might be close to getting a new gas stove finally, would love some opinions

[Kali]

especially from the cooks in this forum. what do you think of 5th/center burners? standard round or oval? anybody dealt with these? I think it would be handy at least for holiday meals when I seem to always have to end up microwaving something I would rather cook on the stove (of course I keep swearing every holiday is the last but that is another issue LOL) I like the idea of the oval burner for both a griddle and for doing gravies in roasting pans, though I have managed all my life doing them on either a single burner or occasionally just lighting two.

next would be how big of a deal is fan-only convection? is it worth any extra money? (I am cheap and going for mid to lower end quality here)

I have narrowed my choices to two models (I think manufactured by same parent ), a Kenmore and a Frigidaire, the pros and cons I care about listed below:

Kenmore

- pros: oval burner, higher BTUs on the quick boil burner (and the others for that matter, oven and broiler the same for both models), convection feature
- cons: price (and availability - all I can find are demos or dent/cosmetic issues) and the grate design isn't that pleasing to my eyes though if I placed a griddle pan on the center it would cover the issue

Frigidaire

- pros: price, grate design
- cons: center burner round, lower BTUs, no convection feature

Kenmore (note the curved sides of the center grill, it seems weird to my eye)





Frigidaire

[unc70]

1. Really dislike cooking with gas

Have never understood why some people strongly advocate for gas. On top of. Basic aesthetics, there is the problem with indoor pollution and lung and respiratory issues.

[Kali]

3. a couple of reasons,

way cheaper than electric for one. much better control on the stove for another. my fantasy would be gas cooktop and electric oven but I am stuck with gas and since this drafty old house is in the sticks with plenty of fresh air, pollution isn't really an issue for me.

[trixie2]

6. I agree with you

I have an electric stove and live in an all electric "house of the future" complete with plaque on front door......Electric stove has ruined all my nice cookware and I hate that you can't really tell the temp and can boil over something when it is on low heat. I hate it.

[AJT]

22. I have an electric induction stove top....all of the best features of gas

without the waste. It's also easy to clean and nice looking. I love it.

[northoftheborder]

32. Love my induction cook top.

Quick and instant control, safe, low energy use, cooler cooking area. The only drawback is you have to use iron or steel pans. I could use most of mine, but did have to replace a few.

[csziggy]

44. When I built my house induction cooktops were just coming into this country

I considered one, but it would have cost far more than I had budgeted - around $2500, if I remember correctly. Instead I got an electric cooktop for $180 from IKEA with 20% because I bought it and my vent hood at the same time as my cabinets.

Someday that electric cooktop will go bad and I will likely replace it with an induction one. Now the prices are much more reasonable though still pretty expensive!

[Kali]

42. that would require some major rewiring, I am afraid

and I like the gas cook top for the most part.

[mitch96]

24. "better control on the stove for another."

I asked a chef about gas and he said it's instant control.. No lag time.
I have a GE gas cook top and way better than my previous one. Much easier to clean. I'm a messy cook...
m

[spinbaby]

66. You can get dual fuel ranges

Mine has a gas cooktop and electric ovens. It’s more expensive, to be sure, but wonderful to work with.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

31. The instant on and off and the much better control over temperature wins out every time.

I can't begin to imagine what indoor pollution you think is happening with gas stoves. If that were the case, professional chefs would all be dropping like flies from that. Because they all use gas and gas only.

I've occasionally used an electric stove that seems to require an engineering degree to operate.

[unc70]

37. Children raised in homes using gas have more respiratory problems

More problems while growing up and later in life. Problems worse with old style pilot lights. Even worse are charcoal stoves, but they are rarely found in the US.

Professional kitchens usually have exhaust fans in continuous operation.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

45. I will say, that is news to me.

We had mostly gas stoves when I was growing up (there were six of us) and none of them had respiratory problems. I suspect the increase, while measurable, isn't significant.

My current gas stove has no pilot like, but apparently a flint gets struck or something like that when I turn it on.

And charcoal stoves? Really?

I'd worried a whole lot more about kids who have parents who smoke. That's vastly worse than a gas stove. And measurably so.

