@jwvideo, thank you for the really excellent write-up and all the resources that you linked to.

I have never seen a 5 Star in person, but I do remember occasionally hearing about that brand on this forum. Everybody who has one appears to really love it. It seems to be the cheaper (and more off-the-beaten path) alternative to high-end brands such as Blue Star or Capital Culinarian. Expect a work-horse of a range, but absolutely no modern electronic gizmos. That's a good thing in a gas appliance. Less things that can break and easy to repair by any appliance technician or even home owner. Even if they don't carry 5 Star branded parts on their truck, there is a very high chance they'll have a generic part that matches.

From what I can tell, the burners are all 21kBTU. That's much more than most consumer stoves and better than some prosumer models. You'll love it. But there is a learning curve, as food cooks faster and fries properly instead of sautees. Your meats and fried veggies will taste so much better once you get the hang of it.

Unless you were already in the business of buying a multi-thousand dollar high-end prosumer model, or unless you were planning on switching from gas to induction, I would strongly encourage you to keep the 5 Star. Servicing should -- at most -- cost a few hundred dollars; and you'll end up with a much better stove than you are likely to buy otherwise.

If you mostly cook for two people, eight or even six burners is probably overkill. I can't tell whether you already have a griddle on there. If you don't, buy one and leave it permanently on the stove. It's fun to cook on, but it also is a great place to leave items/pots/plates that need to stay warm. Having two ovens is great, too. You can slow cook stews, roast vegetables, or keep food warm without having to carefully manage the incompatible temperature needs of all of these applications.

It's been a while, but when I was catering, I ran into a couple of Five Star ranges. They were basic and did their job without any fuss. Broan makes a good ventilation hood. I'd recycle them and use the savings for a better refrigerator and dishwasher.

I know this is an old post, but as a five star range enthusiast, I want to give my feedback for others who stumble upon this post. I’ve cooked on professional garland stoves and my five star is the only range that has a match for that. I know folks think it’s a “lower” class of home “pro” kitchen appliance, but truly it isn’t. As others noted it is a work horse and the reason for that is in its simplicity as well as because of its open burner design. It provides the best heat and control of that heat. I’m on my second five star in my second home because I couldn’t after all those years find something that could come close to providing the same performance at any price point. Also it should be noted, these are not cheap appliances. My first 48” dual oven, six burner (exactly like OPs stove) cost many thousands of dollars in the early 2000s. My second 36” cost over $4k in 2014. I can make better than restaurant meals in my own home and I can’t imagine cooking any other way ever again.

To service a Five Star Appliance, please contact service@summitappliance.com.

What’s the model of this five star range please?

I bought a Five Star from Ferguson when we built a house several years ago. I had that range for 8 years without a single problem. It is made in Tennessee as others have noted. The burners are Lodge cast iron (also made in Tennessee). It is a cool, pun intended stove. I am redoing the kitchen in the house I live in now and guess what I will be buying for the range?