When we moved into our flat, the wiring was straight out of a different era. Like many older UK properties, it was never designed for the kind of modern kitchen appliances we take for granted today.
The Problem: A 32A Cooker Circuit With Nothing to Power
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Our flat has a 32A fuse and wiring for a freestanding electric cooker — standard enough for the 70s and 80s when everyone had a full-size oven and hob combo. The problem was, the old cooker was knackered. Multiple hob plates had given up, the oven was temperamental, and at some point it just became easier to stop using it altogether.
So we ditched it.
We pulled the old cooker out, replaced the space with a cabinet, and suddenly had a decision to make. How do you cook without a cooker?
The Obvious Answer (That Wouldn’t Work)
The obvious solution is a new induction cooker — but here’s where the wiring really bites you. Modern induction hobs can draw up to 45A, but our flat only has a 32A circuit. Even that 32A circuit is wired to a specific spot where the old freestanding cooker sat, so we’d need an electrician to rewire, chase walls, and potentially upgrade the whole feed from the consumer unit. It’s the right solution on paper, but it’s expensive, disruptive, and takes weeks to coordinate.
Meanwhile, we needed to eat.
The Temporary Fix That Stuck
Here’s where we got creative. Instead of fighting the wiring, we worked with it. Our kitchen has standard 13A sockets (the kind every room has), so we picked up:
- A table top induction hob — single ring, plugs into a normal socket, does everything a full hob ring does.
- An air fryer — replaces the oven for 90% of what we used the old one for. Roasting, baking, reheating, even toastier jobs.
Both run off standard 13A kitchen sockets. No sparky needed. No rewiring. No chasing walls.
It was meant to be a temporary solution — a few weeks while we figured out the “real” answer. That was months ago.
The Surprising Upside
Honestly? We’re keeping it. Here’s why:
- Counter space when you need it. When we’re done cooking, the hob and air fryer go in a cupboard. Suddenly we have acres of worktop for chopping, rolling pastry, or laying out a big spread. Try doing that with a built-in hob.
- Flexibility. The hob lives wherever we want it. Dining table for hotpot? Done. Counter for daily use? Easy.
- Cost. A fraction of the price of a full induction cooker install, and we can take both appliances with us when we move.
Would I Recommend It?
If you’re in a similar boat — older flat, dodgy wiring, or a cooker that’s on its last legs — don’t assume you need a full rewire and a new built-in range. A table top hob and an air fryer might sound like a student kitchen setup, but honestly, it works. Especially if you’re renting, or if you’re not ready to sink thousands into rewiring a property you might not stay in forever.
It started as a bodge. It ended up being a genuinely nice way to cook.