Lacanche vs. La Cornue: Which Range Cooker Is Best?

Lacanche and La Cornue are two of the best-known names in premium French range cooking. Both offer distinctive designs, strong cooking performance and a level of craftsmanship that sets them apart from conventional range cookers.

The similarities can make choosing between them difficult. However, there are important differences in their model ranges, cooking configurations, fuel options and levels of customisation.

In this guide, we compare Lacanche range cookers with the La Cornue CornuFé collection to help you understand which may be better suited to your kitchen and the way you cook.

Lacanche vs La Cornue at a glance

Understanding the two brands

Lacanche range cookers

Lacanche cookers are manufactured in Provence of Burgundy, France in the village of Lacanche, from which the company takes its name. The range is influenced by professional cooking equipment but designed for use in domestic kitchens.

One of the main characteristics of Lacanche is choice. Their cookers are available in numerous widths, oven arrangements and hob configurations. Buyers can choose different combinations of gas burners, induction zones and specialist cooking surfaces, depending on the model.

The oven choice can also be selected with the ability to incorporate gas oven.

Most models are also offered in a traditional Classic design or the more contemporary Modern style. Lacanche cookers can currently be specified in 31 enamel finishes or stainless steel, together with five trim options. (wdix.co.uk)

This breadth of choice makes Lacanche particularly attractive to customers who already have clear ideas about how they want their cooker to work.

La Cornue range cookers

La Cornue was founded in France in 1908 and today offers two main cooker collections: Château and CornuFé.

The Château collection is La Cornue’s flagship, made-to-order range. It offers a level of personalisation and pricing that places it in a different category from most premium domestic cookers.

For a more direct comparison with Lacanche, most UK homeowners are likely to consider the CornuFé collection. Walter Dix & Co specialises in the CornuFé 90 Albertine and CornuFé 110, available with either dual-fuel or induction cooking. (La Cornue® Global)

CornuFé offers fewer configurations than Lacanche, but this may appeal to customers who want a carefully defined specification without having to choose between a large number of possible cooking arrangements.

What is the main difference between Lacanche and La Cornue?

The biggest difference is the balance between configuration choice and a more standardised design.

Lacanche offers an extensive family of cookers, from relatively compact models to much larger configurations. Depending on the chosen cooker, it is possible to combine different ovens, gas burners, induction zones and specialist hob elements.

CornuFé has a more concise range. Customers choose between a 90cm or 110cm cooker, followed by dual fuel or induction, colour and trim.

Neither approach is inherently better. The right one depends on whether you value extensive configuration choices or prefer a simpler selection process.

Comparing the sizes and model ranges

Lacanche sizes

Lacanche offers a particularly wide choice of cooker widths and formats. The range includes compact models as well as large statement cookers with several ovens and expanded cooking surfaces.

This variety can be valuable when:

• You are designing a kitchen around a specific cooker width.
• You require more than two ovens.
• You want additional hob space.
• You need an unusual combination of cooking surfaces.
• The cooker will be used regularly for large-scale or ambitious cooking.

The exact options vary by model, so it is important to consider the space available and the type of cooking you do before selecting a configuration.

La Cornue CornuFé sizes

The CornuFé collection has less model size choice.

The CornuFé 90 Albertine is approximately 90cm wide and uses a single large oven. The CornuFé 110 is approximately 110cm wide and provides two ovens.

Both sizes are available with either five gas burners and electric ovens or a five-zone induction surface. (wdix.co.uk)

The CornuFé range therefore covers two of the most popular range-cooker sizes. However, customers needing a narrower, wider or more individually configured cooker may find more options within the Lacanche range.

Ovens and cooking style

The number and type of ovens should be one of the main considerations when comparing these brands.

A larger number of ovens can be useful if you frequently cook several dishes at different temperatures. A larger single oven may be preferable if you regularly use wide roasting trays or cook particularly large items.

Lacanche offers several oven arrangements across its range. Depending on the cooker selected, configurations can include gas and electric ovens, grills and additional oven compartments which can include large simmering ovens or neutral cupboards for storage.

