High contrast
Strong visual definition from the background.
This electric plate hob has high contrast heating zones (far left).
The controls are easy to identify on the front of a free standing cooker (left).
Lip around top surface of hob
Spillages.
This electric plate hob has a well around the plates which provides an easy place to capture any spillages (far left).
Gas hob with a sunken well to capture any spillages (left).
Tactile feedback of pan location on hob
Feel the position of the active cooking area through the placement of pots and pans.
The electric plate hob has a stable and well defined area to place pots and pans (far left).
Here is a gas hob with a poor pan location and support area (left).
Positive switch-off features
Safety features which help ensure the cooker is turned off.
The on/off temperature dial is recessed (far left)
This cooker disconnects the gas supply when the glass cover is pulled down (left).
Safety - minimising reach over hot surfaces
Consider how much you need to reach over or into a hot cooking area.
The controls on the front of the cooker means your hands are away from the hot ceramic plates (far left).
Pull out shelves which minimise the need to reach into a hot oven (left).
Avoiding bumping into open oven doors
Look for features which are tidy and won't catch your body or clothes.
An oven door which slides underneath the oven when it is pulled down so it won't get in your way (far left).
The handle sticks out and could catch on your clothes (left).
Tactile feedback of controls
Controls that click when you turn them will help locate the dial to a setting. These clicks can be counted and memorised.
Both photos show well defined clickable heating control dials.
The left photo show heating settings from 1 to 6.
Tactile indicators of controls
Bumps and marks about the dial to help indicate the position.
There are dials with handles that indicate their position so you can count the steps from the top of the dial (far left).
Here is another dial with clear tactile indicators of their position (left).
Push-in / pop-out buttons
Look for elements which give tactile indications of control state or position.
Both images show buttons that stay pushed in or pop out to indicate on or off.
Audio
Look for audio to indicate cooking appliance settings.
Warning sounds can be great but too many 'beeps' and 'tings' can get confusing.
Talking microwaves speak the control funtions and settings.
More information about these can be found by clicking here.
TIP: use a talking wrist watch to time your cooking
Last updated: January 2015
What would make cooking easier for you? | Design features worth looking for| Design features to avoid