It's holiday time! 

    

And - like every Thanksgiving/Christmas season - we have an increase in customers looking to replace or upgrade their stove.   I thought you, the customer,would appreciate a guide as to what to expect from today's newer, higher performing ranges, and also what kind of questions your salesperson might be asking.

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!

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 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):

          

What color would you like?  If you have a white or traditional black kitchen, you willfind your replacement choices are beginning to become more limited.  Stainless steel, usually but not always with a coating to help resist fingerprints, has been the most popular appliance finish for at least a decade and probably longer.

Two nice improvements worth mentioning:! Oven cavities have become progressively larger over the years (while the stove itself still fits into a 30" opening).  Also, cooktops have become more powerful.  It is not uncommon for an eletric 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!)

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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:

https://support.frigidaire.com/Owner-Center/FAQs/Cooking/RangesStoves-WallOvens-Cooktops/electric-and-induction/When-and-how-do-i-use-steam-clean/

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 into a manufacturers lineup.  In addition, recently many stoves include an air-fry button to the oven controls, 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 temperatures, or 2) the ability to cook a small meal iusing 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.)

And, please -- enjoy the shopping process!  In case you're wondering, availability is just about back to pre-Covid 19 levels, so 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 ten locations.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!