Small Kitchens

Boston is an interesting city. Some of this towns most expensive real estate does not have much square footage for kitchens. Most manufacturers do not produce smaller equipment due to limited demand.

Often times, consumers have to settle for basic, less featured equipment. Then again...

This kitchen is the best of what is available in smaller sizes, 27" Sub-Zero, 24" Viking, Miele 18" dishwasher.

Brands to consider:

Stove: Avanti, Viking

Refrigerator: SubZero, Blomberg, Fisher-Paykel(32"), Lehberr

Dishwasher: Monogram, Miele, Bosch, Frigidaire

Wolf vs Viking Round 2

With all due respect to the others, Wolf and Viking are the best names in the appliance business. A name can be important, especially if you are reselling in a tight market. There are plenty of worthy options, but these two are considered the best in pro ranges. The 48 inch range is the marquee product of both companies.

Yet only one can be number 1...

Viking

Wolf

Top: Viking has a powerful 18,500 BTU right front burner, and the rest of the units are 15,000 BTU, whereas the Wolf has just 15,000 BTU...Advantage Viking.

Wolf has a 3 stage simmer with a low of 500 BTU. Viking has the Vari-Simmer, but Wolf has the lower temperature...Advantage Wolf.

Controls: Wolf has the lighted knobs and a flip down control for clock and timer. Viking(new feature) displays on the knob...Tie

Ovens: Wolf has 2 convection fans, and Viking has one larger fan. The Wolf has more cooking modes, so slight advantage...Wolf.

They actually both have self cleaning convection in the smaller oven.

Accents: Wolf has the ubiquitous red knobs, whereas Viking is available in tons of colors. If you have the right design scheme, the colors really look sharp. But then again, 98% of sales is stainless...Slight 2% advantage Viking.

Rebates: They both have great rebate programs...Wolf with SubZero, and Viking with other products....Tie.

I am calling this one a tie for political reasons. It's funny, but it really is close for the first time. Viking owned this market until 2003(?), and then Wolf stole considerable share by designing a better product. Viking woke up in late 2008 and actually improved.

We will look again.......In the meantime, there are plenty of Pro Range options with a bunch of new features. Have a look at a buyers guide, which may help you sort the information

Buyers Guide

What's Hot

Had a sales training today, and the rep emphasized the output of his ranges burners.....So I started thinking.....what is the hottest?

As a reference, average burner BTU is 12,000

Answers as follows:

Capital Range - Their 30 inch range has a 25,000 BTU burner.

JennAir - Their units have 2 20,000 BTU burners.

Viking - Their 30 and 36 inch sealed burner stoves have 18,000 BTU.

Wolf - Their non sealed burners are 16,000 BTU.

Of course any induction will be hotter than any gas unit...

Professional Refrigerators

SubZero manufactured the first professional refrigerator back in the 50s. With the building boom in the last 20 years (deduct the last 2.5), every manufacturer produced these ultra high end refrigerators.

I have always defined a professional refrigerator simply as products with compressors on the top like a commercial refrigerator.

Here is what they look like and what to look for...

SubZero

Viking

Thermador (Bosch, Gaggenau, Miele have the same box with different interior)

Monogram

KitchenAid

Liebherr

The best of the bunch is still SubZero with 2 compressors, the best seal and temperature control. In 2009, they added an air scrubber to keep food fresher and an advanced water purifier as well. However, there are less expensive alternatives...Here are the best of the rest.

Bosch, Thermador, Miele, Gaggenau: This is an integrated refrigerator, which is really great looking with panels as it blends perfectly.

Liebherr: This German company is also the greenest and has some interesting configurations of products.

Viking: Bought Amana's tooling 10 years ago, and has finally righted the ship

Buying Tip:

1. Rebates: Even the venerable SubZero company has one when combined with their sister company Wolf...There is not a huge price spread between all of them and features have been replicated.

2. Panel Vs Stainless: Look at the product with both.

3. Repair: Insure there is service available....it is different than fixing a regular fridge.

4. Price shock? Consider a regular shallow (non top compressor) refrigerator and save $5,000 plus.

Pro Ranges

Every once in awhile, I like to compare the top companies in a category. Today is 30 inch pro ranges.

Wolf DF304

Like: Great simmer capability, great clock interface, dual fuel (industry term as electricity is not a fuel), two convection fans, self cleaning.

Dislike: $5599 is the highest price, but still Wolf is an excellent unit.

Viking VGCC5304BSS

Like: Great name, product works

Dislike: No special features for a $4389 unit, not even self cleaning. To clarify, the unit has 15k burners, which simmer ok and has convection...but nothing else

Capital GCR305

Like: $3399, 25,000 BTU venter burner(competitors are 15,000), 5 burner top, convection

Dislike: Unknown commodity to some degree, no self cleaning

A Review

I am on vaction right now....wonder if I am having a good time? Anyway, have a look at this pic:

Viking professional 30 inch gas and induction ranges are side by side almost begging the question: Which is better?

