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mstramel56

Desperately seeking help choosing a range

9 years ago

I need help choosing a range for my new but built to look 1920s home. I love the look of vintage appliances, but the function is much more important than the looks! Budget is around $5000. Every other appliance is white with stainless steel accents. I have a Smeg under counter 24" oven, a Kenmore elite refrigerator (I bought stainless replacement handles and switched them), and a kitchenaid dishwasher. I've looked most seriously at a GE cafe dual fuel range with a 1 cu ft oven at the bottom, but have considered everything from Viking to Big Chill. I'm an avid cook but not gourmet. Just a mom doing the best she can for a large family.

Must haves:

dual fuel

30"

Sturdy construction

some good reviews/feedback

convection

sealed burners

27" depth max

Would also like:

5 burners

extra bottom oven or at least warming drawer

enclosed oven elements

gliding racks

slide in side trim

griddle

white with stainless accents (being real I understand this doesn't all exist together)

Thank you!


Comments (5)

  • 9 years ago

    The Bertazzoni Pro 36 6-Burner Gas w/ Electric Self-Clean Oven in white is the closest I can think of that match what you are looking for. People that love them, LOVE their Berta. The depth will fit.

    http://us.bertazzoni.com/products/professional-series/ranges/36-6-burnerelectric-self-clean-oven-2

  • 9 years ago

    THANK you Stevep2005. I'm scared of Italian for some reason!!! But I'll look into the reviews.

  • 9 years ago

    You have a choice to make. The best cooking ranges aren't going to look cute. The cutest ranges will probably cook adequately but not the very best. SMEG is also Italian. It's cute. If I remember right, it does some weird oven things to keep the energy use down which would make me kick it down the stairs, drag it back up and kick it down again. If you're not a terribly demanding oven user, like me, it's probably just fine. I'm sure it'll do a roast or chops or a casserole without annoying you, or bake a few cookies or "artisan" bread in an iron pot. I don't know that much about the oven in the Bertazoni.

    If you want dragon's breath in custom colors, look at BlueStar. It's not as cute as the Italian ones, but a good color choice could cute it up some. If you're willing to jump several price brackets, Lacanche is a good bet. Not nearly as many colors to choose from as BlueStar, but at least a dozen, and the styling is classic and people love cooking with them. A more moderate and modern range, but a big hunk of stainless, is the Thermador. It has a cute dial. :) Stainless has been used for appliances from the get go, so don't be scared of it.

    OR, get a refurbished vintage range that really fits your theme. There are experts who take them apart, replace the lines and insulation, and convert the burners, valves, etc., to modern for safety and good cooking.

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Bonjour dear mstramel56 !! Congratulations on your soon-to-be new kitchen! A Range choice is so personal, and will live in the heart of the home for years to come - please know that no question is ever too small, and you must be in love. There is such a myriad of wonderful Ranges on the market, but certainly say 'salut' if you ever have any questions about Lacanche, as plllog so kindly mentioned. Have a wonderful Summer, and Happy Shopping !

    Merci beaucoup!


    Blair | Lacanche

    Blair@frenchranges.com

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Is the Smeg your current oven? If not what kind of oven do you have?

    What is important to you about having an electric oven? Many of the more expensive ovens have the concealed bottom elements but I would rather have open elements. You lose some of the radiant heat and having the element under the enameled floor is very hard on both.

    As to depth, if you are cooking for a lot of people, so you use big pans? The depth of a prostyle range might be a better thing to have than a 5th burner.

    If you use your oven a lot I would look at the usable size of the oven. Some will hold a full sized commercial sheet or two half sheets. You have to look at the rack size rather than how many cubic feet it is.

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