Buying advice Ranges, wall ovens, and cooktops
Ranges still rule when it comes to cooking appliances.
You’ll find more pro-style models as once-plebeian brands climb the social ladder. But our tests continue to show that “pro” isn’t necessarily a step up.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
GE, Kenmore (sourced from others), Frigidaire, Maytag, and Whirlpool are the leading makers of ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens. Other major brands include Amana, Bosch, Electrolux, Hotpoint, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, and LG, while high-end, pro-style brands include Dacor, GE Monogram, KitchenAid Pro-Line, Thermador, Viking, and Wolf. High-end offshoots of major brands now include Kenmore Elite and Pro, GE Profile and Pro, and Whirl-pool Gold.
Ranges. Freestanding ranges can fit in the middle of a kitchen counter or at the end. While most are 30 inches wide, true pro-style models span 36 inches and beyond. Mainstream models include electric and gas. Though coiltop electric ranges still offer the fastest heating and the most performance for the dollar, smoothtops—which put the elements beneath a sleek ceramic surface—have displaced all but the lowest-priced electrics at stores. You’ll also find gas-on-glass models that mount gas burners above a smooth ceramic surface. Price: about $400 to $2,000.
Pro-style models have gas cooktops and feature beefy knobs and massive, all-stainless construction. While they usually don’t include a storage drawer, more now include sealed burners and a self-cleaning oven. Price: about $4,000 to $6,000.
Ranges still rule when it comes to cooking appliances.
You’ll find more pro-style models as once-plebeian brands climb the social ladder. But our tests continue to show that “pro” isn’t necessarily a step up.
WHAT’S AVAILABLE
GE, Kenmore (sourced from others), Frigidaire, Maytag, and Whirlpool are the leading makers of ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens. Other major brands include Amana, Bosch, Electrolux, Hotpoint, Jenn-Air, KitchenAid, and LG, while high-end, pro-style brands include Dacor, GE Monogram, KitchenAid Pro-Line, Thermador, Viking, and Wolf. High-end offshoots of major brands now include Kenmore Elite and Pro, GE Profile and Pro, and Whirl-pool Gold.
Ranges. Freestanding ranges can fit in the middle of a kitchen counter or at the end. While most are 30 inches wide, true pro-style models span 36 inches and beyond. Mainstream models include electric and gas. Though coiltop electric ranges still offer the fastest heating and the most performance for the dollar, smoothtops—which put the elements beneath a sleek ceramic surface—have displaced all but the lowest-priced electrics at stores. You’ll also find gas-on-glass models that mount gas burners above a smooth ceramic surface. Price: about $400 to $2,000.
Pro-style models have gas cooktops and feature beefy knobs and massive, all-stainless construction. While they usually don’t include a storage drawer, more now include sealed burners and a self-cleaning oven. Price: about $4,000 to $6,000.
