Home, home on the Range (looking for a Range).

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
SoSH Member
Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
So, we bought a house. Hooray!
But we need a new range because the one in there is only half-functional. Boooo!

It's got to be a 36" range -- Consumer Reports really doesn't have any sparkling ratings for any 36" gas ranges (or any 36" ranges in general, honestly). The highest rated is something like a 68, which ain't anything to really shake a stick at.

Can anyone recommend a nice range that's in the $3k-6k range? The CaptainLassie is set on something "cute" or fancy looking but I do 95% of the cooking, so I'm looking more for function and something that's easily repairable (the one she likes is Italian-made, so I'm skeptical -- but in fairness her primary concern is functionality).

Costco was our first thought since they have such a great return policy, but they really don't have a lot of options right now. Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy -- they're all mostly carrying the same things right now and none of them are blowing our minds.

Honestly, we're tempted to just wait it out and use what's in the house for the time being until something really strikes us. We don't use our oven a ton as it is, and we'll move into the house come March anyway, so... summer isn't a big oven-use time anyway.

Anyhow. Your thoughts?
 

Saints Rest

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Two thoughts:
1. Wirecutter for reviews.
2. Is there a ReStore near you? Or kind of near you in a ritzy area? We have found that they often get some really nice ranges ending up there when Rich Person B buys a house form Rich Person A and decides that Rich Person's A choice of a Viking or Wolf or Miele stove was crap so they donate it.
 

canderson

Mr. Brightside
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
39,428
Harrisburg, Pa.
Be prepared to wait months. We need a new dishwasher and I can’t get one for at least 5 months and they think it’ll be closer to 10.
 

GoJeff!

Member
SoSH Member
May 30, 2007
2,011
Los Angeles
So, we bought a house. Hooray!
But we need a new range because the one in there is only half-functional. Boooo!

It's got to be a 36" range -- Consumer Reports really doesn't have any sparkling ratings for any 36" gas ranges (or any 36" ranges in general, honestly). The highest rated is something like a 68, which ain't anything to really shake a stick at.

Can anyone recommend a nice range that's in the $3k-6k range? The CaptainLassie is set on something "cute" or fancy looking but I do 95% of the cooking, so I'm looking more for function and something that's easily repairable (the one she likes is Italian-made, so I'm skeptical -- but in fairness her primary concern is functionality).

Costco was our first thought since they have such a great return policy, but they really don't have a lot of options right now. Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy -- they're all mostly carrying the same things right now and none of them are blowing our minds.

Honestly, we're tempted to just wait it out and use what's in the house for the time being until something really strikes us. We don't use our oven a ton as it is, and we'll move into the house come March anyway, so... summer isn't a big oven-use time anyway.

Anyhow. Your thoughts?
We got a Blue Star 36" two years ago. It has been great.

The ranges have almost no electronics or functions (e.g. timer, shabbat cooking, even a clock), but the flip side of that is that there is almost nothing that can break. If you use those kind of functions it is obviously not the right range for you, but we never did on our previous oven or cooktop. Our service guy says they never get calls on them.

We got the open burner style, which has the flames come directly out of the burners rather than under a sealed burner. It heats up quicker, and the supposedly harder cleanup has not been an issue of us.

The only negatives I can think of for us:
-We had a double oven previously. I miss having a double about twice a year
-Because there are no electronics, it does not tell you the temp when the oven is heating up (there is a light that turns off). If I'm in a rush, sometimes I wish it showed a temp so I could put the dish in at say, 420 even if I'm preheating to 450.
 

JoePoulson

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Feb 28, 2006
2,755
Orlando, FL
We had our gas line extended to where our kitchen will be moved eventually (renovation, our current kitchen is way too small and not where we want), as I've wanted a gas range forever. BUT I've also wanted to pair it with the best hood that I can afford. The location of the future range is perfect and would absolutely be in an area with tons of ventilation, with lots of windows plus the hood having easy access through the ceiling and roof to the outside. Still I read these articles and the stats and it absolutely concerns me. I have two young children as well, plus my wife would kill me for spending the money to extend the line but then not use it. It's certainly making me think.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
SoSH Member
Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
This is something I've absolutely considered -- to the point where I'm thinking induction might be the way to go. I've read enough about gas stoves to make me leery, but the house we've purchased has an high-airflow hood, so I'm a bit less worried? I also vastly prefer a gas range and haven't had one (save the last 14 months) since I was living with my parents. It's been awesome getting to cook with it, but I'm obviously leery about them after reading stuff like what you've posted.
 

CaptainLaddie

dj paul pfieffer
SoSH Member
Sep 6, 2004
36,684
where the darn libs live
Two thoughts:
1. Wirecutter for reviews.
2. Is there a ReStore near you? Or kind of near you in a ritzy area? We have found that they often get some really nice ranges ending up there when Rich Person B buys a house form Rich Person A and decides that Rich Person's A choice of a Viking or Wolf or Miele stove was crap so they donate it.
1. Wirecutter rules, good call.
2. There IS. That's an awesome call, and one that my wife will absolutely go for because she's literally a Buy Nothing admin. This is absolutely her kind of thing to go for!

Be prepared to wait months. We need a new dishwasher and I can’t get one for at least 5 months and they think it’ll be closer to 10.
That's very true. We're taking the house in February (rent-back for two months after the closing on 12/15), so we've got a *bit* of time. And the burners work great, it's just the oven itself that has issues. We can get by without an oven in the summer.
 

