Cooking & Baking
In reply to the discussion: might be close to getting a new gas stove finally, would love some opinions [View all]procon
(15,805 posts)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!