It's almost Thanksgiving!!
For many families that means it's time for someone to be planning a delicious feast for their loved ones and friends. That also means that for many families it's time to think about upgrading that old stove!
(For the sake of this blog, let's assume you are replacing or looking at the traditional sized 30" wide range. There are smaller width sizes, 20" and 24" wide ovens available (normally for smaller kitchens or apartments), and larger "professional" ranges in the 36" and 48" size.) If you are looking for a standard 30" wide range, take heart: ranges are much more standardized size-wise then refrigerators. For example, there never have been 29" or 32" ranges!)
Note-- If you are looking for a non-30" range, we can still help you!! Just ask one of the sales pros in any of our eleven locations. Same for a cooktop and wall oven combination... we have a good assortment of "built-ins" on display at all our showrooms, and can help you out with this (often more complicated) purchase as well!
Let's start with some easy questions:
Are you looking for an electric or gas range? (And if the range is gas, hopefully we're asking whether you have natural or LP, meaning bottled, gas?)
Are you looking for a "free-standing" range (a traditional style range with a back), or a "slide-in" range. These backless ranges have become more popular in recent years as people remodel and upgrade their kitchens. The picture below should help (free standing range is on left, slide-in on right):
Two nice improvements worth mentioning:! (This part will help answer the "what's new" question!)
1) Oven cavities have become progressively larger over the years (while the stove itself still fits into a 30" opening).
2) Cooktop surfaces have become more powerful. It is not uncommon for an electric range to have a burner that exceeds 3000 watts (vs. 2100-2500w max a generation ago.) Gas ranges boil water much faster! Back in the late 90's for example, a 12,500 BTU burner was a big deal, and marketed as a "High Output" burner. Today, stoves can have anywhere from 15K to as much as 21K BTU on one burner, (and usually have a lower BTU on the low end for better simmering as well!)
(And here, if you are in the market for an electric range, I feel obligated to point out the advantages of an Induction Range!! See my last blog below for details!)
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Once these questions are asked and answered, it will become easier to hone in on models that match your wants and needs.
Some of the features on today's stoves, roughly in order of most basic to most expensive, include:
Self cleaning ovens. Often, these stoves also include a steam clean feature, which is faster and more eco-friendly then the traditional high-heat self clean cycle. What is steam clean? Here's an explanation, courtesy of Frigidaire:
Five burners vs. four. The majority of electric smooth-top ranges include a fifth burner at the center rear of the cooking surface. This burner serves as a "warming" burner, to help maintain temperature and simmer on a recipe item that has completed the cooking process.
(Note - in gas ranges, not only do many stoves include the fifth burner, but a griddle plate is often included, or at least available as an option.)
Convection and Air-Fry. Do you have a table top air fryer at home? If so, then you essentially have a mini convection oven. The convection feature (forced hot air circulation, allowing more even and faster cooking) becomes available as an option usually about halfway up a manufacturers lineup. In addition, recently many stoves include an air-fry button on the oven control keypad, using the convection fan and heating elements together.
Double oven. Most manufacturers offer a couple of models with two ovens, one above the other. This offers two advantages: 1) the ability to cook two different foods at separate, discrete temperatures, and 2) the ability to cook a small meal using the smaller, faster heating and more efficient, oven cavity.
This should give you an idea of what's available on a modern range.
Which range is the "right" range for you? That depends of course. Two of the most common factors are usually 1) budget), and 2) how much you see yourself using some of these nicer features (such as the speed and flavor retention of a convection oven.)
I often ask my customers, semi tongue-in-cheek, "Do you like to cook, or do you have to cook?" If cooking is a dreaded chore, and you have no plans to take up gourmet cooking as a hobby, then some of the features found on pricier models may not be of use to you. If, on the other hand, you look forward to preparing delicious meals, then we would love to show models that offer options that will make your experience even more enjoyable!
And, please -- enjoy the shopping process! Availability is excellent, especially in the more popular models and colors, and in most cases Manny's can deliver you a new range (and remove your old if desired) within just a few days.
If you have any questions, you can reach out and speak to any of our professional staff in any of our eleven locations (addresses and phone numbers are on the front page of our site, just to the left of the "Manny's Blog" tag you just clicked on.)
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!