[unc70]

47. Lung issues were more pronounced with girls and women

It has been some years since I reviewed the studies. They were multinational and were looking at lots of pollution types and kinds of health effects. How families cooked their food was a surprisingly strong factor with respiratory conditions and diseases among girls and women. These studies were persuasive enough I would no longer consider having anything other than electric appliances. I am hyper aware of this field of research, having done considerable work on the health effects of air pollutants on humans.

The rates of asthma, bronchitis, and reduced lung function are much higher where gas is used for heating or cooking. The effect is reduced somewhat when the parents report using ventilation while using gas.

Lots of studies show up on google.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

48. Despite my screen name, I'm a girl.

There were three girls and three boys in my family of origin.

As I indicated, none of us had asthma, bronchitis, or reduced lung function. Again, what are the percentages? I want to see solid numbers.

I will often read something that says, Consuming this food, or living in this place results in an x percent increase of some particular cancer (or other terrible disease). And it reads as if the increase is huge. Often the particular cancer in question is exceedingly rare to begin with, so if you do the math, now 1 in 9000 people get it as compared to 1 in 12000. The increase is real, but the rate is still very low.

I have an oddly touching faith in my own health. I'm a Boomer, born in 1948, which means I got all of the childhood diseases that are now vaccinated against (a good thing, to be sure) although I honestly never knew anyone that had bad consequences from them. I did go to early elementary school with a boy who had braces because he'd had polio, and I knew some adults who'd had it, including my own father in law.

As a complete aside, I attended Catholic school in the 1950's, and the one I attended was one of the ones used to test the Salk vaccine. My older sister was in a grade that participated in the study, so she got the joy of having the placebo shots, and then the next year getting the real thing.

I know that anecdotal stories are not evidence. I have a strong bias towards science, but I've also taken a statistics class or two, and I understand statistics reasonably well.

[mr_lebowski]

51. I like your way of thinking PO :)

Stats was one of my small handful of 'A' grades I got in college. I think it's a very, very important subject for ALL people to understand at least the basics of. Course you have to have a solid foundation in math to really get it, which sadly, esp. lately, isn't a given with younger folks.

It also has an unfortunate reputation as a 'subject' of being arcane and difficult to understand, SO MANY people have told me they HATED it ... and I sorta get that because I did at first, too, until one day it just CLICKED ... there's one very fundamental concept to pretty much all of it, and once you get THAT ... everything else starts to make total sense as mere variations of the same thing (speaking here of the fundamental concepts of average/standard deviation and their relation to z and t-scores).

Anyways, I personally like gas so much more than electric stoves (and I have a gas stove, FINALLY YAY!) I'd probably risk the consequences anyway. Although I wouldn't want one prior to the days of electronic ignition. Pilot lights running on 4-5 burners 24-7, inside the house ... doesn't seem like a very good idea.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

54. A semester of business based statistics doesn't require

math beyond algebra. Or a statistics class aimed at someone in the social sciences. I've actually taken both. And the information contained in them is amazing.

There's no reason why some basic statistics couldn't be incorporated into high school math classes.

I will say, speaking of math classes, that calculus is the reward you get for taking all those algebra classes. It has a reputation for being too hard for normal people, which is a shame. When I finally got around to taking calc I just loved it. And it wasn't even required for me. I was just having so much fun in math classes at this point I decided to take it. I was an elderly 47 at the time, and I kept on stop the math teachers I knew at the junior college I was attending and telling them how much I was loving the calculus. To a person they said that a lot of math is developmental, and most 16 or 17 year olds really on ready for it, no matter how smart they otherwise are, unless they are real math whizzes. They said those students should wait a year or two and then they'd have little trouble with it.

The math program I had in high school, called UICSM (University of Illinois Committee on School Mathematics) which no one seems to have heard of, and which was wonderful, moved us along so that we were doing calculus in the third year. That was where I got overwhelmed and couldn't understand very well and I got a D in that part of the course. Some thirty years later what a different experience.

[mr_lebowski]

55. I only took 1st semester Calculus, and I totally understood differential calculus ... but then when

it got into Integral calc later in the semester, my eyes glazed over ... accordingly I think I got a B- or so based on strong 1st half of the course, and terrible scores the latter half lol ... I was 17 turning 18 during my first college semester when I took it.

Anyways ... yeah. We're in agreement ... Prob/Stats should be taught in high school as once you have the fundamentals like algebra (really, just understanding 'variables' and 'solving using a formula' is as much as you need to grasp), you should be able to grasp basic Prob/Stats. It's really no more complicated than geometry which most people took when I was in HS in sophomore or junior year.

