So, my oven is dead.
Seems the thermostat on my 15 year old Kenmore gas oven has fried. Last night's baked chicken was a real challenge since the oven never went out of pre-heat mode and thought it was only 250 degrees all the time.
Now I am shopping for a new range. It must be gas and free-standing. I think I can manage to relocate the fridge to another wall which would allow me to go for a bigger range with a large capacity or double oven situation. Heck, as long as I'm at it, I may just get a new fridge or they won't match as I really want to go over to stainless steel.
I am looking at GE Profile today online. If I had more money and more room, I'd go for Viking or such but that's not possible. I'd like to kep the cost for both a stove and fridge to under $3500. I don't really care about ice makers or water dispensers on the fridge but I do want a sealed cooktop and self cleaning oven on the stove. I cook everyday.
I'd love to hear your reviews and advice.
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9 Comments:
Try Home Depot. I recently bought a fridge and dishwasher from them. They have several options that will fit your budget. The delivery guys were prompt and courteous, they called before they arrived. They also delivered at the early end of their delivery time window (8am-12pm, they arrived at 8:30), unlike other stores I have ordered from. The sales guy in the store was great, too. He didn't pressure me to spend more than I had planned (they're not on commission), and didn't have a macho complex.
beth1 at 3:53PM on 09/08/08
I wish my oven would die so I could get a new one. Good Luck!
bessfour at 4:14PM on 09/08/08
Congratulations on your loss :-)
When my oven died, I was practically dancing in the streets. I bought the Jen-Air duel-fuel with double ovens, and I ADORE it. The top oven is the smaller one, and it's perfect for a single sheet of cookies or a pizza. The bottom oven is a convection oven and also has a food-drying mode and proofing mode. I use the drying mode for making yogurt, since I can set the temp low enough.
You can get the same model with all gas, and I believe that setup is cheaper.
I was also looking at the GE, but I didn't like the oven setup as much. With that one, the smaller oven was on the bottom, and it was in a drawer, which I didn't like. For one thing, there was no easy way to look in there without actually opening the thing and pulling out the drawer. I'd rather be able to peek in a window.
Looking online is a great way to start, but do go look at them somewhere. It really helped me make up my mind to get my hands on them and open doors and fiddle with knobs.
dbcurrie at 5:19PM on 09/08/08
I have just replaced my fridge and am in the process of replacing double ovens, but I had funds from the home warranty from the fridge (it kindly died six months in) and I am limited to 27 inch wall ovens by the space I have which gives me fewer options.
At my previous house, we got the Amana gas stove with the "Big Oven" (seriously, it says that on the stove), which at about 5 cubic feet was the biggest oven available in a noncommercial model stove at that time. We decided against the double oven because it was not large enough to hold holiday turkeys, roasts, etc. or even two lasagna pans or cookie sheets at once on the same rack. I suggest taking your favorite roasting pan to the store with you and trying it out (worked for us). Racks on rollers are nice if available. We loved the stove, but I recommend lining the enamelled drip trays with foil for ease of cleaning or soak overnight in large trash bags full of full strength ammonia to get baked-on dirt out.
We had a coordinating Amana bottom freezer model refrigerator that we loved. We had wanted a Maytag, but turns out that the Amana and Maytag are made in the same factory! Why pay more?
I would think you could get a comparable set of range and fridge (even with a upgrade to a French door fridge) for under $3,000. I would look online and then go to a local store where a salesperson can spend some time with you. Then comparison shop at the big box stores. I note that only our local store was able to tell us about the manufacturing issue and they were willing to give us a big discount on a fridge that had a cosmetic ripple in the interior liner (not even visible with food in the fridge). I have found that local stores often will match the big box prices and I like to support the local people. Our local guy even gives us an actual appointment time. Nicer people, better service!
Take a good look at Consumer Reports before selecting. It is worth the subscription fee to see which brands have the fewest repairs and the best ratings.
Tip: Several of my realtor friends have told me that stainless steel is the avocado of the twenty-first century and unless you plan to be in the same place for the next 15-20 years, white, black, almond and biscuit are easier when the time comes to sell. Also, have you tried to keep stainless steel clean? Fingerprint city, especially if you have children or pets in the house to leave finger and nose marks. And you can't scrub with your typical cleaners because they will scratch the polished surface. And don't forget -- you can't hang art and reminders on a stainless fridge (stainless steel is not magnetic)!
Mizbee at 7:36PM on 09/08/08
Several months ago my oven died--and I found it had been leaking gas! It was ancient--but now I'm very pleased with my Maytag from Lowes'. It was under $500 with installation and while quite no-frills, it serves my purposes. It was nice to hear that about the stainless steal, Mizbee BTW--mine was white (which for some reason is always cheapest) and I was regretting not having a space age style kitchen. Then I remembered the avocado green still in my bathroom that was fashionable when it was installed years ago.
HeartofGlass at 8:27PM on 09/08/08
the jen-air sounds great....don't get a viking.... i have a commercial viking and it's so ill-designed. you can only use 1 large sheet pan on the bottom shelf .... because the silly convection fan takes up at least an inch or two in the back of the oven above the lowest rack..... i was really disappointed when i found out i couldn't put 2 full sheet pans in the oven at once.... duh! also i can't read the knobs anymore..... after washing them off in ammonia the numbers came right off..... love the btu's but the design is a little short sighted.
pooch at 10:56PM on 09/08/08
Thanks all for your thoughtful comments. I will really rethink the stainless steel. I have almond now so maybe will just go with that again. And I will have a look at the Jen-air.
Further comments welcome!
robincat at 9:31AM on 09/09/08
dude, get a duel fuel, with convection if possible. i was just looking at them last night at Sears (sigh! if only i were rich and my range died, but alas). we were at sears cos the dishwasher we hated finally pooped out on us, so we took advantage to lollygag in the appliance aisles. we were petting all of the stainless appliances.... so pretty. our friends think we're nuts. heh.
french tart at 7:58AM on 09/11/08
one more note on the stainless appliances (i read everyone's comments after posting my own). we got a kenmore elite fridge last year which i adore, and it's a brushed stainless finish which takes magnets and is easily cleanable with a sponge.
as for stainless being the avocado of this century, i don't plan on moving anytime soon. and i like it. to each his own.
french tart at 8:03AM on 09/11/08