Ovens,
Stoves, Cooktops Buyers Guide
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General
Information
Wow
-- there are a lot of choices when it comes to how you'll bake and
simmer your dinner. You can have your cooktop and oven in the form
of one appliance (a range) or separated at different locations in
your kitchen. And each situation involves a myriad of choices including
options of sizes, styles, fuel sources, energy consumption, heating
methods and features. If the sheer number of choices available hasn't
already made you think you need some professional help, keep in
mind that the consequences of incorrectly choosing or installing
these appliances can be expensive and dangerous. This is one appliance
area that you should definitely seek the advice and assistance of
true experts. Make sure you find a store that specializes in appliances
to help you shop for your new oven, stove, or range.
The
first decision you need to make is what form you want these appliances
to take. Do you want them together in one central location? Do you
want the oven and stove separated? How will these appliances fit
in with the architecture of your kitchen? There are three distinct
options for this most basic question.
Ovens:
Technically, an oven is a large cavity with a door that is used
for baking and broiling food. Your oven can be part of a range,
or can be separated and built into a wall or cabinet space.
Stoves:
Stoves have four or more burners on which pots are placed to cook
food in. Stoves can be part of your range or can be built into your
kitchen separately on a countertop or even in a kitchen island.
Ranges:
Ranges are a single appliance unit that combines both an oven and
a stove. These are the most traditional forms of ovens/stoves.
Read
about the type of appliance you are thinking about purchasing for
more information about the many varieties available, their pros
and cons and helpful tips to choosing the correct model for you
and your family. Expect to be overwhelmed; there are a variety of
options in styles, sizes, features and fuel sources. Feel free to
contact the experts at XYZ for more assistance as you shop for your
new oven, stove, or range.
Ovens
Ovens
can be part of a range or stand alone as a separate appliance. Though
this section mostly addresses ovens as separate appliances, many
of the same features and choices are available in ovens that are
part of a range as well.
There
exist three main choices when it comes to ovens: the size, cleaning
method and heating method. Read about the choices available and
their pros and cons.
size: Ovens come in three main sizes: single, double and combination.
Consider the following questions. How many people like to cook at
the same time in your home? How often do you entertain large numbers
of guests? And do you or your family members have any physical limitations
that make opening the oven or taking pans in and out of the oven
difficult?
Single
ovens are the most traditional model of ovens. They have one door
which almost always hinges at the bottom of the oven opening from
the top down. Single ovens are great for those that have limited
space in their kitchens. However, only one temperature is available
at a time, meaning longer cooking times if multiple items must be
baked at different temperatures.
Double
ovens have two separate cavities. Each cavity can be heated to any
temperature independent of the other, allowing cooks to bake food
at different temperatures simultaneously. They take up more space
than a single oven, but are great for prolific cooks.
Combination
ovens are a single or double oven combined with a microwave installed
on top of the oven. This provides a very sleek kitchen design with
all these appliances in one central location. These units are usually
quite large and usually require a custom space in the kitchen cabinetry.
Cleaning Method:
Nobody
likes to clean their appliances and it's even worse to spend time
thinking about cleaning them in the future! But you owe it to yourself
to consider your future cleaning when picking out a new oven. You
can choose between standard cleaning, self cleaning and continuous
cleaning ovens.
Standard
Cleaning ovens must be cleaned by hand with soap and water. Some
models have removable doors to make cleaning hard to reach spaces
easier. This cleaning method is usually the most inexpensive option
of the three methods available.
Self
Cleaning ovens use an extremely high heat cycle to turn soil inside
your oven into a fine powder that can be easily wiped away with
a damp cloth. Self Cleaning ovens are very fast and easy to clean
and require very little of your own effort. They have special safety
precautions that lock the door when the high heat cleaning cycle
is in use. This added convenience usually adds to the price as well,
especially since special porcelain enamels and door seals are required
for safety purposes.
Continuous
Cleaning ovens also get rid of oven soil without your elbow grease,
but these models do not require the extreme heat cycle. Instead,
the walls are treated with a special catalyst that oxidizes the
soil continuously. Because the extreme high heat cycle isn't needed,
these units consume less energy which reduces the cost of their
operation. However, most people find that these models do not clean
the ovens quite as well as Self Cleaning models and still require
some scrubbing at times.