And honestly I think it's arguably more useful to Society to have a large population familiar with Prob/Stats vs. Geometry, though optimally people understand both.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

56. Yes, exactly.

[Submariner]

49. You don't know how lucky you are

As a renter I'm stuck with one of those glass top stoves. They suck big time.

Very very poor heat control because the ceramic glass top takes sooooo long to respond to temperature control adjustments, so it's easier to boil over and burn stuff.

[MontanaMama]

2. Congrats on getting a new stove!

I used to have a Kenmore stove with dual fuel...gas on the top and electric in the oven and I loved it. The enamel top and enamel grates were higher maintenance than I would have liked, however. That Kenmore didn’t have convection...and I didn’t know what I was missing! When I remodeled my kitchen, I took the Kenmore out (I still have it, just using it at our business instead of home) and bought a GE Profile stainless gas stove...cast iron grates instead of enamel. Cleaning is easy peazy compared to the enamel....and I should clarify, it wasn’t the enamel top that was the bear to clean...it was the enamel grates. It sure is a pretty stove when it’s all shiny and clean, however!

The GE stove is gas on top and gas in the oven which is okay...maybe it’s me but the gas in the oven seems like a moist heat to me compared to electric. Anyway, it is the convection component that I find myself using quite often. It really shaves time off of baking certain things without compromising quality.

The center burner on the cook top is something else that I just LOVE and use often and you might really like it too. My stove came with a griddle that fits it but I worry about the non stick finish being toxic so I don’t use it...I found an oval cast iron pan that fits perfectly so I use that. You’re right, it’s a good burner for gravies or pancakes or a pile of fajita fixings etc. I didn’t think I’d use the oval/center burner but I really use it a lot and can’t see not having it now.

Power boil is a must to get a big pot of pasta water boiling in a hurry. I don’t know if any of that helped but bottom line is I’m happy for you getting a new stove! It’ll be fun.

[Kali]

5. oh yeah, as I mentioned above

I would love a dual fuel but out of my budget for sure. yes gas is more moist, gas heater in the house fogs the windows all winter and I rarely need lotion! I appreciate your comments (vote for the Kenmore, LOL!) I already have a cast iron griddle, though it isn't that heavy. yeah I am not in to non-stick flakes at all. I can non-stick just fine with cast iron and/or good technique.

[JayhawkSD]

9. Cast iron and electric stove is a horrible combination.

Cast iron requires a gas range. Yes, I know you are going that direction anyway, but...

[Kali]

16. I would dissagree with that

I grew up in a house with electric and my mom used her cast iron frying pan often. you generally want to heat the pan and burner together but it works as fine as electric will.

[Lochloosa]

21. I've used cast with electric for 40 years. No issues

[True Blue American]

20. I have a Kenmore with glass top.

5 burners. Two are fast boiling. 5 burners.

It has no buttons, digital. I love the Convection oven. Made Banana bread yesterda. A coconut cream pie today. The Convection is great.

I love it.

[Blue_playwright]

4. I regret not getting an oval burner.

I had to buy an electric countertop griddle and I hate it.

[Kali]

7. another vote for the Kenmore?

[MontanaMama]

8. Oh...one more thing...

My Kenmore is still kicking and the guys at our shop use it every day...it’s at least 20 years old and has no issues. I had a repair man at my house today installing a new dishwasher and picked his brain about appliance brands he would steer clear of in terms of repairs and he didn’t say anything negative about Kenmore. I think you’re correct, Kenmore and Frigidaire are from the same parent co.

[Luciferous]

10. They are both made by Electrolux.

[Blue_playwright]

13. That's what our repair guy said. I have a garland

And I literally would have to bring someone in from Kansas City to repair it because it’s old and not an accessible brand.

Mine is pushing 35. I don’t think they wear out nearly as fast as an electric stove so I think a Kenmore/Fridgidaire would probably be just fine.

Someday I want an Aga. Navy blue. Toaster/broiler and warming ovens built in. Sigh.

[True Blue American]

25. Years ago, Kenmore had a built

In griddle on the gas stove.

I love gas, but have learned to turn off the electric because things continue to cook.

