn’t necessarily cost thousands.
The four budget cookers outlined in this article are some of the best examples of value for money available today. Hopefully, you found the list useful, and I’ve at least given you some food for thought.
If you found this list helpful but your budget is more restricted, you may be interested in reading Best Cookers for Under £600 or Best Cookers for Under £1000.
If you have had any experience with any of these cookers, we would love to hear about them – so drop us a comment, and we will get back to you ASAP.
