Features

Keep high-tech in perspective. Wall oven models with special baking modes don't necessarily outperform more basic models. Here are the cooktop and oven features to consider.

Smoothtops vs. Coils

All but the least expensive electric models are smoothtops. Smoothtops are sleeker and offer more features. Most have expandable dual or triple elements that let you switch from a large, high-power element to a small, low-power element contained within it. Some include a low-wattage element for warming plates or keeping just-cooked food at the optimal temperature. And some have an elongated "bridge" element that spans two burners to accommodate rectangular or odd-shaped cookware. Smoothtops make it easy to clean up spills, but they require a special cleaner. And dropped pots and sugary liquids can damage them. Coils are tougher and easier to replace, but they require more cleaning time.

Control lockout

This lets you disable the oven controls. We recommend it for households with children.

Cook time/delay

This feature lets you select times for the oven to start and stop cooking. But you shouldn't leave an oven on unattended. And most foods shouldn't be left in a cold oven for long.

Digital display

You'll find it on electric and gas models. It tells cooking temperatures at a glance.

Electronic touchpad controls

These are common in electric ovens. Setting and monitoring the precise temperature is easier with a digital display than with a knob.

Burner type

The heat produced by a burner is measured in British thermal units (Btu) per hour for gas models. Most 30-inch gas cooktops have four burners: one or two medium-power units (about 9,000 Btu.), a small unit (about 5,000 Btu, and one or two large ones (12,000 Btu or more). Whichever type of cooktop you buy, look for at least one high-powered element or burner, especially if you often cook for a crowd. High-heat burners excel at searing, stir-frying, and heating large quantities. Sealed burners keep crumbs from falling beneath the cooktop.

Grates

On gas cooktops, look for heavy porcelain-coated cast-iron or stainless-steel continuous grates. They'll stand up to abuse and let you slide cookware between burners.

Hot-surface warning lights

Many smoothtops have at least one. Ideally, each element should have a separate warning light. It's a key safety feature, since the surface can remain hot long after an element has been turned off.

Induction

Some higher-priced electric cooktops use magnetic coils below the ceramic-glass surface to generate heat in the pan rather than the cooking surface. Most models begin at nearly $2,000, and they require special magnetic cookware. Where price is no object, induction cooktops take the cake for quick heating.

Oven Window

These come with or without a decorative grid. A window without a grid gives a clearer view, but it won't hide any pots and pans stored in the oven.

Self-cleaning cycle

A high-heat cycle burns off spills and spatters in electric and gas wall ovens. An automatic safety lock on most self-cleaning models prevents the oven door from being opened until the oven has cooled. Some models have a countdown display that shows the time left in the cycle. The self-cleaning cycle eliminates the drudgery of cleaning the oven by hand.

Speed-cooking options

Many higher-priced gas and electric wall ovens have a convection fan that circulates the hot air. And a few electric ovens have a low-power microwave feature that supplements the bake and broil elements. Some use a halogen heating bulb as well as microwaves. Trivection, an excellent but expensive feature, uses three technologies: thermal heating, convection, and microwaves. Those features can reduce cooking time with some foods, though they tend to be pricey.

Variable broil

Most electric ovens have it. It offers adjustable settings for foods that need slower or faster cooking.

Brands

Some of the manufacturers of cooktops and wall ovens are familiar but this category also includes some makers of pro-style cooking appliances. You can compare cooktops and wall ovens by brand.

See also:

Range hoods

Microwave ovens

Toasters

Blenders