Blue Star 30” Range Still The Go-To?

2 months ago

Moving next summer and have the opportunity to put a gas range in. I’ve always wanted a Blue Star. Are they still a solid choice? Haven’t researched in years. Anyone buy one recently?

Moving away from a GE Cafe Induction double oven. It’s bittersweet, but I’ve missed the eveness of gas cooking.

Thanks for any info. If there are any other gas ranges I should look at please share! I may just get the gas version of the double oven range I currently own, but tough to not consider the Blue Star.

Featured Answer

Kendrah

2 months ago

I bought Blue Star because it is made in USA and easy to service yourself - and I'm not a DIY'er! The down side is it kicks off a lot of heat through the door.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (14)

Robert Brown
Original Author
2 months ago
Heat through the oven door? Really, still? I have a 1 year old and a 4 year old. That isn’t great news
Related Discussions
Need help buying Blue Star or American Range 30" Open burner gas range
Q
Comments (4)
My husband and I purchased a 30" Bluestar gas range in January 2018. A "Pro" is that it looks impressive. Now for the cons... 1. Burners didn't light or extinguish correctly. 2. Smelled of gas when oven was turned on. 3. Oven door got very hot to touch. 4. Terrible customer service. We spoke with John Schlotter at Bluestar, he assured us everything was fine and then stopped replying to emails and phone calls. 5. September 8, 2018 my husband was pre-heating the oven and when he opened the door, the unlit gas exploded and burned him badly. I suspect it was the incident that sparked the recall of almost 10,000 ranges in Canada and the US. 6. Initial investigation found internal gas leaks within the appliance. Here are the recall notices: https://healthycanadians.gc.ca/recall-alert-rappel-avis/hc-sc/2018/67736r-eng.php https://www.consumerreports.org/recalls/bluestar-ranges-and-wall-ovens-recalled/
...See More
French Door Wall Oven - Brand poll (GE, Viking, Blue Star)
Q
Comments (7)
Good question Karen. In 2012, Viking was acquired by Middleby - a leading producer of commercial cooking equipment for the foodservice industry. They have a strong track record of acquiring and growing companies and have improved the quality of Viking's internal components and expanded their warranty to back the rebranding/ strengthen consumers confidence. That french door wall oven is truly the best in the industry in it's respective category.
...See More
Wolf vs. Blue Star vs Capital Range top - & best 30" wall oven
Q
Comments (4)
IMHO a 48” range or cooktop is overkill unless you have 8 kids or entertain like a restaurant every week. The exhaust system alone for a 48’ range will cost the earth, and be incredibly noisy. I run a small catering biz from my home with a 36” all gas range and a double electric 30” wall oven all convection ovens and have never thought I needed a 48” range. As for wall ovens I love my Kitchenaid ones . They are efficient, never had any issue for 10 yrs and what i love most is the fact they do not heat up my kitchen even in the height of summer.
...See More
Best color for new Blue Star range
Q
Comments (15)
IMO the cabinets do not work with that very fancy expensive range what is the finish on the cabinets? IMO keep all appliances the same with those nice looking simple cabinets I think the counters could be changed and that would allow some color into the space both with the counters and backsplash I for sure would not do a fancy design behind the range you are thinking of since IMO that needs to be the star .
...See More
wolfgang80
2 months ago
We are leaning towards a 30" RCS. Price seems about $800 less than a Wolf for a better stove. I haven't seen anything else in the sub $5K price range that looks better, but I'm happy to look at all options.
wdccruise
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
CR tested the 36" BlueStar RCS36SBSS which achieved a very low score. It's been replaced by the BlueStar RCS36SBV2 but it's impossible to know how much the range really changed. The 30" version is the BlueStar RCS30SBV2. The only "pro-style" 30" gas range that received a recommended rating is the Monogram ZGP304NTSS.
delray33483
2 months ago
you think gas is more even than induction? Hmmm...

in any case you should look at your hood since gas will produce way more heat than induction. The hood may need to be changed
Robert Brown
Original Author
2 months ago
Hood will be installed before gas range. And yes, induction may be the most uneven heat source of them all. Still fantastic, but heats unevenly with the concentrarion of heat directly above the element. Very easy to cook bacon and get cooked and crispy bacon in the middle and chewy on the ends.
Robert Brown
Original Author
2 months ago
@wdccruise thanks so much for the info on the Monogram. Did some reading and comparisons and it’s checking all the boxes. Looks pretty perfect.

Wish I could do 36” for 6 burners but that’s not possible and 30” ranges with 5 or 6 burners are so cramped I’d never be able to use that many pans anyway.
wolfgang80
2 months ago
wdc--I don't have access to cr. What didn't they like about the Bluestar? We want something simple, reliable, and with strong burners that put the heat where Bluestar claims it is going vs my experience with Wolf where the high heat is all at the perimeter of the pan.
wdccruise
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
"What didn't they like about the Bluestar?"

Note that CR tested the BlueStar RCS36SBSS which was replaced by the BlueStar RCS36SBV2 whose differences are unknown. "Poor at low heat cooktop performance", mediocre performance on all other tests, poor brand predicted reliability.

https://www.consumerreports.org/products/ranges-28974/pro-style-ranges-36820/view2/ ($10/month digital)
cpartist
2 months ago
Hood will be installed before gas range. And yes, induction may be the most uneven heat source of them all. Still fantastic, but heats unevenly with the concentrarion of heat directly above the element. Very easy to cook bacon and get cooked and crispy bacon in the middle and chewy on the ends.

What brand induction do you have because I haven't experienced that at all. I have the Bosch 800 induction cooktop and everything cooks very evenly. A heck of a lot more evenly than even my OLD Jenn-air gas stove did.
Robert Brown
Original Author
2 months ago
GE Cafe range with double oven. It’s fantastic. Induction heats the pan directly above the coils. If I use my 9.4” fry pan on the largest burner, it’s very even because the coil is the same size as the bottom of the pan. If I use my larger fry pan than it’s more uneven as the heat spreads out from the coil. Can literally cook a piece of bacon through in the middle and keep it flabby on the ends. The best way around this is to buy heavy disked based cookware like Paderno or Fissler.

Scientifcally, induction is the least even heat source and radiant heat is the most even. Induction Cooktops may be more even if their coils are larger, but that’s the only way to make induction more even - increase size (or use different technology that isn’t really used).

I have the Demeyere Teppanyaki and it’s an incredible piece of cookware. Spread over to two burners though, I get two nice hot spots directly above the coils, and then the rest of the teppanyaki is varying levels of heat with the least amount being directly between the two coils. So for something like pancakes, I need to put the pancakes directly over the burners to ensure they cook evenly. Just one example. Not the end of the world and I’ve definitely cooked fantastic food on induction, but beginning to tire of the uneveness.
Ellen Wilkinson
2 months ago
I've had the BlueStar RCS366BV2 (open burner) installed for 2 years, use it daily, and I love it! I haven't noticed any heat issue from oven door.
Robert Brown
Original Author
last month
@wdccruise I bought the GE Monogram a few days ago! Thanks for making me aware of it!
Cindy Gilder
26 days ago
I have a Monogram (duel fuel) and have been happy with it. The cook top is really easy to clean up and the service from GE has been great (I wanted advice on cleaning up a spill without using the self clean).