I have a Viking convection oven and am very pleased with it. I've had it for 4 years now and no problems at all. It is a 27".

IâÂÂll be watching this I need, want, a new oven. I looked at the American range its nice can get it with French doors but it has no electronics witch is ok by me but that also means no self cleaning and at my age I need that. I would buy the Electrolux if I could get it in white but they stopped offering it last year. I was thinking about the new Blue Star but itâÂÂs so new there are not any reviews yet.

Mine still heat up just fine but the self clean starts but never finishes and the fan stays on for about 2 hours after you turn it off. It will probably get me through the winter but I really want a new one sometime next year.

I also have a GE trivection oven. It does regular bake, convection bake and then "speed bake" where it mixes in a little bit of microwave with the convection to get things done quickly but with a natural browning like a conventional oven. It's not enough MW to use as a stand alone MW, but I have done 4lb pork loin roast in 30 min. But somehow, my Viking is still the go-to oven.

Hmm, I'm as confused as ever. I would love a different configuration, but that's not practical. I do use two ovens when we have larger parties and it makes sense to replace my double ovens with double ovens. The cabinetry is built for that and we aren't planning a remodel anytime soon.

I have a cabinet guy coming on Sunday to take a look and see if we can squeeze out space for a 30". Then I'd get the Viking french door or the Bosch Side opening door. However in the 27" I'm completely befuddled. ALL have some bad reviews. The KA makes sense because it has the best reviews and a good price. BUT many of the reviews complain about the fan noise and length of time it stays on after cooking. That could be a deal breaker! Our eating area is in the kitchen, fan noise could be very annoying.
I wish that I could get a clear read on JennAir. Not much has been said about recent purchases. Maybe that's a good thing, nothing to complain about.
Despite it all, I still prefer the Thermador, but I'm nervous. There are plenty of negative service reviews. I'm hoping that I can fit in the 30" and all will be solved. Analysis paralysis? Guilty!

I would get one with rotisserie.

dcarch

Ellen, you're starting to sound like me, mostly just frustrated.

We are working on the "new" kitchen. I've picked out cabinets, looked at flooring, discussed appliances. I got so annoyed that I finally said that I didn't care, that the salesperson could pick the appliances. Elery finally chose a GE although the salesperson was pushing Frigidaire pretty hard. It isn't installed, and in fact, hasn't even been delivered, so I haven't seen it and don't care.

The things I knew were that I wanted double ovens, I wanted them to be self cleaning, I wanted a broiler where I could actually use it, I wanted both ovens big enough to hold a half sheet pan and I did NOT want convection. Elery had convection and I never got used to it, disliked using it, could not ever manage to adjust my recipes to come out correctly and the fan noise drove me batty.

So, good luck. I figure I won't have a working kitchen until Christmas. Next year, not this year at the rate we're going now. Ugh.

Annie

Annie, thatâÂÂs good to know about the convection IâÂÂve never been good with change and as I get older I really donâÂÂt want to have to learn how to cook all over. All I want is an oven that has knobs that turns the darn thing on and off. I donâÂÂt need something that starts by itself or tells me when something is done cooking and I especially donâÂÂt want any appliances that are smarter than me.

You have my sympathy doing the kitchen ours took forever but was well worth it in the end. The one thing I did was install two full size sinks. Everyone thought I was nuts but now that DH has retired its heaven that he has his own and never bothers mine when we cook. He doesnâÂÂt cook much but he does do all the dusting and vacuuming so I can play in the kitchen.

Claudia

Ladies, one of the things I love in my new double ovens is fast preheat. Look for something like that in your searches. About 7 minutes to get to temp, even 400. Worthwhile, IMO.

I have been looking at ranges and ovens too. One thing I fell in love with are the easy roll full extension oven racks. Omg they are amazing and with the full extension you are never reaching into the oven. I have hand problems and those easy roll racks would make my life easier.
One of the salesmen that was very helpful said he has all Electrolux with full true convection and have those full extension racks, he was very happy with them.
He did say that in some cases you can buy a conversion kit and have those installed.

Nice to see you here ravencajun. Thanks for good computer advice you have been giving all these years.

That is a great suggestion for full-extension racks.

Also, ovens with a digital thermometer shut-off probe can be great if you do a lot of baking and roasting meat, meat loafs, etc.

dcarch

Hi, dcarch thanks,
I have been visiting more forums.
I really love those full extension racks so now I am looking specifically for products with them, or easily able to accept the kit.

Ravencajun,

If you are a little handy, it is not impossible to DIY. HD sells full extension tracks in many lengths. Just make sure you get the ones with no plastic rollers.

dcarch

dcarch, et al: I like that idea of the full extension racks but my first question would be the CLEANING of them. It seems like there would be lots of nooks and crannies and areas that are hard to clean! If one uses the self-cleaning function on an oven, would it totally remove ALL residue from those steel racks and sliders?

