I've been using my dual fuel cafe since late August. We didn't experience any of the problems you mention. Do you mean that there were obviously used, loose screws found in your oven? Maybe it was a customer return? Perhaps you should call the store that you bought it from and complain. I hope these problems are worked out to your satisfaction. I've really enjoyed using mine!

I got the Cafe AG almost a year ago, I've had relatively smooth sailing, but have read that others have not. Could you ask for a replacement and visually inspect it before it gets installed?

we got our GE CAFE from Sears in May and it was in perfect condition-- have had no problems with it--and really like having the second small oven--it really came in handy for Thanksgiving--also the convection fan is very very quiet

Just had our GE Cafe dual fuel installed a week ago. Haven't used it too much, but it's great so far. We did have a screw fall out of the top front area of the main oven , but DH put it back in and tightened the others. Also noticed that it was a bit uneven, but again, DH fixed it by adjusting the leveling feet on the bottom.

I've been using my GE Cafe dual fuel for a few months now, and I adore it!!!!

I was apprehensive about the purchase, because it doesn't always get rave reviews. Sounds like there may be some quality control issues? But mine has no problems at all. I did have the burners adjusted when I first got it, but after that minor tweaking it's perfect.

It looks marvelous and works tremendously well. Love the continuous grates, and the burner layout gives me plenty of room for any configuration of pots.

Like lpb313, I really appreciated the second small oven on Thanksgiving. I roasted a tray of potatoes, then fit three casseroles in there to bake, all while the turkey roasted in the main oven. My kitchen isn't big enough to accommodate double ovens, but I no longer miss that feature because I effectively have it with the GE Cafe.

I think it sounds like you got a bum product. I would call whoever you purchased it from and request service/replacement.

Love, love, my ge cafe gas range. it bakes even, boils fast, and simmers well. It did take 3 deliveries before it was acceptable though. The door glass wasn't installed properly and insulation was floating between the glass. This one still has very minor scratches, but I was given a discount and an extended warranty.

I also received the range w/ the new knobs, much heavier duty (not plastic).

Well, one repair guy was sent out to fix the knobs, which half worked. Finally GE came out to address the uneven cooktop,and it turns out the unit is fairly damaged and would need a control panel, manifold and cooktop, at least. I'm waiting on the appliance store. As it hasn't been used I expect a new unit. I'm disappointed GE would not contact the seller directly, or in any way provide a unit.

I purchased the entire line of cafe from the GE website. Took delivery in July, but didn't install until September. The side panel was severely damaged. They would not replace the range, too long from delivery to complaint. If I had opened the box, and contacted them within 15 days of delivery they would have replaced it. They sent someone out to replace the panel and he assured me the range was not compromised. I've been using it since, including Thanksgiving and I have no complaints.
The door was damanaged on my cafe fridge and they sent someone to replace that as well.

Last year there were a lot of posts on the appliance forum about this range. Early on many people had problems. I don't know if things are better now. I was aware of them before buying, and was convinced we'd get a lemon. But we didn't, everything was brand new and functioned nicely.

We've had it since Feb. last year and there don't seem to be any real problems, but there are a few annoying little things. The oven temperature needed adjusting because it was about 25 deg. too low. Since I adjusted it the temperature's closer, but the knob is now fixed in a rotated position, so it doesn't line up with the others. I also can't get the hang of convection baking, it seems to take forever. I love the power burner and wish they were all like that one. The others don't go as high OR as low, so I see them as inferior to the power burner. I like the continuous grates, and the looks, and the large electric oven. My main complaint is not its fault: we have propane, so that cuts down on the BTUs. With NG we'd have more power on most of the burners.

I didn't know they have metal knobs now. I wonder if I can buy them, tho I'm happy enough with the plastic ones.

Well, range #2 arrived, and it is almost as damaged as the first one, so they are bringing a third next week. I suspect the packaging is insufficient for the stacking of the ranges at some point in the shipping and distribution process, as the tops, mostly in the rear, are being crushed, pushing everything out of alignment.