Devizier

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 3, 2000
19,463
Somewhere
A stove costs 6 large now? Holy shit! I think we bought our IKEA-badged Whirlpool for a shade over 1 grand. I know that’s not for everyone.
 

kartvelo

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2003
10,461
At home
I vote for induction stovetop. We've had one for 10 years and love it. I doubt they're any more available than other types are at the moment, though.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 10, 2017
5,959
A stove costs 6 large now? Holy shit! I think we bought our IKEA-badged Whirlpool for a shade over 1 grand. I know that’s not for everyone.
We are looking for a stove as well, and happening to walk around this section at a Lowe's a few weeks back. Most of what we would be happy with was in the $1-2k range. My wife is less than 5 feet tall and wants fully front panel controls i.e. an ADA stove. Only issue is the genius homeowners before us tiled the backsplash AROUND the backstop of the oven containing controls, so without this we have a tiling job to do also.
 

begranter

Couldn't get into a real school
Silver Supporter
SoSH Member
Jul 9, 2007
2,344
My mom redid her kitchen and went induction -- I actually prefer it to gas overall. That said, in my new house I'll be putting in a gas stove with a premium hood that I got from a lady up the street in the chichi town that's re-doing her kitchen. I bought the stove, dishwasher, all the cabinets and countertops for $1,500 total (plus ~$700 to move it). The stove alone is $3,500 new and all the cabinets and granite are in great shape. Will retrofit with soft close, give them a good clean, install and have a modern kitchen for a fraction of the cost of going new. I'm lucky it all fits into my space neatly, too.

If lead-times are an issue, you have a truck and friends, and you need something for the interim, people give away their working stoves on freecycle and craigslist free all the time. Might be a good way for you to get something while you shop for what you really want.
 

Devizier

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 3, 2000
19,463
Somewhere
I vote for induction stovetop. We've had one for 10 years and love it. I doubt they're any more available than other types are at the moment, though.
Just out of curiosity, I peeked at induction cooktops at Best Buy and IKEA. Both had delivery for December 1 (!). This is Pittsburgh, though. Could be harder in a larger metro.
 

21st Century Sox

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 19, 2006
762
Coming into the home stretch of kitchen reno. We went with a 36" Verona Dual fuel. Designer Series. I wanted a clock on the stove, wild how higher end stuff, you cannot get a clock. Also, many higher end ovens are small...This unit is 5 cubic feet, slightly smaller than the 30" stove we took out, but not by much. It looks sharp too. Have not installed so cannot tell how the oven is, but I imagine it will be just fine. . Also, It is not putting out insane power like a Wolf, so standard exhaust fans, clearances, etc....all do the trick.

https://www.eliteappliance.com/_CGI/MODEL?KEY=VER:VDFSGE365SS&matchtype=&network=u&device=c&keyword=&campaign=9508335356&adgroup=98451144418&campaignid=9508335356&adgroupid=98451144418&creative=421345351429&matchtype=&network=u&device=c&keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAiAnO2MBhApEiwA8q0HYQiaBoHmmd6yPk1hBhNrja80IzHrf9qfb5KfbeRuawXiwz-igMQ7MBoCl7MQAvD_BwE
 

singaporesoxfan

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
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Jul 21, 2004
11,882
Washington, DC
A long time ago I worked on air pollution policy, and the stuff I learned about indoor air pollution really made me rethink gas ranges. It ended up being a moot point anyway as my house doesn't have gas lines, but I'm pleased with my Miele induction cooktop. Induction cooktops boil water super quickly, way faster than any gas range I've ever used and even faster than my kettle. Only drawback so far has been that I guess at the high end it gets super finicky, and if you leave a fork or spoon or something on the controls it just decides to shut off.
 

Zedia

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 17, 2005
6,988
Pasadena, CA
A stove costs 6 large now? Holy shit! I think we bought our IKEA-badged Whirlpool for a shade over 1 grand. I know that’s not for everyone.
I think there are less options in non standard sizes. We had to fill a 36" space and got sticker shock. Ending up going retro and getting a refurbished Merritt & O'Keefe for about 3k.
 

Plantiers Wart

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 16, 2002
4,092
west hartford
We got a Blue Star 36" two years ago. It has been great.

The ranges have almost no electronics or functions (e.g. timer, shabbat cooking, even a clock), but the flip side of that is that there is almost nothing that can break. If you use those kind of functions it is obviously not the right range for you, but we never did on our previous oven or cooktop. Our service guy says they never get calls on them.

We got the open burner style, which has the flames come directly out of the burners rather than under a sealed burner. It heats up quicker, and the supposedly harder cleanup has not been an issue of us.

The only negatives I can think of for us:
-We had a double oven previously. I miss having a double about twice a year
-Because there are no electronics, it does not tell you the temp when the oven is heating up (there is a light that turns off). If I'm in a rush, sometimes I wish it showed a temp so I could put the dish in at say, 420 even if I'm preheating to 450.
Love my Blue Star - Oven solution was to put an electric oven in the Island - it has the time, etc. Baking in the Blue Star wasn't my favorite - plus it's not self cleaning - but use the "wall" oven mostly. But you can bake a humongous turkey in that Blue Star oven. Mine is 18 years old, and nothing has gone wrong - except I dropped the oven knob and broke a little piece off it that held it on.