For many people, a high-quality electric range is the workhorse of the kitchen - the place where cooking magic happens and family meals are created. While electric ranges may seem to be pretty much the same across the board, save for certain features like timers and glass smoothtop surfaces, there are some things to watch for when trying to choose the right range for your personal needs. Not everyone needs a professional-grade electric range, for example, but getting the best range for your budget should be a top priority. If you're shopping for the best electric range your money can buy, but don't know what to look for, keep reading to learn how to find the best range for the best price.
The best brand for you will depend on several factors, including your budget and kitchen needs. Spend some time shopping around to find the right electric range for your needs. Some of the most popular options include a stainless steel range that works well in any modern kitchen.
The top things to consider are the type of range you want (free-standing, slide-in, etc.), the size of range you need, range capacity for cooking and baking, as well as your overall budget. These things will narrow down your choices significantly, making choosing a range much easier. If you do a lot of cooking, you could benefit from something like a double oven electric range that will allow you to cook multiple things at once.
Induction ranges can be a great choice, but keep in mind that induction cooktops must be used with a certain type of cookware. If you opt for an induction range, be sure your cookware meets the requirements. Additionally, you'll have a tough time finding stainless stove tops with an induction range.
Smoothtop ranges are not only easier to clean, but many also heat food more evenly and efficiently. With the rising popularity of smoothtop ranges, there are plenty to be found in almost every price range, making smoothtop electric ranges and even better bet. Many stainless steel ranges offers these smoothtop electric ranges, making them exceedingly easy to clean all-around.
The top brands to consider when looking at electric ranges are Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, KitchenAid and Whirlpool. Other brands to look at include Samsung, LG and Thermador. You can even find a convection oven range from many of these brands if you prefer baking in a convection oven.
In most cases, you will want to incorporate a hood above your range, regardless of which type of range you buy. Some electric range models come with the hood included, while others do not. Make sure to factor the cost of the hood into your overall budget. If you have a larger-sized double oven electric range, you may especialy benefit from an oven that includes a hood.
Traditional electric ranges use radiant heating elements, which transfers radiant heat directly to the burners. There are some electric ranges, however, that use halogen heat, which uses 50 percent radiant energy and 50 percent conducted energy. This allows for greater heat distribution for more even cooking of foods. Halogen heat electric ranges tend to be more expensive, so keep that in mind when shopping for your new range. Electric ranges with stainless steel stove tops will usually include a traditional electric range.
Most electric ranges will have one of several cleaning options - standard (no self-cleaning option), continuous (moderate amounts of soil is burned away with each use) or self-cleaning (high-temp cycles burn away all soil in the oven). A convection oven range will often have this feature.