Appliance selection - GE v. Whirlpool - Gluten free cooking

15 years ago

My husband and I are planning a kitchen remodel for next summer and I want to make sure we're getting the right appliances. We're thinking GE or Whirlpool as my husband can get a discount through his company. I'm interested in general brand opinions.

We're in our first home and haven't bought kitchen appliances before. I'm currently dealing with a miserable apartment-sized wall-oven. Baking a chicken is about the limit in capacity. I tried a duck once and the grease smoke set all the fire alarms off. We've had our Whirlpool freezer on bottom fridge repaired twice. The repairman was great and advised us that particular model was a problem and was actually made by Amana and that other Whirlpool fridges were actually better.

Here's the major consideration - We cook a lot. Every night, really. We're on strict gluten free diet. I'd be interested in recommendations from any other GF cooks out there for appliance selection. I don't need a warming drawer. I'm thinking double oven, but I'd still like to fit a turkey or fit multiple casserole dishes in there. We're thinking electric because there's the possibility for solar in the future, though I'm not 100% in favor and could be swayed to gas. I don't know anything about convection cooking. Sometimes, we get a bunch of pots going all at once. More than four burners would be awesome. Should I actually think bigger, professional sized? Any advice for starting this process would be great. If I have to trade stainless for a higher grade of use I'd do it in a heartbeat. Design and looks are nice, but not the first priority.

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Comments (3)

dodge59
15 years ago
If you are thinking of solar, I would definitely consider induction. It is far more efficient that radiant (conventional) electric cooking.

I would also consider a speed oven, typically they pre-heat and "Speed cook" in about 1/4th the time as a conventional oven or convection oven. They are of course much smaller inside and not adequate for any "Large Bird", but I do Turkey Thighs, breasts, etc in mine , all the time, takes about 15 minutes (Including preheat) where as the conventional oven would take about an hour. It is also drawing less power than would a conventional oven during the time it is on---so you save "Two ways"--it is on for a shorter time and drawing less power too!

I just did stuffed bell peppers in mine the other nite, I usually use our conventional oven with convection for peppers--usually takes bout an hour (Including preheat), took 15 mins with the speed oven and they came out just as great as had they been done with the large oven.

This of course would not take the place of a conventional oven---you still need that for the big bird etc etc, but if you check posts here about Speed Ovens, You will find that folks that have them use them more than their regular ovens.

As far as Fridges go, I know Jenn-air (Now a whirlpool product) uses the variable speed compressor---Consumer reports found that the JA was more energy efficient than the well known expensive brand that has 2 compressors.
The Variable speed compressor rarely runs at full speed, first it tries to speed up the fan that circulates the air, if it still requires more cooling, then it will start or speed up the compressor but only enough to get the job done--Ie not full on/full off like conventional compressors.
Another advantage to the Single compressor Whirlpool models including Jennair, is in the advent of a power failure, the freezer will sacrafice some of "Its cold" in order to keep the fridge at a safe temp (I just experienced a 10 hour power failure Freezer stayed well below freeing, (14F) while the fridge stayed at about 42 (at the end of the 10 hour failure). With a separate compressor/compartment for the fridge--you are limited to keeping what ever "Cool" is in the fridge, and "No help from the freezer--which is normally at (0F) so it can sacrafice quite a bit before it is above 32.

A poster here wrote that virtually all (Whirlpool Fridges) use this variable speed compressor but your Husband should be able to find out for sure----and if He does, I would like to know "For Sure" too.

Good luck "On the Hunt"

Gary
nerdyshopper
15 years ago
If you mainly want to compare GE and Whirlpool appliances I don't like some GE stuff as well as the better Whirlpool stuff of 5 years ago.
An exception to that would be wall ovens, where the Whirlpools that I saw in relatives homes had tiny interiors compared to GE. I think recent history at Whirlpool would make me very cautious to select the right models from the many brands and levels they produce. If you can get some more recent owners of Whirlpool to respond you might get a feel for which to prefer and which to avoid.
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noellabelle
15 years ago
We did a 6 month gluten & caesin free trial at the beginning of the year to see if it had an affect on our child, and I never thought about differences in appliances. I'm now wondering if convection would make a bigger difference in gf baking, since it tends to be trickier anyway. I'm planning on a gas double oven, but I think everyone I've seen definitely has a large enough oven for something like a turkey. I don't think you'll have issue with the larger one being too small for anything. Good luck!