Arlinek,

The tracks for the racks has a front side and a back side. one side is blank, the other side is exposed with crannies to trap dirt.

If you look at the picture above, you can see that the crannies will be hidden when the racks retract back inside the oven.

dcarch

Annie, I feel your pain! Remember that it took me 11 months (two different times) to complete our remodel and addition! So many decisions! When do you have to move from your current house? I would think with all the cooking and baking, you'd want a large oven. What size oven did Elery decide on?

Parst, I agree, less is more. Less to malfunction and I have my Thermopen, so I'm good!

Dcarch, thanks, but I haven't even used the rotisserie on the bbq. I bought a whizbang bbq on the patio and need to learn how to use that feature. In So Cal I don't need to use the oven inside.

Here's what I've learned about self cleaning ovens. Don't use this feature. Yes, really! I've been told that it shortens the life of all of the electronics because the temperature goes so high.
This was the message from Pacific Sales/Best Buy, Universal Appliances, AJ Madison and possibly ABT (online video).
My first Thermador, installed in 1974, had self cleaning and was still functioning 27yrs later when we remodeled. But now there are so many electronic components to break/overheat/or whatever that I guess it's not healthy for the oven. I didn't use it often, perhaps twice a year. I would guess a rotisserie feature
certainly would make the oven even dirtier!
About cleaning the racks, the manufacturers say that it if you leave the racks in the oven while cleaning, they'll discolor. I'm not sure if there are other negative consequences. I always remove them and use easy off or ammonia in a garbage bag outside. Rinse with and replace.
Arline and Ravencajun, I agree having rolling racks is a huge plus! As it is, I'm standing to the side trying to pull out a heavy roasting pan. It's not easy. Some of the ovens I looked at had pretty flimsy racks. Like Parst said, make it easy on me!
About the convection -- I was happy with it. Ecstatic? No, but I liked it for juicy chicken breasts. You don't have to use that feature unless you wanted to. Then again I guess you're paying extra for it. The fan in my Thermador was quiet. That's why I'm worried about the KA. Since Electrolux is coming out with new models in Jan, and I'm not waiting, it's off the table. I thought that the Frigidare was a bit lightweight. I have to say that the KA did seem well made and nicely finished.

I hope tomorrow brings the good news that a 30" oven will fit!

dcarch: *I* don't want to see all those little brown splatter marks (that are so hard to clean in all those little, hidden places and metal bends in the tracks) and I don't want my guests to see them when I pull out those racks. It's just not a "nice" look to me. I can easily see that the rack alone would take me 30 min. to properly clean each time; not worth it to me for the added benefit, sorry to say.

The reason it would be so helpful to me is that I am in my wheelchair or my special kitchen chair with limited hand use. I usually have to only use the oven if my husband is around to pull the racks out for me. I can't tell you how many times I have burned my arms. Having the French doors would be another great feature but not likely to be in my price range. I don't use the oven a great deal so paying for a high end unit is not practical. However some of these features would maybe cause me to do more.

Thanks for the diy information, my husband was wondering if that would be a possibility for the current one, or whatever we buy. He is very handy at stuff like that.

I was reading reviews of some of the Dacor ovens with the full extension racks and there were several comments about how easy it was to clean the racks. Some comments said they were actually easier to clean than the regular rack. The convenience for me definitely out weighs cleaning up.

Ellen, I think they are 30 inch ovens. I measured the pans, gave the measurement to the sales person and told them the ovens had to be at least that big. Then I walked away, so I don't really know what they are. There are virtually no display units available anywhere around here and I need to see/touch something to get any idea of what it's like. Internet explanations and pictures are useless to me, I can't picture anything like that. So, I quit. As long as it works, it's good enough. And that's driving Elery crazy. I keep telling him that I don't really care, but he just can't believe that I really, really, really don't care. Actually, I'm longing for my orange countertops and usable friendly old kitchen, I hate this "pretty" one that we made when we put the house for sale, it's completely unusable for me. It sure looks good, though.

Annie

New oven purchase on hold! Yesterday when the cabinet/contractor was here to evaluate my space, he checked out the oven and found that the broiler element had self destructed. He threw the breaker switch and Voila, the board revived! We checked the lights in both ovens and they worked. He also said that I can easily install a 30" oven, the cabinet is large enough, but that's on hold.
Today I called Thermador and set up a service call. The broiler part is $58 and the service call (18 minutes!) is $99. Each 6 minute increment thereafter is $12. I'll gratefully accept that and let them give my oven a thorough review. The next service appt was Dec 10th, but I can live without an oven. Thanksgiving dinner is at a friend's club! LOL

Hooray, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your oven will last for several more very good years!

Annie