Best Ranges and Stoves
Best Gas Range/Stove
Best Electric Range/Stove
Best Induction Single Burner
Best Range/Stove Hood
But first – what is a range and stove?
First things first. Ranges and stoves are the same thing. Ranges and stoves are the centerpiece of the kitchen. Stoves use fuel or electricity to heat for cooking food. There are many types of stove, including wood-burning, electric, and gas. We’re going to focus on the latter two to help you choose your next best range.
Gas, electric, or induction?
The answer to this question greatly depends on the capabilities of your home’s appliances. Gas ranges require you to have gas or propane at your home. Electric stoves are more versatile and work in any house, as long as there’s an electric line of the correct voltage in your kitchen.
When discussing stoves and ranges we’d be remiss not to mention induction stoves. Induction stoves heat via electrical induction. The hobs have coil wires that pass an electric current when a pot is on top.
Then there’s the hood- but what is it?
The hood is the device that hangs above the range or stove in the kitchen. It is a fan that removes airborne grease and smoke while you cook. Hoods are crucial with your stove because they filter unwanted chemicals.
What makes a great range and stove
When we chose our list of the best ranges and stoves, we looked for the following defining features:
Type
Freestanding stoves are some of the most common due to their ease in installation. Slide-in ranges are also great for the way they tuck into a nook or between kitchen cabinets. If you’re looking for something small and functional for an apartment, you might like the idea of a single burner to go on your countertop.
Features
Different ranges and stoves come equipped with different features. The more features an oven has the pricier it gets. While you don’t need your oven to do absolutely everything, there are some must-have features that you shouldn’t neglect:
- Control lockout: this allows you to disable the control pad on the oven, which is particularly useful if you have children in the house.
- Varied burner shapes: Some electric ranges have elongated elements to make large burners for longer pans.
- Lights: some stovetops have lights so you know when the burners are on.
- Convection/air frying: this is an oven feature that uses a fan to circulate hot air so food cooks faster. Some new ranges have an air-fry setting for cooking anything deep-fried.
- Wifi: you can connect some ranges to your iPhone for keeping tabs on temperature and timers via app.
Size
Most ranges have an oven built-in beneath the stovetop. Some have two which means the stovetop is bigger and contains more burners. For the most part, standard electric and gas ranges are around 30 inches wide. These basic ranges are great in apartments.
If you’re someone who likes hosting dinner parties or if you bake, you might want a larger and deeper range that allows for more oven space and more burners.
What makes a great range and stove hood
Range hoods are a must add when it comes to stoves. You should look for some of the following characteristics in your range hood:
Type
There are three different kinds of stove hood. They include local blowers, inline blowers, and external blowers. Local blowers are inside the hood while remote blowers are in the ductwork which makes them quieter.
External blowers are more expensive because they require installation outside the home.
Air flow
The blowers, fan blades, and motor all contribute to the airflow of a range hood. Different sized hoods require different sized filters for the most efficient airflow.
Volume
We all know how much of a nuisance an extremely loud stove hood can be. If you want to prioritise finding a hood that’s quiet when on, start with finding a remote blower.
Controls
Most hoods have control panels. Sometimes they’re LED panels and other times they have stainless steel buttons. Controls include things like blower speed and a clock.
Best Gas Range/Stove
If you’re someone who prefers to cook with gas or has propane fuel in your home, this is an ideal option. The Italian burners provide clean-burning flames for when you cook. Some of its notable features include a solid-piece long-lasting cast iron grill. The stay-put hinges on the oven support full weight and stop at any place. For a considerably great price, this oven looks and acts like some of its pricey competitors.
Easy to clean
It can be frustrating to clean gas stovetops. The heavy-duty porcelain top and detachable burners make washing up easy. In no time, your kitchen will be back to pristine condition.
Best Electric Range/Stove
Made in Italy, this electric range looks elegant in any kitchen. It has a 304 stainless steel black ceramic glass cooktop. The stainless steel oven handle is sleek and the knobs have a shiny chrome finish. This oven looks so great it’s no wonder you can find it in kitchens throughout Europe.
No banging pots and pans
This range is a comfortable 36 inches wide. The stove has a large cook surface which means that your multiple pots and pans won’t collide with one another while they’re in use.
Best Induction Single Burner
Induction stoves are all the rage these days. If you’re living in an apartment, single burner induction stoves can be a great option. This single burner cooktop is super thin and lightweight. There are eight cooking modes which include things like soup, stir fry, and porridge. The adjustable power levels range from 200 W- 1300 W and have super precise temperature control.
Good for you and good for the environment
You can use this cooktop completely guilt-free. The automated surface of the cooktop detects the diameter of your cookware to keep the heat contained where it’s necessary. That means there’s no heat lost. When there is no pan on the cooktop, it automatically turns off which makes it extra-safe around kids.
Best Range/Stove Hood
Not all ranges and stoves come with a hood, in fact most don’t. We’ve chosen this great ductless range hood insert which improves ventilation and lighting over your stove. The incandescent lighting distributes light evenly over the stove top.
Contaminants no longer
The filter is charcoal for ultimate contaminant and grease capture. It’s also easy to replace.
FAQs about Ranges and Stoves
Do I need to spend a fortune on a stove?
You don’t need to spend a fortune on a stove in order to find one that’s of the best quality. You do want to be sure to invest in a stove that has the right characteristics. Stoves that aren’t made from the best materials and metals tend to rust and worsen in use over time.
Do I need specific pans for induction?
The rule of thumb is that if the bottom of your pan is magnetic, it will work on an induction stove. Test the compatibility of your cookware with induction stoves by simply sticking any old magnet to the back.
What is the best kind of stove when it comes to interior design?
While this is mostly a matter of personal taste or preference, some stoves look notably better in the home than others. You might want to consider something fancier like wood burning stove if you live in a cold climate. In most cases, stainless steel stoves look sleek. In other especially fancy designer kitchens, rangers have a pigmented finish. Remember that function is the bottom line.