Please help me decide on range and hood!

12 years ago

I also posted this on the Kitchens forum, can use all the help I you can give....

I'm new to the forum -- I am so excited to find you all!

We are starting a kitchen renovation, which will give us a lot more working area & storage space within the same smallish footprint. Cabinets have been ordered, granite countertop nearing decision, general look & feel of the kitchen decided. I'm sure I will be coming back with other questions later.

We will be keeping current GE SS Profile fridge, and current Bosch SS dishwasher. I need a 30" range. No room really, to do separate double ovens and cooktop, nor a larger range. I will be making the switch to gas -- had cooked on gas stoves for years & definitely prefer to electric, though I've unfortunately been using electric for too many years recently. Considering dual fuel -- but some say it's great, and others not necessary, gas ovens will do fine. I want the look of a professional range -- but not the pricetag.

So, I don't want to spend an arm & leg -- would rather use the $$ for travel. Looking at somewhere around $2500 or less -- but could go up to $3500 if warranted. At this point, could do either freestanding or slide-in, since cabinets & countertops aren't in yet.

But on the other hand, I love to cook. Our family gatherings several times a year often have 12 of us gathered around the dining table. An example of my cooking: Christmas tradition in our family has become Beef Wellington, with dessert of Buche de Noel (Julia Child's recipes with my own unique twists). I keep trying to convince everyone there are lots of great other options out there that aren't so time-consuming, but DH & grown kids (& now their spouses) love these too much. In the past, I have taught French cooking. Now, work keeps me too busy to do too much of it, not to mention the waistline! But, I would still really appreciate good equipment in my kitchen.

I've been lurking here, and reading reviews on other sites, trying to decide on which gas or dual-fuel range. Several people have recommended the GE Cafe, and then I read some very negative reviews about it. Saw raves here on the Bertalozzi, but reports of small oven & fan running automatically. MIxed reviews of Electrolux. How is Bosch?

So: GE Cafe? Bosch? Electrolux? Bosch? Bertalozzi? Any and all suggestions welcomed.

Range Hood: I love the look of the Zephyr Savona chimney hood. The hood will be a focal point of the kitchen. Also looking at a similar-looking Kobe. I don't do a lot of stir fry or other frying. Any advice here also welcome.

Comments (5)

ApplianceSalesVet
12 years ago
I like the Cafe unit and haven't had many complaints at all from my customers. It adds the second oven/warming drawer. Five burners, griddle, self-cleaning oven racks, and the look of a pro range.

You could buy a Viking 30" all gas (VGCC5304BSS) on special. We're selling it for $3999 plus a $750 mail-in rebate plus another $150 facebook rebate from Viking, making it $3099 after rebates. The burners are all solid brass and all go to 15K and simmer very well.

I also like the Capital GCR305 for $3899 less $500 mail-in rebate. Five burners, four of them at 19K and the 5th center burner at 25K with a reversible wok grate. All burners simmer at 140 degrees.

The Viking and Capital are pro-style ranges, are all-gas, do not have self-cleaning, and don't have warming drawers.

Gas ovens are more moist but are not quite as precise as electric convection ovens. I have a Bosch gas convection range and a Dacor electric convection oven at home. The Dacor does do a better job - but it's not night and day. Just slight differences.

The Bosch slide-in range is dual-fuel, has the warming drawer. The grates are a little tall because of the gas-on-glass design, but overall a solid unit.

The Bertazzoni is very nice, but the all-gas model will be pushing out heat between the control panel and top of oven door. You can hear the fan as well. The oven temp goes no lower than 275 degrees, so no warming feature. But for $3000 to $3500 a good unit. In my opinion, the Capital and Viking units on special are better units for the same money.

The Dacor ER30G is the only gas range with new electronic technology controlling the temp inside it's gas oven. It performs as well as an electric convection oven. It can be purchased in free-standing or slide-in for $3599. The "Love you back" promo will get you a free 7-piece pots and pans set. 18K max burner.

Have you considered an Induction range? It will perform just as well as gas with less heat and better distribution of the heat to your pan. The GE PHB925 runs around $2200 and has a warming drawer and convection oven.

The Zephyr hood is nice, and so is the Kobe. I also like Vent-A-Hood.

We have more service issues with Electrolux than other brands, but they have nice options.

The BlueStar and Capital culinarian are nice choices for around $4000. Both with the open burners 22K or 23K distributing power more evenly and great for wok cooking.
Redhead47
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for all that great info. Gives me lots to think about.
cubby45
12 years ago
ApplianceSalesVet, Where do u sale appliances? Are the Viking and Capital models that are on special both sealed burners? And how much does the Cafe price run? Are they all available in LP gas? Thanks!
xslady
12 years ago
Hi, everyone! I am new in this forum and this is my first request for suggestions through pictures and comments. I am preparing for the renovation of my small kitchen (11'x6'). I will open up the kitchen to my small dining room (15x8'), creating a peninsula. The electric range (30") will be moved to the peninsula, facing the dining room. It is therefore important for me to get the right model/size of island hood so that it will not be obtrusive and will not become the main focus of the kitchen/dining room areas. I will be very grateful if you could kindly show me pictures of your kitchen area and your island/peninsula with the hood. The pictures should help me decide which brand to buy. Pleaase let me know your brand and model Your comments about your island hood will also be helpful.
Nunyabiz1
12 years ago
I would suggest at least looking into a NXR gas range.
NXR 30" you can find for between $1800-$2000 total cost shipped to your door.
Nothing else touches it for value for what you get.

Here is a link that might be useful: NXR Stoves