GROUP GEAR TEST


Benchmark tests: grilling toast and baking shortbread


We used fresh white slices to test the performance of each grill


The best examples were able to toast a few slices, nice and evenly


We measured the cooker dimensions, and the useful size of the oven


How we tested them


Peter Spreadborough of SoCal in Southampton knows gas. He was part of the team that helped us blow up a yacht (December 2011 issue) to make an important point about gas safety. He kindly agreed to host our test of galley cookers, adapted from a Which? test of domestic cookers. First, we inspected the cookers. Are there


RIGHT: Accurate temperature control wasn’t easy on most of the test models


fiddles all round or just at the front? Are they low enough to allow a frying pan handle to rest over them? Could the pan supports be removed for cleaning? Are the pan clamps easy to adjust and secure, with knobs that won’t overheat? Is there a harbour lock to secure the gimbals at anchor, electric ignition, a door lock and an inversion- proof gimbal mount? How big is the oven, and what ovenware comes with it?


We also timed how long it took a kettle to boil 600ml of cold water


After that, we timed how long


each cooker took to boil 600ml (two mugs) of water, cooling the kettle and replacing the water between each test. Next, we gauged how well the


grill toasted white bread after five minutes’ pre-heating. Finally, we baked shortbread,


– very sensitive to variations in temperature – at around 190°C to see how evenly each oven heated. Sometimes we burned it, but if it burned evenly, at least we knew the oven was achieving a consistent temperature.


Is it easy to remove the pan supports? If not, cleaning will be tricky


For the full results of our test, see p70


The shortbread proved perfect for identifying poor heat distribution


MAY 2013 ww.yachtingmonthly.com 69


A well-designed oven will cook your shortbread flawlessly


The worst, however, struggled to toast even one slice well


We then prepared shortbread and cooked it at around 1900


C


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