Range, Oven and Stove: What’s the Difference?
An oven specifically is the enclosed area where you bake cakes, roast chicken and reheat a casserole. They’re typically installed in the wall or cabinets and can be combined with a cooktop nearby but are not sold together.
The terms range and stove can be used interchangeably and refer to the combination of an enclosed oven and a cooktop, all in one.
Things to Know Before You Buy
One of the first things you need to do is measure the opening where you want your new range to fit. This will help you immediately narrow down your options. The most common widths are 20, 24, 30 and 36 inches.
Determining whether your home is equipped for gas or electric is another crucial step in choosing the right range. If your home has gas lines, you can either opt for a gas range or a dual fuel range which has a gas cooktop and an electric oven. The benefit of having both fuel types is getting both the fast temperature response of a gas cooktop and the energy efficiency and even cooking that comes with an electric oven.
Slide-In vs. Free-Standing
Free-standing ranges have the most versatile options when it comes to installation. It can either be positioned between cabinets or on its own. You can get a freestanding range with controls either behind or in front of the burners.
A slide-in range is designed to sit flush with your cabinets for more of a custom, built-in look by eliminating any open space between your cabinets and the range. The controls are located on the front of the range to not distract from the backsplash and leaves room for things like a pot-filler.
Determine Which Features Matter Most
New ranges come with so many features it can be hard to keep up with them all. Some of the most popular and helpful ones are:
Double Oven
A double oven is great for cooking multiple items at different temperatures simultaneously. Perfect for those who love to host, whether it’s for the holidays or dinner parties with friends. A double oven will make your kitchen an efficient workhorse.
Air Fry
Similar to a convection oven in that it uses fans to push hot air around the oven, the difference with an air fry option is in the speed at which the air is circulated. This helps food cook faster and gives you that deep-fried crunch with hardly any oil. A range with an air fry feature is great for families since you can crisp up trays of chicken nuggets and fries in minutes. It’s also a delicious way to cook veggies, fish, or chicken.
Another big plus – there’s no preheating required.
Smart Features
A range that is Wi-Fi enabled will let you preheat from an app on your phone. You can also do things like adjust the cook time, turn off the oven and adjust the temperature. Some are even voice-enabled, meaning you can do all those same things via the virtual assistant of your choice.
Induction Range
An induction range is a type of electric range that uses electromagnetism to heat the food via a magnetic field right below the glass cooktop. The heat comes directly from the cookware. This means the cooktop doesn’t get hot and that any splattered food is easy to clean up since it won’t burn and stick. Pots of water will also boil faster and it makes simmering easier. Not all cookware work with an induction oven though. Use a magnet to test your pots – if it sticks to the underside of the pot, it’s a keeper.
Finish Options
While stainless steel still reigns supreme, there are more options than ever before. Besides black and white, you can get a range with a blue, red, cream and even green face. Let your range be a focal point in your kitchen’s design.
Once you decide on a new range, let one of our licensed professionals install it for you. We’ll even haul away your old one.
Buying a new appliance is a major purchase, so be sure to check out our special financing options too.