My dual arrived today. It's not going to be installed for a couple of weeks, but I had them unpack it. Looked okay except the knobs for the burners seem to have more play in them than I would have expected. Not sure if this is normal... might see if I can tighten them at some point. One of them looked slightly off center as well, but not too bad.

Used us-appliance and they were good imo.

This last post reminded me of another thing that's less than perfect about our dual fuel. The power burner (front right) adjusts well to gradual movements of the knob. The other large burner isn't as responsive. The knob is numbered, but when you turn it, the flame doesn't decrease between 8 (I think it's 8) and about 4. Then, from 4 on down, the flame decreases. Other people here last year noted this too.

The oven temp has been a little fluky since I adjusted it: the convection roast cycle responded differently than the radiant bake cycle. Maybe I'll work it out eventually, but it's annoying to have to fiddle so much with a stove costing well over $2000.

Well, the third range arrived. It is square, at least. Two of the burners simply don't adjust below full power. Three of them squeak and screech when you turn them. The bottom drawer is scraping on something and the sliding mechanism doesn't seem to work properly. GE is supposed to come tomorrow and fix them.... I guess I'd better check performance of the oven before they come again.

By the way, jax1723, all the knobs are pretty off-center. It's a look one has to get used to, I guess. They are made to be loose. I suspect when this guy tries to stop these from screeching when they are turned, they will be even more uneven.

Well, they fixed the loose bottom drawer slide, but they can't fix the fact that two of the burners don't increase and decrease in strength evenly or smoothly. That's just great for something with a list price of 2800. I would recommend either spending less and being happy with a normal range or spending more and moving to true commercial grade, as opposed to this faux commercial grade. Also, buy from HD or someplace like that which can give you a 4 year extended warranty for $100.

We have the GE Cafe all gas and so far, so good. I was expecting plastic knobs and got metal, which was a pleasant surprise. Our renovation is still in process, so I've only used the stove top--boy does water boil fast! Got it from Gochnauer's through ebay and thought their service and prices were good. They were trying to push the extended warranty, but DH doesn't believe in them. After reading garoj's post above I'm nervous!

Garoj, your situation is ridiculous! Why on earth can't they bring you a good stove?! But remembering last year's posts, you're not alone. As far as I know, the knobs just aren't that good at flame control, except for the right front one. There are two other features that are wasted on me. The center burner, because I don't use non-stick cookware, so the griddle that comes with it will never be used, and the flame is too low to use with a top-of-the-burner griddle. The other is the lower oven. It takes too long to heat up, tho I have a wood fired oven I use as a backup. These features will be useful to other people.

You make a good point about spending less or more, for either a simpler or real professional range. However, I'm happy with ours because the power burner is good and the others are good enough for my use. And the stove does look nicer than most of the less expensive ones. But it is definitely not in the class of a professional range.

Did you post this on the appliance forum? It might help potential buyers there.

I am using the probe feature right now on my AG cafe. It is pretty neat shows the internal temp of meat (on control panel) as it bakes. I will update on this feature.

garoj, I feel bad you are having all these problems. I almost gave up until my third range was delivered.

Egganddart,

Do you not use non-stick for health reasons? I'd be interested. We used the griddle today and it worked fairly well. Gets much hotter than one would think from an 8 or 9k btu burner, maybe because of the shape and the material of the griddle?

I agree the powerburner is nice but in that case I would have bought either a commercial as I mentioned OR one of the electric on glass cooktops that have 2 of 4 rings induction, which heats about 4X as fast. The induction plates can heat a huge pot of water in about 3-4 minutes. But we bought this (gas in general) for its fine tuning ability. Which we don't get now because of the kind of valves GE uses (and probably other companies as well in this price range, I don't know).

If someone can tell me how I should cross-post this in appliances I will do it. Thanks.

