Gas Ranges...Basics

So many gas ranges and so many brands. 90% of what we sell is 30 inches wide. As I have said throughout the ole blog, appliances follow cabinet sizes. 30 inch is almost universal for cooking.

But what is the difference between a good range,

and a great one....

1. BTU: Better ranges will have a higher BTU burners and a better simmer option

2. Griddle/5 burner option

3. Convection....Fan forced heat to keep a more even temperature for better baking

4. Second oven instead of a warming drawer

5. Aesthetics: More metal less black

A Question of Samsung

Samsung is currently one of the most popular brands of appliances. It is highly rated, stylish and has niche products.

Have a look...

Highlights:

33 inch shallow depth refrigerator

3 fan convection ranges....if 2 is better than 1, than 3 must be better than 2

Very, very interesting laundry

The question of Samsumg to me is simple. Does it work? Does it create service issues? Guess we will find out together...

Cooking

If you are planning a renovation, always start at cooking. Cooking products have the most options, which can change the layout and design of your kitchen.

Have a look at this kitchen with myriad options and we will look at a few in detail.

Free standing stove

Free standing stoves do not have to be 48 inch, but the most common is 30 inch with 36 also being popular. Free standing stoves use the least amount of room of all the options, and the cooking is in one centralized area. Issues are you have to bend for the oven and venting in islands is more complicated (see Sallys Kitchen).

Wall Oven/Cooktop:

Two equal sized ovens, no bending for ovens and tons of venting and cooking options are the main benefits to this combo. It is more expensive and you need more space

Cooktop over a wall oven

Yes its expensive (probably $1,000 more than a comparable freestanding), but the granite and the toe kick does not need to be cut, so it it is more attractive.

The Sequel

One of Frigidaire's most unique cooking products was always their best gas freestanding unit. It had the power burners, convection and a second oven for about $1250.

I am in no way advocating this type of purchase in all cases, as the average range sold in the US is $599-$699. However, it is a viable option to a competitive product starting at $2,000.

Frigidaire has returned with their double oven range adding a fifth griddle burner...Have a look...

What I Learned Yesterday

Every once in awhile, I will visit contractors or long time customers to gauge our companies performance and customer satisfaction. Most of the time, I will simply listen and learn.

Yesterday was no different. Have a look at this picture, You probably don't notice anything different at first glance.

This is a modular wall, which is a radically different and new construction technique to personalize space by some MIT grads. Instead of a 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom you can theoretically change the configuration as you see fit.

This pic shows 2 great ideas from the folks at Architectural Kitchens.

First, they undermounted the Wolf cooktop, so it is level with the counter instead of being 1/2 inch above. Also look at the deckmounted faucet. This is a great idea for filling pots without having to walk to the sink, especially if that sink is on the other side of the kitchen.

Anyone see paint applied like this.....

Definitely have to leave the office more.

Cooking

We have industry terms for cooking like freestanding, slide-in, built-in and drop-in...Let me shed some light on this bizarre terminology so you can choose your new stove.

Freestanding

Defined as a range with a back (this isn't complicated). The freestanding is the most widely sold and is priced the best.





Slide In

Defined as a range without a back. Slide-ins are more expensive but are nicer looking, because you can finish behind the range (without seeing the back).





Built in

Defined as wall oven with a cooktop. Most expensive, yet nicest looking, because it allows for the continuation of grantite and the the toekick.

Pro Options

Happy Monday...As The Ole Blog turns 800 posts today, we must reflect on how times have changed. Value is now our watchword. The best segment in our battered industry is the affordable luxury brands like Bosch, Frigidaire and GE.

Now I will show you the reason, but first have a look at this:


The Wolf DF304: It is a truly great range with 3 power burners, dual convection and great simmer on all burners. However, at $5599, it may be out of the realm of most. Don't fret, there are alternatives:


GE Cafe CGS980SEMSS: This is a great range. It has a 17,000 BTU burner(avarage 10 year old stove is 10,0000-12,000 BTU max) along with an oblong griddle burner as well. It is also convection(just nor double), and has a second oven below...At $2489, it is less than half the Wolf.


Bertazzoni A304GGVXE: I like the range in a lukewarm type of way. It is very stylish (style does emanate out of Italy) and has one power burner, but little else...and it is not self cleaning, unless of course, you clean it yourself.


Frigidaire FPGS3085KF: Frigidaire is the value leader without question. For $1549, you have a 17,000 BTU burner, convection oven and warming drawer..Not bad.

How To Buy A Range

So you want to buy a basic self cleaning range, let me show you the difference between 2 basic self cleaning electric and gas units.

Electric: Difference is a larger burner, a warmer and stainless steel handles for $100.



Gas: Oddly enough, pretty much the same....Fifth burner and stainless handles for...you guessed it $100.



Next step would be convection, then a second oven......

Cooking...The Definitive Work

I must have been way more creative when I was young(er). Found this pamphlet a short time ago, and thought it would be a good post.

It is our definitive work on cooking from pans to pan searing....

Let me know if you like.

Electric Ranges...Basics

As I wrote with gas, the basics of free standing stoves is easy to understand, of the two, electric is even easier. Most electric ranges have a glass top called ceran. There are only two places where these tops are manufactured with Schott being the primary supplier.

So lets look at the real differences between electric ranges...