Simple answer:

Induction by far. It is faster to boil, faster to simmer, less heat retentive and more childsafe than gas or electric.

The Renovators Dilemma

Have a look at this $3900+ Viking

Now look at this $1400 Maytag

They are actually the same refrigerator, but the viking has nicer doors, sides, etc. A few years ago, Viking launched their more affordable strategy to try to compete at lower prices with Electrolux and Thermador.

Here is the dilemma: The Viking name is better for resale, unless people know there is no difference.

If they know there is no difference, will they be more or less inclined to consider your property?

Or am I over thinking?

Whats Hot...Whats Not

No, this is not tabloid journalism. Its interesting to see what people are buying and what they are not. From a merchandising point of view, you want to show desirable items.

From your point of view, you do not want to buy a dog especially if you are reselling

Hot..Viking Designer Series.

I am somewhat surprised, because Viking blew the launch 5(?) years ago, but they have redesigned the aesthetics and lowered the pricing to truly market this as a less expensive Viking. This microwave, wall oven and warming drawer is $3999.

Not...GE Single Double

I love this product. Its 2 ovens in a single oven footprint. Actually blogged about it as the next new thing. You do not like it either because you want one bigger oven or two real double ovens. Mea Culpa. The display now exists in outlet at 30% off.

Pro Grills

Post number 900 of the Yale Blog...hard to believe on so many levels. Let's return to an earlier gilded era, and show you the features of a professional grill. Typically, these units will be available in 27, 30, 36, 41 and 53 inches wide.



The key to buying and enjoying a professional grill is the BTU output. A 36 inch version should have an output of 75,000 BTUs. More heat means better performance. Also, the construction should be a weather resistant stainless steel .

Some other features/options:

True-Sear element: A high powered infra-red element to quickly sear the meats
Smoker box: An accessory to place wood chips to add smokey flavor
Rotisserie: You know this one....For even cooking, there should be an element behind the rotisserie
Side burners: Side burners for cooking corn, etc...on most pro grills, they are fairly hot at 15,000 BTUs

Pro Ranges

I noticed these three pro ranges are almost identically priced at $5499...so it seemed like a good post.

Viking: This range is eerily similar to their first range produced back in 1990. Probably because they haven't changed it and have offered upgraded models. I still like this range. Burners aren't sealed, but you can't lift the whole pan to clean unlike their sealed competitors. The BTU's are basic at 15,000 with a 700 BTU simmer. As a reference, a 10 year old range has one 12,000 with an average simmer of 1,000 or so. Unit is available as a 6 burner, 4 burner grill or 4 burner griddle.



Wolf: Wolf became interesting when SubZero purchased the company. Unlike the previous regime, they actually invested money in the company. This unit has semi sealed burners with a 16,000 BTU and simmers well at 500 BTU. Semi sealed means burner is mostly sealed (more than the Viking), and the trays can lift off for cleaning. Unit is available as a 6 burner, 4 burner grill or 4 burner griddle.



KitchenAid: I actually like this unit. Unlike Wolf and Viking, it is not available with grill and griddle, BUT is self-cleaning and has clock and timer. KitchenAid also has 2 20,000 BTU burners.

How To Choose a Gas Cooktop

Why do built-in appliances cause such much dread amongst consumers. Its been awhile since my selling days, but I am curious. Let me simplify considerably the vexing category of gas cooktops, as there seems to be so many.





You want to look for a high BTU output on one or more burners AND a unit capable of simmering. What else does a cooktop actually do?

A couple of my favs...

Bosch: Reasonably priced with 5 burners in a 30 inch configuration.





Viking: Good commercial style with 6 burners in 36 inch configuration.

Viking Designer Series

The Viking Designer line...heavy on price, way heavy on design and way light on sales. Its probably a good lesson for Viking or any other company who wants to sell more products simply by leveraging their name. Invariably, customers have to buy it.

Recently, Viking actually improved this line by dialing down the style and improving the price...For $8700, you have an interesting suite of appliances, range, dishwasher (now produced by Viking, not Asko), microwave and refrigerator (actually still manufactured by Whirlpool).





Not half bad...

I Dont Get It

An appropriate title for a confusing situation....So here we have a Viking all induction 36 inch cooktop.





Versus the GE induction range with a convection oven and second oven underneath.





The Viking cooktop is over $4500 and the GE range is just over $2400 seems a little high for half a unit....

Viking Wakes Up

Viking really pioneered the professional range. Interesting side note: The Viking range was actually prototyped by Whirlpool in the late 80s. When Whirlpool decided not to proceed, the executives moved to Greenwood, Mississippi and created the Viking brand.

At one point, Viking manufactured 50% of the professional ranges sold. Then they stopped innovating. They were late to the party on dual fuel, sealed burners and low simmer. Now Wolf is perhaps equal in prestige...

Recently, Viking launched a new range with updated styling and an 18,500 BTU burner(versus a 15,000). Its a step in the right direction.




For more information about pro cooking, take a look at our Pro Cooking Buyers Guide.