[procon]

11. I recently bought a new GE SS gas stove with an oval center burner.

It came with both a cast iron grate for pans, and a griddle. I use the griddle all the time, and I keep thinking of more foods to cook on it. I have a gas oven with the convection fan and its great for fast pizzas, or roasting and braising meats, but for baking I like the regular oven. I probably wouldn't miss that feature if I had to choose.

My stove came with a black cooktop which I didn't like at first as I wanted the SS, but now I like it because it hides all the messy looking drips and spills until I have time to clean. Same thing applies to the oven surface.

Also, when choosing the grates, get the kind that are all connected with no open points that stick out like ones in your photos. A couple of warnings from past experience with this type of grate: I was wiping down the stove top and my favorite bracelet got hooked on one of those spikes and was ripped off my arm. It cost almost as much to have it repaired as the original price. Another time I was cooking and the long fringe on the sleeve on my housecoat snagged on a spike and caught fire, I was lucky to pull free, but the oatmeal flew everywhere. The open spaces makes it easier for spoons and cooking utensils to fall through, and then its harder to fish them out. The grates that have the solid patterns help prevent things from dropping through.

Whichever model you buy, gas stoves are wonderful to cook on, that's why professional kitchens use them. Happy shopping!

[Kali]

17. yeah I don't like the pointy grates either but that seems to be pretty much all there is

in my price and feature range. Nobody cleans anything around here anyway so those issues are moot.

[CGoo]

12. Propane?

I've had a GE gas top/electric oven for two years. I like the oval burner. The convection I could live without.

You said your house is in the sticks (mine too) so I assume your gas is propane not natural gas. Know that propane burns hot . . . hotter than natural gas. I have a hard time with low/simmer heat even on the smallest burner. I have to use a cast iron diffuser and sometimes it's still too hot. Simmering is important for those that cook a lot so pay attention to the BTUs of the smallest burner.

The problem may just be the model of my stove but it's something to be aware of.

[The Polack MSgt]

15. Welcome to DU CGoo

There are alternative gas jets/fittings that you should use if your stove is burning propane - As you point out propane is hotter.

On the reverse, if you permanently install an outdoor range and hook it up to the natural gas lines you'll need to replace the jets with the bigger natural gas specific models...

[Kali]

18. actually no,

there is a 16 inch NG line that runs right past the barn and when it went in (early 60s?) they put a tap in for my Grandparents, the tap is named after them and we don't have a numbered meter, it is just called ____'s tap.

[Phentex]

14. I have a black Kenmore Elite with convection...

it's an older model so it's not exactly like the one on their website but close. I noticed the newer ones have fewer digital controls on top and mine has way too many. They probably had a lot of feedback about streamlining it on later models.

It does have the weird curved grates but that doesn't bother me. I don't use the center burner much except around the holidays. I use the warming drawer on the bottom all the time though. I use the convection feature sporadically so I can't really say much about it. That was not a make or break feature for me.

The house came with an electric stove and we put gas in immediately. I do a lot of cooking and gas makes a difference to me.

Yes, the black hides the crud build up. I have had decent success cleaning it except in a few places that just got away from me somehow. I like to think it was the fault of my significant other but I cannot confirm it. There are people in my house who just don't see when something has spilled.

[Kali]

19. half the reason I want to get a new stove is

not wanting to clean the gross build up on the old one

that and the fact that very soon after I got it mice got in and chewed the ignition wires for the top so the burners have to be lit by hand and after replacing the stove igniter once it has gone back to irregular heating and it is causing me to have real anger issues, so eff it, I have suffered long enough!

[True Blue American]

28. Self cleaning oven

You even leave the racks in.

[Kali]

29. the inside of the oven isn't the problem

I'm still waiting for the self wiping/cleaning of the outside!

[Phentex]

38. I have stated such fact to my people...

especially after a particularly egregious glopped on then baked on offense. But now I'm too old to care. And I think people with clean stoves don't cook.

Go for it! You'll be happier.

[True Blue American]

26. Mine are enclosed, digital

In the front. Easy to clean. I knew the minute I saw it that was the one I wanted.

[Kali]

65. and it is your fault I went with the Elite LOL

see my update below, saw the grates in person and they were FINE! I was leaning to this make originally except for the grates, then you mentioned the features of the Elite and I convinced myself I really wanted to try them out so mentally upgraded all my choice to at least the convection...then it was back to grate choices...

