Cooking Range Buying Guide

If you have a gas hookup in your kitchen, you will want to explore the full spectrum of options gas ranges provide. Basic models do an excellent job of heating food while more advanced models feature special simmer and high-heat burners that make it easy to prepare an entrée and a sauce or gravy simultaneously. If you cook frequently, look for a model that incorporates helpful cleaning features. Units with pilotless ignition make startup hassle-free, and some feature burners that reignite automatically if they go out to eliminate interruptions. Breakfast connoisseurs will want a range that has a dedicated space for a griddle to whip up fluffy pancakes and sizzling bacon.

• Cooktop burners heat up quickly and provide precise control
• Sealed burners and upswept cooktops make cleanup simple
• Interlocking grates allow you to easily slide cookware across the surface
• Pilotless ignition provides safe and fast startup

Electric units provide high-quality, consistent oven heat. Coil cooktops are very economical and often feature removable heating elements with drip bowls for fast and easy cleanup. Models with radiant elements have smooth, glass ceramic cooktops that are easy to care for and provide solid performance. High-end radiant ranges may feature bridge elements or a centre oval burner that can accommodate oblong or oversized pots and pans. Expandable elements provide efficient heating by letting you select the burner size that most closely matches the cookware you're using. If you're concerned about safety or have children in the house, look for a range that features safety indicator lights that let you know when the surface is hot, even after the unit has been turned off.

• Come in coil or radiant heating configurations
• Deliver consistent, high-quality baking
• Safety indicator lights let you know when burners are on and/or hot
• Glass ceramic cooktops are stylish and wipe down quickly

If you have a gas hookup and would like to combine the heating power and control of a gas cooktop with the cooking consistency of an electric oven, consider a dual-fuel range. These units require a little larger up-front investment, but they enable you to take advantage of the most helpful gas features (simmer and high-output burners, interlocking grates, pilotless ignition) and combine them with the qualities that make electric ovens stand out (even, high-quality heating and more effective self-cleaning capabilities.)

• Dual-fuel models combine a gas cooktop with an electric oven
• Gas cooktop provides excellent heating power and temperature control
• Electric oven heats food evenly and provides thorough self cleaning