Gas Ranges

Best gas ranges

Gas ranges can use either natural gas or liquid propane to power the oven and cooktop, although natural gas is far more common. Many owners like gas cooktops because you can see the flame and adjust it instantaneously for precise temperature control. Gas ranges cost slightly more initially than electric ranges, but they are cheaper to operate. According to the editors of CNET, it costs roughly 9 cents more to power an electric oven for one hour at 350 degrees than a gas oven. Your cost savings may differ based on local utility rates, of course.

The LG LRG3095ST (*Est. $1,175) gas range is one of the top performers in a recent professional test. Reviewers rate it excellent for simmering and very good for baking and broiling. They find it only moderately quick at bringing water to a full boil, however, and its self-cleaning cycle is only average at burning off residue. Its extra-large 5.4-cubic-foot oven has seven rack positions and a convection feature (which uses an interior fan to circular hot air for even baking), and its five sealed cooktop burners range in maximum power from 5,000 to 17,000 Btu to handle a variety of cooking tasks. The digital control panel for the oven is on the backsplash rather than the front, making it less likely that the controls will be switched on or off by accident -- but just in case, the range also features a control lockout button. The LG LRG3095ST has a stainless-steel finish, but black and white versions are available for about $60 less. It is backed by a one-year warranty that covers parts and labor.

We found positive reviews for the LG LRG3095ST at HomeDepot.com. More than 25 owners give it an average rating of 4.9 stars out of 5, and 100 percent of the owners say they would recommend it. Users love the variety of burners on this range, and most say that it performs very well on every heat setting, although one or two find its high heat setting a bit lackluster. The convection oven is also very popular with users, as is the cheerful cobalt blue interior. The most common complaint about this range is that the alert sound on the timer is too quiet and can't be heard from another room. The LG brand as a whole comes in fifth out of 19 range and oven manufacturers rated in the J.D. Power and Associates' 2010 Home Appliance Study. Owners give it an average score of 783 points out of 1,000, compared to 765 points for the industry as a whole.

The Electrolux EW30GF65GS (*Est. $2300) gas range also performs well in professional tests. Like the LG LRG3095ST, this range includes five burners with a variety of power settings, up to what ConsumerGuide.com calls "a powerful searing/boiling/stir-frying maximum of 18,000 Btu."  At 5.1 cubic feet, its main oven is slightly smaller than that of the LG gas range, but it also includes a small second oven compartment, allowing it to cook two items at different temperatures simultaneously. (The second oven can also function as a warming drawer, keeping food warm without additional cooking.)  The Electrolux range also includes a convection oven and a slew of special settings, such as Perfect Turkey and bread-proofing (for allowing dough to rise). One of its more unusual features is the Wave-Touch control panel, which lights up only when the user touches it. The editors of ConsumerGuide.com say this makes the control panel very "understated," though they admit it "may take some getting used to." Like the LG range, the Electrolux stove has a one-year warranty.

Professional testers find the Electrolux range's performance in every category comparable to that of the LG stove, but as the ConsumerGuide.com reviewer notes, "what really sets EW30GF65GS apart from the competition is its attention to detail and overall quality." For instance, two of its three oven racks are Luxury-Glide racks with ball bearings to help them roll smoothly in and out of any of the five rack positions. Also, the Luxury-Hold oven door stays put in any position, rather than crashing open or shut on its hinges. Users on the Electrolux website agree, praising this range's many features and awarding it 4.8 stars out of 5 in roughly 30 reviews. Two features users especially like are the cooktop grate, which coves the full surface so that pans can slide easily from one burner to another, and a setting that can be preset to the user's favorite options. Their most common complaint is that the stainless-steel surface (the only finish available for this range) discolors and scratches easily. The Electrolux brand fares well in the J.D. Power and Associates survey, with an overall score of 790 points out of 1,000.

The GE Profile PGB910SEMSS (*Est. $1,250) is a top performer in one recent independent test. This freestanding range, which comes with a one-year warranty, features an oversized 5.4-cubic-foot oven with convection and five burners covered with a continuous cast-iron grate. There is one center oval burner that can be used with a griddle/grill attachment and one 17,000-Btu PowerBoil burner. Testing shows that the GE Profile gas range delivers excellent cooktop performance, especially on low heat, but its broiling performance and its self-cleaning feature are only so-so. User reviews for this model are scarce, but the GE Profile PGB910SEMSS gets a  4.8-star rating from 5 reviewers at HomeDepot.com.

Reviewers say they love the looks of this stainless-steel range and report that the oven bakes evenly and that the power burner boils water quickly. Ease of use is another plus. "Surprisingly simple to use for such a capable oven," writes one reviewer. However, one user comments that the burner caps chip easily and that the self-cleaning feature emits a lot of fumes. We also saw two complaints at Epinions.com that the oven door was installed improperly, which caused the oven knobs to get extremely hot. One user reported exchanging the range twice, only to get the same problem with each replacement. (A repairman eventually resolved the problem by adding spacers to the hinges, but the user still advises others to "proceed with caution" with this range.)

Another GE range that scores well in professional tests is the GE JGB800SEPSS (*Est. $1,150), which is recommended as the best budget gas range in Good Housekeeping. This range includes many of the same features as the more expensive PGB910SEMSS, including the continuous cast-iron grate, warming drawer, PowerBoil burner and reversible griddle/grill. Its 5-cubic-foot oven is slightly less spacious, however, and it doesn't include a convection feature. The editors of Good Housekeeping report that this range boils water quickly and maintains a nice steady simmer. However, we did not find any user reviews to back up these results. Also, its four-figure price tag may not strike some as much of a budget choice. The GE JGB800SEPSS has a stainless-steel finish, and black, white and bisque versions cost about $100 less. It has a one-year limited warranty.

Users looking for a truly inexpensive gas range may wish to consider the Hotpoint RGB745DEPWH (*Est. $475). Its 4.9-cubic-foot oven is quite adequate for a family of four, and it includes such basic features as sealed burners, a self-cleaning cycle and a 12,000-Btu power burner. However, it lacks many of the extras of pricier ranges; for instance, it has no warming drawer, convection oven or center oval burner. The four burners are covered by steel grates instead of more durable cast iron. This range is also available in bisque as the Hotpoint RGB745DEPCT; both versions are covered by a one-year warranty. No stainless steel or black version is available.

The Hotpoint RGB745DEPWH range receives about a dozen reviews from owners at Viewpoints.com, where it earns an average rating of 4.19 stars out of a possible 5. Most owners praise this range's cooking performance and say that it is easy to clean. However, a couple or owners say the grates discolor easily and the storage drawer tends to stick. In addition, this Hotpoint range is an unimpressive performer in a professional review, coming in at number 29 out of 37 gas ranges tested. Although it bakes very well, its cooktop performance is only average and its broiling is subpar. Hotpoint is also one of the lowest-rated brands in the J.D. Power and Associates survey, with an overall rating of 736 out of 1000 and low marks for reliability, features and style.