During the pandemic, many of us have refocused our lives at home—and, specifically, in the kitchen. If you’ve been honing your skills as a home chef, your cooktop and stove might have gotten a little more wear and tear in recent months. Maybe something broke down—or maybe you’re just pining for a new or more powerful range.
So where do you start? The choice between gas and electric ranges is largely dictated by your current setup. Gas ranges require you to have either natural gas or propane service at your home, while an electric range will work in any house, provided you have a 220-volt electric line in your kitchen. An electrician can install one if you don’t.
If you’re replacing an existing range, buying a new model of the same type and size ensures that the new range will fit. Slide-in ranges—where the top will slightly overlap existing countertops—are definitely on trend. However, if you buy one to replace an old freestanding range, you may want to add a backsplash if the wall behind your old range is unfinished. If you plan to switch from gas to electric, or vice versa, you’re likely to need an electrician or a plumber to run new lines. Same goes for upgrading to a dual-fuel pro-style range, which partners gas burners with an electric oven and requires both the standard gas and electrical connections.
How about “trading up” to a pro-style range? Well, you might be surprised at how little you get for the money. “Even basic conveniences that you’d take for granted on a regular range, like a digital oven display or preheat light, are often missing on pro-style ranges,” says Tara Casaregola, CR’s test engineer who oversees range testing at Consumer Reports.
If you’re replacing an older radiant electric range, consider an induction range. These appliances run on the same standard electric line as a regular electric range, but their burners use electromagnetic pulses to transfer energy directly to your cookware, causing pots and pans—but not burners—to get hot. The ovens in induction ranges work just like those in regular electric ranges. Induction ranges cost a little more than radiant electric ranges, but they tend to boil water faster and simmer more steadily. As a group, induction ranges outperform all the other types of ranges in our ratings.
Keep in mind that we’re still dealing with a shortage of major appliances, including ranges. You may need to allow extra time for delivery. If you’re unable to secure a range quickly, a freestanding burner and a countertop toaster oven with convection can help you get dinner on the table in a pinch.
What to Consider
Type
Freestanding ranges are the most widely sold and easiest to install. Typically the oven control panel is on the back of the range, above the cooktop surface. Slide-in ranges give a custom, built-in look and easily slide in between surrounding cabinets. The oven controls are on the range front, and there’s no back panel, so your backsplash can be showcased. These are designed to fit between countertops, and some aren’t finished on the sides, so they cannot be used in freestanding fashion like a typical range.
Size
Most electric and gas ranges are 30 inches wide. Most pro-style ranges start at 30 inches wide but can climb to 48 inches if you custom-configure them with extra burners and ovens, or add-ons such as integrated grills, griddles, or woks. We test 30-inch and 36-inch pro-style ranges. They’re big on style but aren’t the best-performing ranges in our tests. Even regular ranges now typically have at least one high-power burner and a dedicated simmer burner. Plus, frequently they also have a convection function, which uses a fan to more evenly heat the oven cavity. (In case you’re curious, we’ve evaluated when and why to use convection as well.) All these features used to set pro-style ranges apart, but that’s no longer the case.
Capacity
A roomy oven comes in handy when baking or entertaining. We measure oven space you can actually use—some manufacturers include space below the lowest rack position, so check the capacity scores in our range ratings. The smallest ovens in our tests are a little more than 2 cubic feet; the largest are almost 4 cubic feet.
One Oven or Two?
Many ranges now come in single- and double-oven configurations. Double-oven ranges typically have a smaller oven up top and a larger one below. They’re great if you want to bake or roast two different foods at different temperatures. If you’re reheating, say, pizza or chicken nuggets, you can activate just the upper oven and save some time on preheating. Just know that when you cook a large roast in the lower oven, it can be more difficult to remove because the door is close to the floor, so you’ll need to bend farther down. And there are several other factors to think about, which is why we’ve created a breakout guide to what to consider before purchasing a double oven.
More on Ranges
Which Type Is Right for You?
Ranges are electric, gas, or dual-fuel, which pairs a gas cooktop with an electric oven. Both gas and electric have their advantages.