The top

1. Basic 4 burner
2. 4 burners with warming zone
3. 4 burners with oblong or griddle type burner
3. Induction...Magnetic heat. Fastest and best form of cooking (gas or electric)



Oven

1. Basic radiant oven
2. Convection..fan forced heat to keep a more even heat



Drawer

1. Storage
2. Warming Drawer - keeps food warm for up to 3 hours
3. Second Oven



1. storage
2. warming drawer...keeps food warm for up to 3 hours
3. second oven

Two companies seem to dominate our electric range sales, Frigidaire and GE. Frigidaire has decent features for the price. GE is a little more upscale and has the only induction range in the free standing category.

For more specific information about electric ranges, please click here for the electric range buyers guide

Two Fans Are Better Than One?

In the 1970s, convection was introduced in wall ovens. Simply, convection is fan forced heat, so a more even heat is spread through the oven. Thus, food is more consistently cooked. We bake cookies at Yale 6 days a week, and each cookie has the same texture and flavor (not that anyone seems to notice.)

Flash forward 30 years and Wolf designs a new system employing 2 fans with more cooking modes and programs.

Have a look:






Great item, but at $7,000, it could be expensive. Surprisingly, there is now a new alternative from Frigidaire Professional with 2 similar fans...






One word of caution: Just because it has 2 fans, it does not guarantee performance. We will have to cook with this product, before we consider it a worthy alternative.

Wall Ovens...Again

Let's end the wall oven quandry...

Wall ovens like most appliances fit cabinet specifications. New construction typically fits a 30 inch cabinet, and older sizes can be 27 or even 24 inch.

In 1975ish, convection became the new feature in high end cooking. Convection as you know is fan forced heat for more even cooking. 35 years later, there hasn't been much in the way of significant inprovement from the original design.

With this much easier task at hand, I would consider the following:

Super Premium:

Wolf and Miele - Wolf has two convection fans and a ton of cooking modes for people who want to cook. Miele has the best controls, which eliminate the guesswork out of almost any recipe.








Premium:

Thermador and Electrolux - Both have good controls as their value proposition. Thermador has the best rebate program (yes a free dishwasher would help sway me as a consumer)








Sleeper:

Bosch - I dont understand the marketing, but their products are attractive, functional and a great value.

Same Range, Different Label

Today is my last post as I am off to visit a friend in Manila of all places. I will be ghost writing posts for the next two weeks. In the meantime, say hello to Pat.

Anyway, about 2 years ago, Bosch discontinued their most affordable range. Affordability evidentally has a different meaning in Germany, because this range was $950.

Somehow someone in the company had the peculiar notion that Americans buy ranges under $1200. So what do you do when you have a need for a product yet lack the capacity to build it?

You buy it from someone else...Introducing the new affordable Bosch ranges built by Electrolux...









I am out of here...

What Happened To JennAir Downdrafts?

Look at this JennAir Expressions unit





Back in the day (about 15 years ago), we sold a ton of these in single, double and triple units. It was a state of the art product with convertible burners, inside grill and a flush design.

So what happened?


Like anything else, the product hasn't changed, but everything else has. These cooktops are induction, which is not available in the Expressions.

Componentary downdrafts like this Electrolux have allowed people to buy exactly what they want for a cooktop rather than being pigeonholded into a grill or a particular design.





Back to the drawingboard, Whirlpool (owner of JennAir)

Single or Double?

Interesting...but will consumers like it?



Time will tell

Warm

Warming drawers are the most underappreciated appliance in this industry. These units can keep food heated without dehydrating for up to 3 hours. It can also refresh leftovers. Large families with multiple dining schedules or singles who simply want to heat a slice can both be satisfied...

In the spirit of yesterdays post of never splitting appliances.....watch this.

Warming drawer average price: $1200 (starting at $700)









Range with warming drawer (and griddle, power burner and convection)...$1200

Breaking Up Is Hard (And Expensive) To Do

Great tune. Happy Monday, I guess.

Let us presume that you will be planning/consummating or otherwise considering a remodel, renovation or new construction. Let us state further that your budget has been cut.

If you want a seriously different piece of advice guaranteed (not in a telemarketer type of way) to save you some dough, then do not split your appliances.

A single wall oven, which is defined as a stove without burners in a wall, is $700-1800 on average. A very good freestanding range with burners will cost less.

Have a look at a pictorial:

The GE Profile single wall oven with digital LED controls $2289





The GE Gas stove with convection, 17,000 BTU burner and griddle $1299

A Tale Of Two Ranges

Lets look at the Wolf dual fuel and a Bertazzoni 48 inch range.



There is a 6,000 dollar difference. What does $6,000 buy in a range?

Two self cleaning ovens
Convection in the small oven
Grill or griddle capability
Burners with a 15,000 BTU output and 500 BTU simmer capability

Is it worth the price?

Going to Miami

Thats right. I will be shuttered in a classroom learning Email for 4 days, so I can apply that little bit of know how into relevant marketing campaigns. I actually like email, subscribers have first shot of anything special.

Lets look at a range...





The Frigidaire GLEFZ384: Convection, five burners and stainless steel at a decent price of $759. The closest competitor is $200 more expensive which is reason Frigidaire is growing during a recession.

Wall Ovens On The Fly

Have a Look



We must have 20+ of these units on display. All have convection oven (fan forced heat for more even cooking)

Brief marketing differences:

Wolf: Two convection fans for more even cooking, reversible control panel and pizza stone.

Miele: Best, most intuitive control panels, rotisserie.

Bosch: Style and price.

KitchenAid: Decent controls and price point.

Electrolux: Great racks and wave touch control panel.

Viking: Pro look.

Gaggenau: Side opening(easier access) and ultra modern style.