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Pro-style ranges

Consumer Reports magazine: March 2012

Beneath the shiny stainless-steel exteriors, powerful burners, and beefy grates of pro-style ranges are substantial differences. Many of the 20 we tested simmered superbly and baked evenly. But an unappetizing smorgasbord of pallid burgers, overcooked sauce, and burnt chocolate shows that some deliver less than their prices and looks suggest.

Among 36-inch models, a $6,000 KitchenAid dual-fuel range offers impressive baking, broiling, simmering, and self-cleaning. A $7,500 GE Monogram dual-fuel model was also superb at simmering and turned out evenly baked cakes. But that range wasn’t as good at broiling and took longer to boil water than many models costing thousands less. Broiling was also so-so with a $6,000 all-gas Thermador Pro Grand model.

Most of the 30-inch models were a step down in performance, although a couple came close to making our recommended list. A $5,200 dual-fuel Wolf was fine at baking, broiling, and simmering, but a smaller capacity and unimpressive self-cleaning kept it off our recommended list. An all-gas $5,000 GE Monogram was better at simmering and has a larger oven, but broiling was only mediocre. At $3,400, a Kenmore Pro dual-fuel unit was a relative bargain, out-cooking similar style ranges costing thousands more.

See our buying guide to ranges for more information.