Thanksgiving is coming!! Is It Time For a New Range??

That's right!  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!

Two questions I often get asked when someone is contemplating a new stove purchase:

1) Is this a good time to buy, or should I wait?

2) What's new and better about today's range vs. my old stove?  What should I be looking for?

1) Well, the answer to the first question is a resounding, unequivocal YES!  I'm sure you've heard of "Black Friday"? This is traditionally the time of year where giant retailers try to out-advertise and out-do each other in an effort to to get you, the consumer, psyched about the upcoming holiday season.  

Well, in the appliance industry, these deals actually begin on November 5!  I think of Appliance "Black Friday" as "Black November."

So yes!  If you are contemplating purchasing a new stove (or any appliance, or even a new computer for example) now is the time!

2)  To answer the second question I'd like to start by listing the questions you should ask yourself (and that we, the experienced sales people at Manny's, will probably be asking you as well) to help determine the correct product that fits your needs and budget.

Note:  (For the sake of this blog, let's assume you are replacing or looking at the traditional sized 30" wide range.)  

If you are looking to replace a wall oven and or cooktop please scroll down two entries, where I discuss "built-in appliances.

Now, there are smaller width  20" and 24" wide ovens available (normally for smaller kitchens or apartments), and larger "professional" ranges in the 36" and 48" size.)   Note-- If you are looking for one of these non-30" range, we can still help you!! Just ask one of the sales pros in any of our eleven locations.  

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):

         

What color would you like?  If you have a white or traditional black kitchen, you will find your replacement choices have become more limited, especially in more modern, upscale styles.  Stainless steel, which almost always now comes coated  to help resist fingerprints and make cleaning easier, has been the most popular appliance finish for nearly twenty years now, and shows no signs of becoming dated.

Now, There have been some very nice improvements worth mentioning:! (This part should help answer the "what's new" question!)  

First, Induction ranges have become more popular (and it's about time!!)  If you're unfamiliar with all the benefits of induction cooking, I encourage you to check out my blog entry from  10-29-24  entitled "Why aren't you buying an induction range?"  I thnk it's a great question!

1) Oven cavities have become progressively larger over the years (while the stove itself still fits into a 30" opening).  

2) Cooking surfaces are 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 as recently as the early 2000'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 22K BTU on one burner, (and usually have a lower BTU on the low end for better simmering as well!)  

(Do note that the high output on LP fed burners is reduced, sometimes as much as 20%)

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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 guess what?  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 in stoves once you get beyond the "entry level" models in a manufacturer's lineup.  In addition, recently many stoves are including 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.  The disadvantage:  You will be sacrificing your storage drawer, which may or may not be important to you.

The above 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.)  

When starting a discussion with my customers, I like to ask, 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 those higher-level features found on pricier models may not be of use to you - in which case it may make sense to save a few $$ and get a more basic model.   If on the other hand, you look forward to preparing delicious meals, then we would love to show you models that offer options to make your experience even more enjoyable!

Note:  Often that slightly higher priced stove isn't necessarily better built; it may simply have more features!  Your salesperson can elaborate on this as you're shopping.

And, please, enjoy the shopping process!  We at Manny's pride ourselves in listening to you, and assisting you in finding that "Right" stove that best fits your needs and wants.

If you have any questions, you can reach out and speak to any of our professional staff in any of our thirteen (welcome to the family Portland Electric!!) locations.  You can find addresses and phone numbers on the front page of our site, just to the left of the "Manny's Blog" tag you just clicked on.)

Finally... Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!