Heating Method:
Ovens
can be further classified by their heating method into one of two
types: conventional ovens or convection ovens. Below is a description
of each type of heating method and their relative pros and cons.
It's important to ask yourself how vital cooking quality and price
are in your decision, as well as what power sources you have available.
Conventional
ovens are, well, the conventional type! These ovens have two heating
elements; one for baking and roasting and another for broiling foods.
Most people use their oven primarily to bake items, during which
heat comes from the bottom of the oven. Some more modern conventional
ovens will have heating systems which use both upper and lower heating
elements during baking, which can amount to a more even heating
of the food. Conventional ovens are usually the less expensive option
of heating methods available, but some cooks notice they do not
always heat food evenly.
Convection
ovens all have an extra critical component that separates them from
conventional ovens: a fan. The fan helps to disperse the hot air
faster and more evenly throughout the cooking space. This helps
food to cook more evenly throughout and also uses about 50% less
energy than conventional ovens. Because the hot air will circulate
faster, convection ovens reduce cooking times by an average of 30%.
As
if there were not enough choices already, there exist two types
of convection ovens. Fan assisted convection ovens disperse heat
from the bottom and the fan is located at the rear. Fan forced convection
ovens have the fan surrounded by the heating element. This allows
the food to be placed anywhere in the entire oven. Keep in mind
that fan assisted units come in both electric and gas compatible
models, while fan forced is only found in electric units. Fan forced
units are usually louder and can make food dry out faster if it
is not covered properly.
Stove Tops
Stove
tops get a lot of attention and inspire a lot of debate between
cooking professionals and average kitchen owners alike. Stove tops
can be part of range or stand alone as their own independent appliance.
There are a variety of fuel choices, each with their own unique
pros and cons. And don't forget to consider all the new technology
that has added features to more traditional models and also created
entirely new heating methods. Read about the stove tops listed below
to learn more about them.
Standard Gas Burners The standard gas burners are the most traditional
and common choice for professional cooks. Because the burner and
pot/pan is heated directly by an open flame, it is very easy to
control the temperature very precisely and most importantly, immediately.
Professional chefs require the ability to raise or lower the temperature
of the burner immediately upon adjusting the knob. If you're a cooking
enthusiast, you probably already know the great benefits of cooking
on a standard gas burner stove-top and would love to get your hands
on one.
Though
standard gas burners have many highly sought after features, there
are also some drawbacks in certain circumstances to having this
kind of stovetop. Since this type of stove top uses gas as its fuel
source, a properly installed gas line and hookup in your kitchen
is required. If that does not already exist, getting one installed
can be pricey. Also, the flame is visible in these models and therefore
could be dangerous, especially if small children have access to
that area. Energy efficiency varies and depends on the local costs
of electricity verses gas in your area. Also, check into standard
gas burners that have pilot-less ignitions to conserve energy.
Sealed Gas Burners Sealed gas burners are a relatively newer arrival
to the stove top scene. They offer the same fine control over temperature
as standard gas burners, which are preferred by professional chefs
the world over. Sealed gas burners, as the name implies, enclose
the burners in a cook top. This increases safety as there are no
open flames. The sealed burners are also much easier to clean. These
units very often come with energy saving electronic ignition systems,
eliminating the need for an energy consuming always-on pilot light.
Like
all gas appliances, sealed gas burner stove tops require professional
installation of a gas line and hookup in your kitchen. These units
should also be professionally installed, as incorrect installation
of gas appliances can decrease the life of your appliance, damage
the appliance and be very dangerous to your home and family.
Electric Coil Elements Stove tops with electric coil elements are
fueled by electricity rather than gas. There are several advantages
to using this kind of stove top. They are usually less expensive
than gas models. They are also safer because there are no visible
flames. They do not require a gas hookup, which can be expensive
to install if one does not already exist. They are also very easy
to maintain and inexpensive to repair.
Though
stove tops with electric coil elements can be less expensive than
gas models at their initial purchase, they can cost you more over
time in most areas of the country. Check into the relative cost
of electricity and gas in your local area. Also, heating and cooling
these burners takes longer, meaning you have less immediate control
over the temperature you are cooking with. In general, electric
coil elements are less responsive than gas, making most professional
chefs prefer to have the increased control allowed by gas burners.