[Phentex]

68. YAY!

I've never had an issue with the grates.

I don't quite understand the mice issue (?) Maybe you can warm them in the warming drawer.

Hope you enjoy and get many years of good cookin' out of it!

[asiliveandbreathe]

23. No back, Kenmore Elite - gas -all controls in front..curved sides..and the left two burners have

separate controls, one of the controls lights the mid section of the left long burner - full grate or grill cast iron attachment covers left two burners - called bridge burner..is not 5 burner....and is removable..(although heavy) - I don't use convention, so can't address..I definitely should learn...

Make sure you have a warming drawer..and/or a warm/hold setting...I have turkey dinner every year and make most of my desserts the day before..as turkey cooks my sides are made at different time intervals during the 4 hours the turkey is cooking..once sides are prepped into the warming drawer they go..been doing it for years..so got down to a science...gravy is made on left side long burner...love to cook...

12 years old...and one of the best investments we made...for your viewing pleasure..

https://www.bing.com/shop?q=kenmore+elite+slide+in+gas+model+%23+790.3670+n&FORM=SHOPPA&originIGUID=5DB09748616B4F69BD2A5F3AD4CF1AC7

[Kali]

30. oh man I didn't need to see that

out of my budget for sure but love the versatility of that top! wow! as for warming drawer, eh...my kitchen gets so freaking hot on those big holiday events there isn't really a need. nice feature but not going to be included in anything I can afford, I imagine.

[asiliveandbreathe]

34. We sold the big house 12 years ago...and the one thing I requested was a decent stove...

the stove has taken good care of us so far...now our refrig and washer not so much...I can't afford a new anything today...our air cond(AZ) has been "fixed" twice, the refrig twice and the washer replaced 6 years ago..my dryer has been "fixed" twice..I feel like I'm running in place..just trying to keep up...feels like, if the whole house were to crumble..at least I would have a stove...

[Phentex]

39. Our fridge is undergoing a slow death...

I expect to just find it dead one day. That's what happened with the last one. I guess we put it to good use and they have to quit some time.

I don't need or want anything big or fancy in the next one but I'd like one that's black, possibly with the freezer on the bottom.

[True Blue American]

27. I have the warming drawer.

Keep pie plates and cake pans in it.

[jmowreader]

33. Frigidaire.

Whirlpool has a gas range with convection oven and 5 burners; Home Depot sells it for $674. The only disadvantage (to you) is the round center burner.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Whirlpool-5-0-cu-ft-Gas-Range-with-Self-Cleaning-Convection-Oven-in-White-WFG530S0EW/205920708

Lowes sells the "Frigidaire Gallery" 5-burner convection oven rang at Lowe's for $854.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Frigidaire-Gallery-5-Burner-5-cu-ft-Self-Cleaning-Convection-Freestanding-Gas-Range-Fingerprint-Resistant-White-Common-30-in-Actual-29-875-in/1000343099

There's also a GE that looks pretty good...it has the oval burner you want and the grates don't look weird.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/GE-5-Burner-5-cu-ft-Self-Cleaning-Convection-Freestanding-Gas-Range-White-Common-30-in-Actual-30-in/999911525
However, it's $1150 and you need to spend another $50 to get the center grate - what comes with the stove is a griddle, and you have to buy the grate separately.

As for the Kenmore, it looks like a nice unit if you could get one, but both sears.com and amazon.com show them as "currently unavailable" so I'd steer clear.

[asiliveandbreathe]

35. Awesome information....I suppose with Kenmore/Sears, with all the business ups and downs..I'm

not surprised by the "currently unavailable" - I thought for sure the raiders were looking to hold onto Kenmore and Craftsman...time will tell.....not sure Sears on stable footing....good advise....so much planned Obsolescence - I like that HD price on the Whirlpool..my daughter is looking for a slide-in front control - I will give her this info...tks again..

[jmowreader]

43. IIRC Eddie Lampert bought those two brands

Right now, all they really are, is "brands" - Kenmore has always been made by third parties (when I was little all Kenmore stuff was made by Whirlpool, and they demanded quality at least as high as the name brand) and Craftsman is relabeled Stanley and Ryobi stuff. There's nothing wrong with Stanley, Ryobi is decent quality for the handyman - I wouldn't recommend it for a pro carpenter, but for someone fixing up his house it's fine.

