Shopping Tips for Buying a New Stove or Range

Whether you’re looking to buy a new range or a stove, shopping for the right model can be a little daunting. With so many models and styles to choose from, shopping for a stove or range can be complicated. Fortunately, there are some considerations that can help you to find the right appliance for your kitchen.

Choose Your Style

Most stoves and ranges can be sorted into several categories. Once you decide which style suits your cooking preferences and kitchen layout, it will help you to narrow down your search. Slide in ranges have become more popular in recent years. This type of appliance has unfinished sides to allow it to be integrated into your cabinetry. The controls are placed on the front of the appliance, so you can create a built-in look. This style is ideal for an island or to create a feature in a run of cabinetry.

If you are a keen home cook and have the space, you may prefer a pro-style range. These appliances tend to be produced with more durable components and allow you to achieve a greater temperature variance for cooking. You can enjoy rapid boiling with high temperatures and extremely low temperatures for precise simmering and more delicate dishes. Larger ranges can also feature a built-in grill or griddle and convection ovens for more consistent baking.

Choose Your Fuel Source

Typically, your choice will be limited to gas or electric as a fuel source for your new stove. Many homeowners opt to swap out an old appliance for a new one with the same fuel source, but if you are remodeling, it is an ideal opportunity to make a change. Aspiring and professional chefs tend to prefer gas as it is viewed as offering superior performance and higher heat. These days, electric ranges offer a similar standard of cooking with convection ovens and more sophisticated electric burners. This means that you can have greater heat control for more delicate or precise simmering, but ceramics and electric coils cannot offer the instantaneous transition from high to lower heat that is offered with gas cooktops.

Electric ovens tend to offer quicker temperature change responses, but gas provides a more “moist heat,” which can offer a better cook for meats. Fortunately, there are options to have the best of both worlds with dual fuel ranges. These appliances provide the control and flexibility of gas burners with the precision and accuracy of an electric oven.

Look for Additional Features

Once you have determined the style and fuel source for your new range, you can start looking at the additional features that are available. You will need to assess your cooking requirements to determine what features would be preferable on your new appliance. There are features such as a warming area, second oven or split oven racks that can enhance your cooking experience. If you regularly prepare large family meals, you may find these features extremely useful, but if your oven simply needs to be able to prepare a basic meal, you may be able to make compromises on the features.

No kitchen is complete without the right stove or range, but fortunately, there is a massive choice of options to find the best one for your kitchen. Although choosing a new range may be a little daunting, it is worth taking the time to explore your options and find the best one for your specific requirements to ensure that it meets your needs in the years to come.

You can use this online collection of stoves, ranges, and ovens to explore a myriad of great products or speak to a home appliance specialist for additional help.