Upgrade Your Kitchen with a New Stove: Must-Haves and Wants Under $700"

[Dotty]

The oven in my freestanding range needs a $250 part to fix. So, I'm looking at new stoves, vs fixing the old one. What stove do YOU own and what do you like, dislike about it? Does anyone have a convection style oven? Does anyone have the new continuous grating cooktop with the 5th burner?

My new stove musts:
1) 2 medium, 1 high, 1 low/simmer burner (my current one has 4 mediums!)
2) handles propane (can't stand electric burners and we don't have piped in natural gas out here in the boonies)

My new stove wants:
1) gratings that go in the dishwasher
2) self-clean
3) convection
4) separating oven racks like frigidaire has
5) continous grating cooktop with 5th or 6th burner

I'm looking to buy in the $700 range (thanks PC!).

I welcome any suggestions or thoughts!

 

[chefjeanine]

If you can afford it (and can find one that works with propane), I'd suggest a duel fuel range. Gas/propane stove-top is loved by most chefs and the electric oven is often considered better for baking.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

If you can afford it (and can find one that works with propane), I'd suggest a duel fuel range. Gas/propane stove-top is loved by most chefs and the electric oven is often considered better for baking.

That's my dream range. *sigh*

Electric is considered better for baking because it's a more constant heat. Gas is better for stove-top because it's instant, right temp heat, and instant off. If I had to choose between the two, (and I did have to) I'd go with gas.

 

[Dotty]

The dual fuel one's I've seen are megabucks >$1K. I'm definitely sticking with gas for the cooktop.

 

[kam]

If you can afford it (and can find one that works with propane), I'd suggest a duel fuel range. Gas/propane stove-top is loved by most chefs and the electric oven is often considered better for baking.

Funny how things work out. Back when we were picking our kitchen appliances, we really wanted double ovens on one wall and a separate cooktop. But I balked at the cost (the cabinet FOR the double ovens was probably more $ than the ovens - or close to it, if I remember correctly).

Anyway, DH talked me into getting the double ovens and the separate cooktop. Of course, we got gas for the cooktop, but I really didn't think about the ovens (I guess I had assumed they would be gas, too). Like I said, I didn't even give it a thought. Well, it turned out they were electric. And I am really glad we have the electric ovens.

But, we do have 5 burners on our cooktop. And I can honestly say I NEVER use all 5 burners at once. BUT, I do use that extra 5th burner for extra room. It gives me an out of the way place for a pan when I need to move it off the heat. Even though I don't actually USE the 5th burner, I wouldn't give up that extra spot.

 

[gailz2]

If I were to buy another stove and had no kids at home, I'd buy one with a separate, small, one rack oven on top of the regular oven. One of my hosts had this--it heated up in nothing flat and has to cost a lot less than running a full oven at times.My own stove is electric and I do have the 5th burner, but have rarely used it. I also got the combo convection, but rarely use that either.

 

[crystalscookingnow]

If I were to buy another stove and had no kids at home, I'd buy one with a separate, small, one rack oven on top of the regular oven. One of my hosts had this--it heated up in nothing flat and has to cost a lot less than running a full oven at times.

My own stove is electric and I do have the 5th burner, but have rarely used it. I also got the combo convection, but rarely use that either.

We have this type of stove. It has the smaller oven on top & the big one on the bottom. It is amazing. We (a family of 5) use the top oven the most & only seem to use the bottom one when a) we're cooking a big meal & I need both or b) when I bake & want proper circulation. B doesn't happen very often so I use the small one the most.

 

[Dotty]

I am piqued with the idea of the two oven range and have been thinking about whether they are worth the extra money.

Crystal, what brand do you have?

 

[crystalscookingnow]

This is pretty close to what we have. I know that we have a super-size burner that fits our 12" skillet and then the other front burner has adjustable sizes two. The back two burners are insta-boil & heat quickly & then there is the center warming spot. Ours is electric.

One thing - don't do the white top. It's a pain to keep clean.

http://www.maytag.com/catalog/product.jsp?src=Ranges&cat=9&prod=1795

 

[chefjeanine]

That's my dream range. *sigh*

If I had to choose between the two, (and I did have to) I'd go with gas.

My dream, too.

We are house shopping and when I walk into kitchens without a gas stove I start trying to figure out what I'll have to do to change it to gas.

 

[robochick84]

We are *fingers crossed* going to be going to the new induction cook tops..... check them out sometime, especially if you have little hands in your house that may touch the stove.

 

[Dotty]

I'm a little worried about the maytag gas ones with the double oven because the stovetop control knobs are on top. This appears to make you lose cooktop space and cause a potential danger to you when you want to adjust the flames.

 

[Dotty]

Okay, I went to Sears today. I know what I want. I'm going to get the Kenmore http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02277482000P?keyword=7748&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

That looks pretty similar to what I have. The white is not so hard to keep clean because it has insert trays that sit under the burners.This is my dream but I agree ... I don't think it's worth the cost!http://www.sears.com:80/shc/s/p_101...e=Freestanding&prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

 

[Dotty]

So, now my DH says he doesn't want a Kenmore because he's worried about reliability. Now I'm looking at GEs. I found a http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02269022000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooking+Appliances&sName=Freestanding&keyword=pgb918&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2that I like, but the price is getting up there! However, I found it at a much lower price with a search through techbargains.com.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

So, now my DH says he doesn't want a Kenmore because he's worried about reliability. Now I'm looking at GEs. I found a http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02269022000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooking+Appliances&sName=Freestanding&keyword=pgb918&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2that I like, but the price is getting up there! However, I found it at a much lower price with a search through techbargains.com.

According to Consumer's Report, Kenmore is one of the MOST reliable brands...

 

[Dotty]

I know it is silly to be so excited but..Countdown till new stove -- 3 more days!!!! Of course then yet another day for the installation, because it is LP and the delivery guys can't install it.