Name brand equipment, you know the manufacturer is going to be there in five years.

[Kali]

40. it is pretty hard to figure out the difference between the regular Frigidaire and the Gallery series

I looked at the GE (I think that model) but didn't see that I could get a center grate. The griddle is nonstick and I wasn't too interested in that. What do you think of GE quality/reliability on stoves? My current stove is a Hotpoint and I have never liked the oven part. I can't keep track of the three companies that make all these brands and which are any better. I suppose they are all crap now days no matter what.

After looking I am now kind of interested in the Kenmore Elite even though it is a good $500 above my original budget https://www.sears.com/kenmore-elite-5.6-cu-ft-gas-range-w/p-02275232000P?ef_id=CjwKCAjwmq3kBRB_EiwAJkNDp_7PQ2IICYI-1jzA321sVqeLTvc-h9mxXiQxyGbRmafTF1Jwmclq_hoCVVoQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!8592!3!317857264717!!!g!617382211822!&sid=IDx01192011x000001x1651398415&utm_campaign=9030186&utm_group=62168417446-317857264717&utm_term=pla-617382211822&gclid=CjwKCAjwmq3kBRB_EiwAJkNDp_7PQ2IICYI-1jzA321sVqeLTvc-h9mxXiQxyGbRmafTF1Jwmclq_hoCVVoQAvD_BwE

of course, my fantasy of getting a decent stove/small upgrade from what I have for 5 or 600 was just that. fantasy.

[kimbutgar]

36. I rarely ever use the fifth middle burner nor convection

But if you bake I guess the convection comes in handy.

I cook about 3-4 times a week.

[Kali]

41. well I MIGHT bake more it the oven worked better

although at my age I am getting kind of sick of cooking at all.

[MissB]

46. Well, none of the above.

I have a cook top that I like (wall ovens currently). Bosch, five burners in a 30” wide space.

When I remodel my kitchen, I’m getting a gas stove. This one: https://fivestarrange.com/products/ranges/36_range with removable grill/griddle for the center.

I’ve had this one before at my old house. It’s amazing to cook on.

[Kali]

58. nice

but WAY out of my budget

[MissB]

62. Yeah we used to joke that we needed a drive thru window

to justify it at the old house.

I’m saving for mine. It’s definitely a budget buster. But I’m about 5 years out from remodeling my kitchen.

[Kaleva]

50. I cook most every day and I have yet to use the center burner for anything.

I took over the cooking completely after my wife broke her leg over a year ago and was pretty much bedridden for most of 8 months recovering from that and other issues.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, I did fine with the 4 burners on the stove top, the oven and microwave.

[Kali]

60. interesting, two have said this now

I just can't tell if I would or not, it seems like it would be good for doing gravy in the roasting pan and the husband sure likes his pancakes

[mr_lebowski]

52. Think you're right about same mfg cause mines a Fridigidaire that looks JUST LIKE your Kenmore pic

Lol ...

The day I moved in after buying the house, and got this beauty, I put the griddle in the center spot and literally have never swapped it back. That's coming up on 5 years now. Granted I don't cook for groups ... well, ever ... but I will say I LOVE my center griddle and use it quite a bit. It's awesome for warming tortillas, cooking (or reheating) bacon, steaks or burgers (yeah, sorry ... not a vegetarian), great for hash browns ... all sorts of 'stuff' I make regularly, really. And there's no reason you couldn't throw a pan on it in a pinch either, though I suppose it'd be a bit less efficient.

And having that little bit of extra room from it's 'fat middle' definitely comes in handy.

I'd get the top one if it were me just cause I'm happy with mine that is configured exactly like that, chosen by the previous owner(s) for me

And I always prefer MOAR POWAH over less ... better to have it and not need it ... as the saying goes.

[Hotler]

53. Wolf ranges. I think they say their oven doors ..

are meant to be dropped open and kicked closed. What ever brand you buy make sure the grates don't slide around when you shake a pan or scoot them around. I have a cheap gas stove and I'm about to screw the grates down so they don't move around under my pans, that shit drives me nuts.

[Kali]

61. ha! and isn't that the way we do oven doors?

they don't get very good ratings from Consumer Reports, but it seems like they have become less of an accurate authority on these things anymore. I have been disappointed more often with their recs in the last few years than I used to be.