This allows customers to create a cooker around their preferred cooking methods. A keen baker may prioritise electric ovens and precise temperature control, while another customer may prefer the characteristics of gas cooking with their higher temperature ability.

The CornuFé 90 Albertine takes a simpler approach, with a large oven cavity beneath the hob. The CornuFé 110 provides two ovens, making it better suited to customers who want to cook at different temperatures simultaneously.

When comparing the two, it is therefore important to look beyond the overall dimensions. Consider the usable oven space, the number of separate cavities and the type of cooking each oven will support.

Gas, dual fuel or induction

Both brands cater for customers who enjoy cooking with gas hobs, as well as those moving towards electric induction.

Lacanche hob configurations

Depending on the model, a Lacanche can be configured with a combination of:

• Traditional gas burners
• Induction zones
• Electric plates
• Simmer plates
• Plancha cooking surfaces
• Other specialist hob options

This modular approach is one of Lacanche’s clearest advantages. It allows customers to create a cooking surface that reflects the dishes they prepare most often.

It can also make the specification process more involved. Understanding which elements will be genuinely useful is important, particularly as the cooker will often remain in the kitchen for many years.

La Cornue CornuFé hob configurations

CornuFé offers two clearly defined options:

• A dual-fuel model with five gas burners and electric ovens
• An induction model with five induction zones and electric ovens

This provides a straightforward choice between traditional gas cooking and an all-electric appliance. (wdix.co.uk)

Customers who do not require specialist hob surfaces may find the CornuFé configuration provides everything they need without unnecessary complexity.

Colours, finishes and kitchen design

Both Lacanche and La Cornue cookers are intended to become a focal point in the kitchen.

Lacanche offers one of the wider selections of finishes in the premium range-cooker market. Its current options include 30 enamel colours or stainless steel, together with five trims. Most models are also offered in Classic and Modern styles. (wdix.co.uk)

This creates considerable scope to coordinate the cooker with cabinetry, worktops and other kitchen fittings.

The CornuFé range is available in nine finishes, including traditional neutral colours and the deeper shades within the Étoilé collection. These can be paired with brass, chrome or nickel trim. (wdix.co.uk)

Although CornuFé has fewer options overall, its distinctive detailing and proportions give it a recognisable La Cornue appearance.

The decision may ultimately come down to whether you want the broadest possible colour choice or are already drawn to a particular La Cornue finish and design.

Which offers more customisation?

Lacanche offers greater configuration flexibility within the ranges most customers are likely to compare.

A Lacanche buyer can potentially select:

• The cooker width
• Classic or Modern styling
• Oven types and arrangements
• Gas, electric or induction cooking
• Specialist hob components
• Enamel colour
• Trim finish

CornuFé still offers meaningful personalisation through its choice of size, fuel type, colour and trim. However, its fundamental cooking layouts are already established along with specialist oven functionality which Lacanche does not have.

It is worth noting that La Cornue’s Château collection offers a much higher level of bespoke manufacture than CornuFé. Château cookers should not be treated as equivalent to the CornuFé range, as they occupy a significantly more exclusive and personalised part of the market.

Is Lacanche or La Cornue better for serious cooking?

Both are capable premium cookers, so this depends more on the required configuration than the name on the front.

Lacanche may be particularly well suited to enthusiastic cooks who want to specify individual cooking functions. The ability to combine different oven and hob elements can be useful when the buyer has established cooking preferences.

CornuFé may suit customers who want strong everyday cooking capabilities within a simpler format. Its five-burner gas or five-zone induction layouts cover the requirements of most domestic kitchens, while the 110 model provides the flexibility of two ovens.

The best approach is to consider what you actually cook. A specialist surface or additional oven is only valuable if it will be regularly used.

Which is easier to choose?

CornuFé is likely to be the easier range to understand quickly.

Once the required width has been established, the principal decisions are:

• CornuFé 90 or CornuFé 110
• Dual fuel or induction
• Colour
• Trim

Choosing a Lacanche generally involves more decisions. This provides greater freedom, but expert guidance can be useful when narrowing down the available combinations.

