How Do Esse Cookers Work?
Each of our Range Cookers work in a different way. To make an informed choice, we think it's best to know how each of them work (and it helps with day-to-day cooking too).
Lets discuss the ins and outs of the Esse Cookers!
Where Are They Made?
Esse Cookers are built at the Ouzledale Foundry in Barnoldswick (Lancashire).
The Esse company was originally born in Scotland back in 1854, with production out of the Ouzledale Foundry since the 1980's.
Their production line is supplemented by their huge solar array, and includes the all-electric range cookers and the iconic wood-burning cook stoves with integrated hotplates and ovens.
How Are They Built?
Most of the Esse models are built in one piece at their factory, before being shipped to you and manoeuvred into place. The largest models in their range are delivered in two pieces and joined together onsite.
The Esse ovens are bolted to a frame, with individual front, side, back and top panels. The front and top plate are made from thick steel and powder coated in your chosen colour, with matching side panels as standard. The doors are cast iron and colour-matched to the front.
Esse cookers do not require a plinth, as they're all built to match standard worktop height (900mm). If any additional height is needed, you can lay some marine-grade plywood to your required height, underneath the cooker footprint, before it's installed.
The Esse Ovens
The ovens are fabricated from thick mild steel, with two or three runners in each.
They are designed to vent into the room, and each oven has electric elements running around the oven perimeter, to give a more 'even' cooking experience.
When delivered, your Esse ovens will have a light coating of oil. This helps to 'season' the oven and prevent surface rust when they're turned off.
Every Esse main oven has an integrated grilling element inside.
The Esse Hotplates
Your hotplate configuration depends on your chosen model.
The T models are supplied with one circular British-made cast iron hotplate, and one circular 'single-zone' induction hob. The controls are located on the main control panel.
The X models are supplied with a three-zone induction hob unit (except on the small 600 models), and a circular cast iron hotplate with metal surround. This surround helps to conduct heat and offer simmering/reduced temperatures when sliding pans across.
The larger 3-zone induction hob has touch controls on the hob unit.
The Control Panel
The Esse control panel has classic, large physical dials, with the 1000 models incorporating a digital timer, operated by push buttons.
The oven dials have temperature markings and indicator lights to show when the oven has reached temperature. The top oven dial has a minimum or 'slumber' temperature, which retains some heat inside the ovens to prevent rusting, faster heat up times and improved efficiency.
On the larger 1000 models, the bottom left-hand oven is at a fixed warming/slow cook temperature whenever the top oven is on - this is why it doesn't have a dedicated dial on the control panel.
The smaller 600 models have a small external control panel, with physical dials (similar in design to the photo shown).
Electric Requirements
All Esse models use standard household plug sockets.
The smaller 600 models run from one single plug socket and the larger models run from two or three.
The cooker has a maximum draw of 3kW (due to their 'power share' tech). This doesn't include induction hob usage.
Sockets are required to be single, rather than double sockets (to prevent overheating).