I'm on my second Cafe gas range the first one the oven did not work at all. I've never used convection and it doesn't seem to be working right but I don't know if it's just because I don't know how to use the convection.
I baked cookies and they would not turn out. The temperature seems to be low. Basically I used a standard chocolate chip cookie recipe and they took forever to cook and never rose properly. In my old oven cookies cooked in 8-9 minutes but it seems to take 12 minutes to cook now. I tried two baking sheets at the same time and the sheet on the bottom rack was not even close to done while the other still took 10 minutes.

Is it me or is this thing broken?

garoj, I posted a link to this thread over on appliances. Not sure I did it the best way, but anyone who's interested can find this now. Could you tell the store you bought the Cafe range from that you've had enough and want a refund/different range? If the third one's still not right, and you insist, they might do it. I live with the less-than-great features because the range basically does what I need it to. But you're unhappy and you have completely valid complaints. Maybe you should try to get something you'll be happier with. There have been an inordinate number of problems with this range. About non-stick cookware, yes, I avoid it for health reasons. It's been years, so I'm not up on any latest information about it. I'd like to try a cast iron griddle over two burners, to see how that works.

chinton, I had similar problems with convection. The manual says to set the temperature 25 deg lower than you ordinarily would, but that just resulted in slower cooking. Then I realized the oven temp just wasn't calibrated right so I "recalibrated" it. By turning the screw on the back of the knob all the way, it's still not hot enough. Now whenever I bake anything I use my new oven thermometer and fiddle until it gets where it should be. Now that I'm typing this I realize I should get a repair person here before the warranty expires.

egganddart49, thanks for responding.

I've already done temperature testing and adjusted up an additional 25 degrees and verified it with a oven thermometer (who knows how accurate it is) and it still didn't helped. I made the cookies smaller and adjusted the oven temperature and increased the time in the oven and the cookies still deflate drastically when taken out of the oven are undercooked while having been in the oven for 10-12 minutes for an 8-10 minute recipe.

All this coupled with the fact that when I tried to bake two sheets at the same time the sheet on the bottom did not cook at the same rate as the sheet in the middle leads me to believe that something is wrong with the convection fan or??

chinton,

It sounds like we should both call someone to take a look. Frustrating, isn't it?

I used the probe and it worked well.

On convection: Make sure you use multi rack when baking more than one sheet of cookies. i think you hit the conv bake button twice for multi.

Did anyone receive a broiler tray with theirs?

No, broiler pan didn't come with it.

I have just gotten the range last week and so far so good. I have cooked a leg of lamb and that worked just fine with the probe. My only ques. is how to preheat the oven first before you use the probe. All in all, I really like the looks and function of this range esp. the bottom oven/warming drawer. I hope things work out better for you.

I think adjusting the knob only changes the temperature on the lower oven. If the convection isn't hot enough I would just try cooking at a higher set temperature, especially if you are following convection baking instructions.

What I have found is that if something has separate recipes for bake and convection bake, that I should use the instructions for bake when setting for convection bake since the oven automatically adjusts the temperature. Typically the convection instructions will have a lower temperature so if I use the convection cycle on the oven then I am double converting and getting a much, MUCH lower temperature and it just takes FOREVER.

And the lower oven does take a LONG time to heat up. But now that I know that, I just have to plan ahead a little more whenever I need to use it.

Other than that though I have really loved my Cafe Range.

chinton,

I have the dual fuel range and had the exact same problem with my choc chip cookies this past Christmas. Didn't have a lot of time to mess with it. I recently saw your post with the same problem. This past weekend I gave it a try again. I used convection bake single rack. The recipe called for 375 degree oven. I set the convec bake to 400 which adjusted it down to 375. Was a little to hot so I put it down to 390 which made the temp 365. They cooked much faster about 6 minutes and turned out much better, definitely not as flat. Next I need to try the
multi rack. This whole range was very hard for me to get used to since my previous was all electric and about 20 years old, but I'm getting there.