Neither purchasing experience is better for everyone. Some customers enjoy designing a cooker around their needs, while others prefer choosing from a smaller number of proven specifications.

How do prices compare?

Both Lacanche and La Cornue CornuFé sit within the premium range-cooker market. Prices depend on the size, fuel type, configuration, colour, trim and any optional extras selected.

Direct price comparisons can be difficult because Lacanche offers considerably more possible configurations. A larger or more complex Lacanche should not necessarily be compared with a standard CornuFé purely on brand.

Customers should compare cookers that provide similar:

• Overall dimensions
• Oven capacity
• Number of ovens
• Hob functions
• Fuel requirements
• Included accessories
• Delivery and installation arrangements

Current pricing should always be checked at the point of purchase.

Lacanche or La Cornue: which should you choose?

At Walter Dix & Co we have sold premium cooking range Lacanche since 1985. The Brand was the first make of commercial range cooker which was adapted for firstly the french consumer market and then exported to the UK. We have seen updates with colour selection and some enhancements on size of oven and introduction of induction hob models over the years but as long as we have been selling this brand it has provided long term reliability with customers entertaining a product which can be sometimes over 25 years old before returning to look for a new model. La Cornue Cornufe offer a more streamlined choice and production line in keeping with the style Icon of the big brother models of the Chateau range. The sizing of the models available fit perfectly for the replacement market and with more options of selecting the type of function for the type of cooking being performed with their multi function oven this can be something that customers like aswell as the build quality and styling.

A Lacanche may be the better choice when:

• You want a wider selection of cooker sizes.
• You have specific oven or hob requirements.
• You want specialist cooking surfaces.
• You value extensive colour and trim options.
• You want to configure the cooker around the way you cook.

A La Cornue CornuFé may be the better choice when:

• You particularly like La Cornue’s design.
• A 90cm or 110cm cooker suits your kitchen.
• You want a clear choice between gas and induction.
• You prefer a more straightforward specification.
• The standard CornuFé cooking layouts meet your needs.

There is no universal winner. Lacanche provides greater variety and configuration choice, while CornuFé offers a more focused collection with its own distinctive design and character.

See Lacanche and La Cornue cookers in person

A premium range cooker is a long-term purchase, and specifications do not always communicate how different models feel in person.

Seeing the cookers allows you to compare:

• Oven dimensions
• Door weights and controls
• Pan supports and hob layouts
• Enamel colours and trim finishes
• Overall scale and proportions
• The differences between gas and induction surfaces

Walter Dix & Co has supplied premium range cookers and kitchen appliances for generations. Established as an AGA distributor in 1931, the family-run company now displays both Lacanche and La Cornue CornuFé cookers at its Gateshead showroom. (wdix.co.uk) and specialises in range cookers, refrigeration/wine store products and supplementary products like extraction hoods.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lacanche more customisable than La Cornue?

Compared with the CornuFé collection, Lacanche offers more choice of sizes, oven arrangements and hob configurations. La Cornue’s bespoke Château collection offers a different and much higher level of customisation, but it is separate from the more accessible CornuFé range.

Is La Cornue CornuFé available with induction?

Yes. Both the CornuFé 90 Albertine and CornuFé 110 are available as induction models with five cooking zones. Dual-fuel models with five gas burners are also available.

Are Lacanche cookers available with induction?

Induction is available on selected Lacanche models and configurations. Buyers can also choose from gas and other cooking surfaces, depending on the model.

Which brand offers more colours?

Lacanche currently provides a broader overall selection, with 29 enamel finishes and six trims. CornuFé is available in nine finishes with brass, chrome or nickel trim.

What is the difference between La Cornue CornuFé and Château?

CornuFé is La Cornue’s more standardised range, offered in 90cm and 110cm formats. Château is its flagship, highly personalised collection, with a much wider choice of dimensions and bespoke options.

Can I see Lacanche and La Cornue cookers before buying?

Walter Dix & Co displays both brands at its showroom in Team Valley, Gateshead. Viewing the cookers in person can help you compare their dimensions, finishes, controls and internal oven space. The showroom is open 6 days a week and you can either just call whenever or ring and book an appointment with one of their team.