Ceramic Glass Burners Stove tops with ceramic glass burners have
increased in popularity lately. They offer a smooth surface that
is very easy to clean and is very visually appealing. When the stove
top is not in use, the top can be used as extra counter space. No
crumbs or spills can get into the burners which not only makes this
unit easy to clean, but also reduces the chance of little kitchen
flare ups.
Because
ceramic glass burner stove tops are fueled with electricity, they
are not as precise and responsive as gas stove tops. It is sometimes
difficult to tell if the burners are still hot after turning them
off, which could be a safety issue, especially if small children
have access to that area. Because of the upgraded flat smooth cooking
surface, ceramic glass burners can be more expensive than standard
electric coil burners.
Magnetic Induction Magnetic induction stove tops are relatively
new on the market and many people have never heard of them. They
are very similar in appearance to stovetops with ceramic glass burners.
They both offer smooth surfaces that are easy to clean and are very
attractive. However, that is where the similarities end between
these two types of stove tops.
Magnetic
induction stove tops only work with steel and cast iron pans (or
any pan that you can get a magnet to stick to). Because they only
cause the pan and its contents to heat up, the rest of the surface
unit remains completely cool at all times. Because of this, these
stove top units are very safe. They are also extremely responsive
and precise, making them very similar to cooking with gas stove
top units but without the need for a gas line and hookup in your
kitchen.
Like
most new technologies, magnetic induction stoves come with a premium
price and are usually more expensive than other types of stove tops.
Also, make sure to consider whether or not the pots and pans you
currently own will work with this type of appliance. If you're looking
for the accuracy and performance of a gas stove top, but more safety
and no need for a separate gas line and hookup, look into magnetic
induction stove tops.
Solid Disks These stove tops are very similar to electric coil stove
tops. Instead of open coils, they have solid cast iron disks in
which the burner elements are contained. This makes them very easy
to clean and also unique and attractive. The extra ease of cleaning
and unique look come at a price though; the solid cast iron disks
are very slow to heat up and cool down, which can lengthen cooking
time and decreases the control you have over temperature.
Ranges
Many people choose to have their oven and stove come together in
one convenient appliance; the range. Though choosing a range eliminates
the need to choose two places in your kitchen for a separate stove
top and oven, there are a myriad of other choices available to you
when choosing which range is right for you.
The
two main choices you will have to make involve your fuel choice
and how it will be installed in your kitchen. Read about the different
fuel choices available in ranges and their relative pros and cons.
Fuel
Choices:
When
buying a range, it is important to consider what fuel source you
wish to you. There are three main choices in ranges available: electric
ranges, gas ranges and dual fuel gas and electric ranges.
Electric
ranges are by far the most popular choice today. In most homes,
electricity is more available for kitchen appliances than gas is.
The coils in the stove top are reliable and very easy and inexpensive
to replace should they fail. Almost all cookware can be used in
these ranges and they are often safer since there is no open flame.
Some gas stove tops may not be able to heat consistently at very
low temperatures, though electric stove tops usually do this with
ease.
Ranges
with open electric coils on the stove top can be vulnerable to spills.
Smooth closed tops are available and usually come with a bigger
price tag. The responsiveness and precision of stove top heating
is not as fine as with gas units. Though most professional cooks
prefer gas over electric stove tops, they also usually prefer electric
over gas ovens.
Gas
ranges are not as popular as electric ranges. However, most professional
cooks greatly prefer using a gas stove top as opposed to electric
due to its better responsiveness and precision. But, they also usually
prefer to use electric ovens as opposed to gas (as would be included
in these ranges).
Gas
ranges have visible flames in the cook tops (unless using a sealed
burner) which can be a safety concern, especially if children have
access to the area. They are usually more expensive than electric
ranges and require a natural gas or liquid propane gas hookup in
your kitchen in order to install.
Dual
fuel gas and electric ranges solve the problem of compromising one
appliance for the other. Since most professional chefs prefer to
cook with gas stove tops but electric ovens, before dual fuel ranges
you would have to sacrifice one appliance for the other. But dual
fuel ranges allow you to have the best of both words: a gas stove
top and an electric oven.
Dual
fuel ranges save you space if you require an electric oven but gas
stove and don't want to put them in separate areas of your kitchen.
These ranges are usually professional models and can be more expensive
than other types of range. They also require that there is a gas
line and hookup in your kitchen to supply fuel for the stove top
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