[cyclonefence]

57. I hate my central oval burner

I can't use it for anything but the grill that came with the stove (mine's a Kitchenaid---don't waste your money). I wish I had a normal, round burner. I'm too old to expect to need a new stove any time while I'm alive, and it pisses me off that I've got this stupid burner. I used to have a narrow oval pot for poaching a whole fish, but I never used it and gave it away. That's the only pan I can think of that I could use on this stupid burner. And the grill is not that great, either. It doesn't get evenly hot so some stuff burns while the rest is underdone, so I never use it. It's just one more goddam thing to clean.

My larger oven has a convection option, which I never use. If it's going to add to the cost, I'd skip it. The oven automatically adjusts the temperature downwards when you convect, so now are you supposed to bake for the regular time, or should you reset it to the regular temp and shorten the baking time? Too much goddam trouble to look it up.

My stove has two ovens (electric) (yes, I went balls-out when I bought this stove), and I do like that. One is very small, only one rack deep, while the other is full-size. I get a lot of use out of the smaller one, and the larger one is always available. If you can get two ovens, I'd splurge on that.

[Kali]

59. my fantasy oven is a refurbished ant retrofitted oldster from the 40's

with a double oven. but that damn lottery just doesn't seem to want to pay out for me - of course it might work out better if I bought a ticket once in a while

interesting you don't like your center oval. I know that I will probably end up never using some features(for example I doubt I have used the self clean on my oven more than 3 times in 10 years - the inside of the oven isn't what needs constant cleaning!) but no way to really sample these things til you live with them. I hate the decision making process, I spent the entire day yesterday obsessing over this and now I am actually back to thinking about a Samsung!

[cyclonefence]

63. I think about the huge 1930's and '40s ranges we ditched from

my grandmothers' houses, even the big 1950's model I replaced in an earlier house, and weep.

If you have a (or preferably some) pans you can use on that oval thing, that's one thing. If you don't, it's a waste of space.

I've never used the self-clean, either--it's no big deal to clean an oven (if I remember to!).

Good luck with your shopping--I'm sure you'll find a stove you'll love. It's such an important appliance that I think it's worth the time and trouble to really investigate and make a wise choice.

[spinbaby]

67. My brother has a vintage stove

It came with the house and I’m jealous.

This web site has a bunch of stuff that makes me drool:

http://www.carolinasantiqueappliances.com/Web/

[cyclonefence]

70. I'm not even going to go look at that site

I know those stoves will enter my dreams. My envy is a very unattractive trait.

[Kali]

64. update

I went with the Kenmore. What a week. I stopped at a Home Depot on Tuesday to look at grates. When I went in I had almost made up my mind on a Samsung! when I saw it, I hated it! the center grate was way narrower than the two side ones and it just didn't fit to my eye. I actually liked the GE best of the stuff they carried. And funny enough they had a Frigidaire like I originally preferred (except for the round center burner) and I didn't like the grates at all! they tapered down to a chisel shape at the points and looked cheap.

So today I got it in my head that there was a Kenmore at a Sears outlet in Green Valley and drove down there just to look and make sure, thinking it was probably going to be the GE. Got down there and they didn't have any Kenmores in stock! (where did I get the idea? brain fried from too much internet research I guess) but he said they would have one for sure at the Tucson Mall (ugh, I don't really do malls) so off I went. Sure enough appliances up the escalator and right at the top was a white one. and when a sales guy retrieved the grates off a dark one so he didn't have to open the box in the white one, it came together. they looked fine, they looked...dare I say it? they looked GRATE!

So there you have it, it can matter to see these things in person. My new oven will be here on the 27th and then we have a bit of work to do. I am pretty sure we will have to reroute the old gas line and possibly move an electric outlet, but those are fairly easy DIY tasks for us. the chore is going to be putting hardware cloth on the back and bottom without doing enough damage to void the warranty...because I am NOT having mice in my new oven!!! I will also be searching for some decent looking object that can block the front vent area but be easily removed when oven is in use, because that is another way the little fuckers can get in there.

[Lars39]

69. One feature that I like to have in a gas stove is the ability to slide

with ease a heavy pot from one burner to the next. Some stoves you can, some you can't, and when you can't, it's a pain in the patootie.