Ranges: Reviews

This bargain-priced Hotpoint gas range is a favorite in reviews, and according to owner surveys, Hotpoint is one of the most reliable brands. The Hotpoint range has fewer features than more expensive gas ranges, but… experts say that with this range, you don't have to sacrifice baking, broiling or simmering efficiency. The Hotpoint has all the standard features, including a self-cleaning oven. This gas range offers one high-powered burner and one simmer burner, but no warming drawer, and reviews say the oven window is inconveniently small. Grates are made of heavy steel with sealed burners for easy cleaning. It comes in white, black or bisque, but not stainless steel.

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If you don't care about snazzy modern design or a convection-oven feature, the Kenmore 96112 smoothtop range outperforms more expensive electric ranges in professional tests and gets good user reviews on Sears.com. It has… four burners, one of which is adjustable. It has a self-cleaning oven and large glass window, but that's pretty much it for features. Although the Kenmore range's features are basic, owners say it cooks well and the glass smoothtop is easy to clean and maintain. It's available in black, white, bisque and stainless steel (which costs a bit more). (check price at Sears)

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Coil-top electric ranges are losing the popularity race to smoothtop ranges. However, experts say a coil-top range can cook and bake just as well, though with fewer conveniences. The Hotpoint electric range offers upswept… burners and a lip around the edge of the cooktop to contain spills. It also has a storage drawer, self-cleaning oven, smallish oven window and interior light. It's available mainly at Home Depot and comes in white and bisque.

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If you want something nicer than a basic range, yet don't want to go overboard with a $1,800 premium oven, then reviewers say the Frigidaire Gallery GLGF386DS is an excellent value, and its look borrows some style lines… from more expensive pro-style ranges. The Frigidaire range performs well in professional tests, and owners like that it provides some features usually seen on costlier ranges. It has five sealed burners, continuous cast iron grates (helpful for sliding pots from one burner to another), a self-cleaning oven with convection (for better baking), and a large oven window. The one major feature it lacks is a warming drawer (it has a storage drawer instead). According to one large owner survey, Frigidaire is among the most reliable brands of freestanding ranges. This model comes in white, black, bisque and stainless steel (for about $100 more).

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The Electrolux EW30EF65GS outperforms every other electric range in two professional tests. Plus, it has the sleek, modern stainless-steel design that's touted in design magazines and home-improvement TV shows. Reviewers… say this range produces excellent results when broiling and using the cooktop, which rivals a gas cooktop for responsiveness. It has an easy-to-clean smoothtop finish, hidden bake element, electronic touch-screen controls, convection oven, temperature probe and lower mini-oven/warming drawer. Three of this model's five elements are expandable. You can get it in black or white instead of stainless, which will save you about $200.

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