ConsumerReports.org - Cooktops and wall ovens: How to choose

Comparing the types Cooktops and wall ovens

		Stand-alone ranges Best for kitchens where you're simply replacing a range or where the range is the centerpiece, as with professional-style ranges. But oven height is predetermined. Price range $300 for a basic self-cleaning model to $5,000-plus for some stainless-steel professional-style models.

		Cooktops and wall ovens Best for a kitchen you're remodeling, where you want maximum flexibility. You can build cooktops into countertops and mount ovens at any height in a wall. But you pay extra to build them in. And you can buy an all-in-one range for less. Price range typically $250 to $1,500 for cooktops; $400 to $2,000 for self-cleaning ovens.

Buying advice

Separate appliances give you the flexibility of two cooking areas, with burners placed just about anywhere you want. You also gain the option of cooking with both gas and electricity.

Because about one-third of cooktops and wall ovens are sold as part of a kitchen makeover, style sells. More and more of the appliances have sleek, flush surfaces that are easy to clean or stainless-steel skins that let you easily mix and match brands. Smooth glass cooking surfaces have helped electric cooktops outsell gas models by about 5 to 4. Some gas models now compete with "gas on glass" designs, which put burners atop a ceramic surface for a sleek look.

Most electric smoothtops now have features such as expandable elements that accommodate pots of various sizes. Many include a "bridge" that spans two burners, useful for griddles and large pots. More and more gas cooktops have continuous grates that let you slide a pot from one burner to another.

Choosing separate appliances doesn't have to take a substantial bite out of your budget. Our tests show that a high level of performance doesn't have to carry a high price. You can bring home a pair of fine performers for about $1,500.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

GE, Kenmore (sourced from others), Frigidaire, Maytag, and Whirlpool are the leading makers of cooktops and wall ovens. Other major brands include Amana, Jenn-Air, and KitchenAid. Mainstream brands have established high-end offshoots, such as Kenmore Elite, GE Profile, and Whirlpool Gold. High-end, pro-style brands include Bosch, Dacor, DCS, GE Monogram, KitchenAid Pro-Line, Thermador, Viking, and Wolf.

Cooktops. You can install a cooktop on a kitchen island or other location where counter space allows. As with freestanding ranges, cooktops can be electric coil, electric smoothtop, or gas. Cooktops add flexibility, since they can be located separately from the oven. Most are 30 inches wide and are made of porcelain-coated steel or ceramic, with four elements or burners. Some are 24 or 36 inches wide, depending on the number of burners.

Modular cooktops let you mix and match parts--removing burners and adding a grill, say--but you pay a premium for that added flexibility. Pre-configured cooktops are less expensive. Price range: electric cooktop, $150 to $1,000; gas cooktop, $200 to $1,500.

Wall ovens. These can be single or double, electric or gas, self-cleaning or manual, with or without a convection setting. Width is typically 24, 27, or 30 inches. They allow you to eliminate bending by installing them at waist or eye level, though you can also nest them beneath a countertop to save space. Price range: $350 to more than $2,500 for double-oven models; figure on about $300 extra for convection.

HOW TO CHOOSE

Cooktop/wall oven or a range? With a cooktop/wall oven combo, you can put the appliances pretty much anywhere in the kitchen and mount the oven at a convenient height. Choose a range if you want it to be the centerpiece, as a professional-style model would be.

Installing separate appliances is more work. Electric wall ovens and cooktops each need their own electrical circuit and are best installed by a professional.

Gas or electric? If you have gas service, you might want to use both fuels. Electric wall ovens have a larger capacity than gas ones, and they're easier to install. With cooktops, the quick response of a gas flame might better suit your style of cooking. Gas performs very well in our tests. We have found, however, that electric cooktops tend to boil water faster and simmer sauces better.

Consider cleanup and safety. To minimize the parts you need to clean around, check the Ratings for a smooth-surface cooktop and an oven with a covered bottom heating element and smooth touchpad controls.

Cooktops stay hot for a while after you turn off the heat. Since smoothtops blend into the surrounding counter, children and unwary adults could get burned. For safety, smoothtops have lights to signal which element is still hot.

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