Home Baker Replacing Double Wall Oven - Please Rec Brand

2 years ago

I have an 18 month old GE profile that is acting up to the degree we are getting a refund. I'm a baker and use my oven every day for bread.

I don't want to be replacing my oven every 7 or so years. What brand is built for longevity?

Is Wolf worth it? Does it really last a long time? Looking at the M series.

Featured Answer

Dana
Original Author

last year

I wanted to update on what we chose. I temporarily chose a Bosch double oven. However, after doing a couple of test bakes, we noticed a completely unacceptable swing in oven temps.

We used four different thermal couplers and did numerous tests and the oven was having over a 70 degree swing in temps. My boule of sourdough came out barely beige and my cookies were still in a tall ball after the ten minute bake.

Honestly, it was shocking how inconsistent it was. I spoke to bosch and their service tech stated it was suppose to do this. We ran a comparison test using another oven and the swing wasn't more than five degrees.

The company I purchased it from wouldn't take it back without charging me a 25% restocking fee. Luckily Lowe's had the Cafe french door double oven marked down from $7500 to about $2K off. So we ate the restock, washed our hands of that local business and got the Cafe French door double oven.

We turned down the five year warranty, waited two weeks and it was offered at 40% off, so we got a five year warranty. This is a fantastic oven. I bake sourdough, tarts, pies, cakes and everything in between. The temp swing is barely noticeable. It browns and crisps and bakes beautifully.

The best thing about the whole story is that my home warranty folks saw my frustration over the original GE double oven, and how we had three missed service tech calls. They refunded the price of that double oven, even though it was part of our new home purchase. And it was over $5200. So we got a pocketful of cash, returned the bosch, and got a fantastic Cafe french door oven!

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Comments (14)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I have a KA double electric wall oven it is 17 yrs old I run a catering biz from my home so the ovens are in constant use , I love that they are so well insulated the kitcehn does not get unbearable even in the summer . I have o be honest I am noyt ure about the new ones so nmany really good appliances have gone downhill. BTW I also have an all gas range and use my gas oven for bread all the time I love the ways yeast doughs come out in the gas oven
Dana thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Dana
Original Author
2 years ago
I"m not familiar with the reputation of the KA but I'll look into it. I agree about the degrading of quality. I purchase only Speed Queen washers for that reason. My last one has lasted over 15 years and still going.

I'm a little curious about the Cafe with the double doors. That Staub dutch oven sure gets heavy and I like the idea of being up front with those french doors.

The reason I was asking about the Wolf is that on their site, they say they are built to last 20 years. That just might keep me covered. I HATE constantly replacing appliances.
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dadoes
2 years ago
"Patricia Colwell Consulting: I have a KA double electric wall oven it is 1y yrs old ..."

Do you perhaps mean 16 or 17 years (per the number keys near Y on a keyboard)?
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
2 years ago
Thanks dadoes I did mean 17
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
2 years ago
Wolf is always a good option. I'd also look at Thermador/Bosch, Monogram, and BlueStar.
wdccruise
2 years ago
In CR's tests, the Cafe CTD70DP2NS was recommended and top-notch in baking and reliability. The KitchenAid KODE500ESS also did well, though its baking performance was one notch lower. Owners like both.
- Home Depot (Cafe, KitchenAid)
- Best Buy (Cafe, KitchenAid)
Jenny F
2 years ago
I recommend a Thermodor with mixed feelings. The oven is great for baking. I have had to replace the computer board which is rather expensive. (A little over a $1000). I can get beautiful pies that are golden without burnt edges.
darbuka
2 years ago
Love our Miele double ovens…one is a combi steam, the other is convection. 8 yo, not one problem. They both pre-heat, and cool down quickly, and maintain an even temp. The fan is nearly silent. Highly recommend.
dan1888
2 years ago
This YT channel may be fun for you to watch. (1) Proof Bread - YouTube

Gaggenau has a longstanding rep for baking ovens. Here's a post from bread forum Breadtopia . Link

"I have a Gaggenau Combi-steam oven and love it! It’s programmable with several percentages of steam and heat, as well as offering a manual on-demand pulse injection. It is one of my most favourite appliances now after we recently remodelled our gourmet kitchen.

Second to that, is the Irinox shock freezer and blast chiller and next is the large Gaggenau Convection oven with the extra large baking stone with its own element directly under the stone. Temperature is adjustable up to 572 degrees F. Awesome bread is much easier now!

The steam oven does amazing things to bread and it produces the absolute best croissants I’ve ever baked. Unlike some steam ovens, the Gaggenau combo-steam oven is fully customisable to suit your needs. It also offers standard fan-forced heated air and a top mounted grill element for the ultimate in versatility.

My model is plumbed for incoming water (filtered through a super premium BMT (German) Bestmax Protect water filter) and for drain water. This is my first steam oven and I would not be without one ever again…"
Rachel
2 years ago
I wonder if you have a lemon GE. I purchased GE for my new home now three years old. I selected GE because they were so reliable in my last home. So far, it has performed perfectly.
Dana
Original Author
2 years ago
I've wondered that too Rachel. It's the touch board and the repair person stated he had had to replace a lot of those. The racks drag so bad also. Sometimes I can't even pull it forward at all.
wdccruise
2 years ago
"The racks drag so bad also. Sometimes I can't even pull it forward at all."

Both the Cafe CTD70DP2NS and KitchenAid KODE500ESS have "roller racks" (Cafe) "roll-out racks" (KitchenAid) that easily slide in and out of the oven. My LG range has it: the rack is in two parts: non-moving rails and the extension rack that slides in and out on ball bearings.
eam44
2 years ago
I’m alone in this, I’m sure, everyone seems to dislike Viking, but I’ve been baking in my sister’s new Viking ovens. I love them with my whole croissant-shaped heart. Beautiful browning, even heat, excellent convection - you may be beyond recipes (I’m not) but tgese are the first ovens I have used where baking times in recipes are correct in real life. And they are beautiful. They’re also shockingly expensive, so I understand if you pass on them. But wowza.