Electric Smoothtop Ranges
Ranges with radiant electric smoothtops are the popular pick. All the models in our tests have at least one high-power burner. Most have expandable dual or triple elements that let you switch from a large, high-power element to a small, lower-power element within it. Some ranges have a warming element in the center to keep side dishes warm.
A downside to radiant electric models is that they hold a lot of residual heat, so after reducing the temperature, burners will take a few minutes to settle at the lower setting.
Electric Induction Ranges
Electric ranges with an induction cooktop use magnetic coils below the ceramic glass surface to send pulses directly to cookware. They boil faster and simmer more steadily, and any adjustment you make to a burner happens immediately because the elements themselves don’t get hot.
Magnetic cookware is needed for induction to work. If a magnet strongly sticks to the bottom of a pot, the cookware will work with an induction cooktop. Some stainless steel cookware is induction-capable, and some isn’t—and anyone in the market for an induction range should read our summary of pros and cons.
Gas Ranges
If you prefer cooking with gas, you’re not alone. The flame makes it easier to judge the heat and provides a level of sensory feedback that electric models just can’t match. Most gas ranges have four to five burners of different sizes, typically with at least one high-power burner and one simmer burner. Also, you don’t need to spend a fortune; see our guide to the best gas ranges for under $1,000.
Response time is particularly quick, especially when compared with a radiant smoothtop. When you turn the knob from high to medium on a gas cooktop, the pot and the food in it experience that change almost immediately. And with most gas burners, you can strike a match to light them when your power is out. But you should know that gas burners tend to be slowest to bring water to a boil.
Pro-Style Ranges
Pro-style ranges in our ratings are either gas or dual-fuel, meaning they partner gas burners with an electric oven. They tend to be beautifully built, with heavy-gauge stainless steel, well-insulated ovens, and cast-iron continuous cooking grates.
But these touches don’t translate into better performance—the best gas and electric ranges in our ratings outperform the best pro-style models. Plus pro-style models are pricey; expect to pay two to 10 times what you’d spend on a comparably equipped traditional range.
That said, the best pro-style models are a work of art and a tool that can leave you feeling empowered in the kitchen. If that’s your rationale for wanting such an appliance, we think that’s pretty hard to argue with.
Features to Focus On
Some features save time and boost convenience. Typically, the more features, the higher the price. Here are some to consider.
Control Lockout
It lets you disable the oven controls. We recommend it if the electronic oven control panel is at the front of the range, rather than on the back panel, especially if there are young children in the house.
Double Ovens
Two separate cavities let you roast a turkey in one while baking pies in another at a different temperature. Some ranges pair a smaller top oven with a larger oven below; others have two ovens of the same size. Keep in mind that there’s no storage drawer and that the convection feature is usually in the bottom oven, although some have convection in both ovens.
Expandable Elements, Bridge, and Oval Burner
On gas cooktops, oval burners accommodate griddles and elongated pans. Some electric range tops have an elongated bridge element that spans two burners to fit a griddle or other odd-shaped cookware. Most electric radiant and induction smoothtops have an expandable burner that lets you choose the size that best matches the pot’s diameter.
Hot-Surface Warning Lights
This light warns when an element is still hot and is particularly useful on electric radiant smoothtops. Some ranges have a warning light for each burner, and others have just one.
Convection
Many midpriced and higher-priced ranges use one or more fans to circulate hot air in the oven. Some ovens, usually electric models, have an additional convection heating element. Convection typically reduces cooking time, especially for large roasts. See these convection oven cooking tips for how to use this feature.
Variable Broil
Most electric and gas ovens have it. Variable broil provides adjustable settings for foods that need slower or faster cooking.
WiFi Connectivity
Most WiFi-connected ranges work with an app on your smartphone. The app will let you check the oven temperature, set a timer, or even check the internal temperature of whatever you’re cooking, if your range comes with a temperature probe. On electric ranges, you can also use the app to see whether you accidentally left any burners on. And if you’re away from home, you can even use the app to turn the oven or burners off.
Air Fryer
Almost every major range brand now has at least one model with an air-fry setting. This setting usually engages multiple fans to circulate hot air—much like a countertop air fryer. Some also include (or sell) wire mesh cooking baskets to maximize circulation. Oh, and yes, you can cut some of the grease by frying at home.