Ranges

Kitchen Ranges: The Cornerstone of Home Cooking

Enjoying a hot, home cooked meal is part of what makes us human, and the kitchen stove is where it all starts. This all-purpose appliance pairs the direct heating method of a cooktop with the indirect heat offered by an oven. Together, they can make just about anything. Whether you're in the mood for an early morning omelet or you're roasting a twenty-pound turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, a kitchen range is the perfect tool.

As our tastes have evolved, so have the tools we use to satiate them. Kitchen ranges now come in a variety of designs to fit easily into any household. Freestanding ranges are the most popular design in part because they're the easiest to install. And while you have to be careful to get the right size when shopping for a slide-in model, the built-in look can add a sense of intention to your kitchen decor. Both form factors offer the option of a single or double oven range to give you the capacity you need. If you're not sure which design is right for your kitchen, check out our article comparing slide-in and freestanding ranges.

Beyond their designs, kitchen ranges also offer a few choices when it comes to fuel. The first decision to make: gas or electric. Most of the time, the connections in your kitchen make the decision for you. Making a change requires an electrician or plumber to install new lines. Because of this, most people replace a gas stove with another gas stove.

However, if you have an electric range and want to try something different, induction ranges also run on electricity and offer an efficient, new way to cook food. If you do try your hand at induction, just be sure you have the right pots and pans. Induction cooking using magnetism, so aluminum, copper and glass cookware won't work. Stick to cast iron and stainless steel instead.

Whether you're on the hunt for an electric or gas range, or even dual fuel ranges, make sure to pay attention to the oven section as well as the cooktop. Modern technology has made it to the kitchen in the form of self-cleaning and convection ovens. While these features are by no means necessary, they do help save time both cooking and cleaning. If you decide on a model without self cleaning capabilities, check out our guide on how to clean an oven quickly. And while wall ovens are always an option, a range's attached cooktop provides a convenient place to set down piping hot cookware. Gas or electric, oven or range, Abt has you covered. If you need help picking out the right appliance for your kitchen, give us a call at 800-860-3577 or start a live chat today.