You might be debating between a cooktop and a range if you’re thinking about replacing your kitchen stove. So what is a kitchen range?
A kitchen range is a common, multifunctional kitchen appliance that combines an oven and a stovetop. The appliance you use in your kitchen for both baking and stovetop cooking is probably a kitchen range, even though you might refer to it as an oven or a stove.
Continue reading to find out more about various kitchen range types and how they can improve your cooking abilities.
Table of Contents
What is a Kitchen Range?
A cooktop, also known as a stovetop, and an oven are combined into a single appliance called a kitchen range, which can handle all of your cooking needs. On top of ranges, you can sear, sauté, or boil food, and inside, you can bake, broil, or roast it. They come in a variety of sizes and are available in gas, electric, dual fuel, freestanding, and slide-in models.
Also Read: How to Arrange Appliances on Kitchen Counter?
What Are the Different Types of Kitchen Ranges?
Any recipe can come to life with the right kitchen range, regardless of the exact words you use. With this concise breakdown, learn about all the various types of kitchen ranges.
1. Gas Kitchen Ranges
Gas ranges use an open flame on the cooktop as well as inside the oven to heat food. The responsiveness of gas heat is well known. Because using a gas cooktop is so hands-on and allows you to switch between different heat settings and cooking methods quickly, it is popular among home cooks.
2. Electric Kitchen Ranges
Electric ranges use heating elements on the cooktop and inside the oven to cook food. Consistent element cycling within the oven generates electric heat, promoting even cooking for foods like large batches of cookies or roast chicken. On electric ranges, the cooktops are frequently flat and smooth, which makes cleaning them a breeze.
3. Dual Fuel Ranges
With dual fuel ranges, you can benefit from both a gas stovetop and an electric oven. If you prefer the control and responsiveness of a gas cooktop but also desire the even, dry heat of an electric oven, a dual fuel range might be for you. While dryer heat encourages nice browning and crisping, even heat in the oven helps deliver consistently cooked results. Various sizes and configurations are available for dual fuel ranges.
4. Freestanding Ranges
Prioritize your fuel type before choosing a style, keeping in mind that both freestanding and slide-in ranges are available in gas, electric, and dual fuel options.
Freestanding ranges feature finished sides, which allows them to be installed standing alone, between cabinets, or at the edge of the counter with one side exposed. The wall behind the range is shielded from food and grease splatters by a backguard that is present in many models and is located where the oven controls are.
6. Commercial-style Ranges
Commercial-style ranges are restaurant-inspired ranges. They deliver a professional-style cooking experience at home by fusing high-end design and premium features. Wider widths are available than on standard ranges, and gas cooktops with high-BTU burner options and grill or griddle inserts are frequently included. Commercial styling includes large front control knobs, sturdy grates, and more finish options.
Read More:
What Should I Look for When Purchasing a Range?
Taking below factors into consideration.
Convection Cooking
For optimum heating when you’re cooking on multiple racks at once, convection ovens come with a fan that distributes hot air throughout the entire oven. Fast cooking is made possible by the third heating element found in some convection ovens, such as Maytag’s True Convection.
Gas Burner Btus Or Electric Element Wattage
British Thermal Units (BTUs) are used to rate the heat produced by gas burners, while watts are used to rate the heat produced by electric elements. Most ranges have burners or elements with varying degrees of heat output. Look for at least one burner with high numbers that indicate high heat, such as the Power™ Burner by Maytag which puts out from 15,000 up to 18,000 BTUs of heat energy, or the Power™ element with a maximum power of 3,000 watts.
Burner Or Element Size and Shape
Some ranges have burners or elements made for large or unusually shaped cookware. Look for ranges with dual or triple elements that you can adjust according to the width of the pot, like the Maytag® Long burners and elements for oblong cookware, like the Maytag Oval Burner or Bridge Element, are also popular.
Oven Capacity
With double oven ranges, you can cook all the family favorites with more space and flexibility. A double oven has two distinct cooking trays, each of which can be configured with a variety of settings, including convection cooking, different temperatures, and times. To make sure you still have room to cook large dishes, the lower oven is typically larger than the upper oven.
Read More: How to Replace Kitchen Faucet?
FAQs
Why is a Kitchen Range Called a Range?
Early ranges were so-called because they usually had more than one oven and usually at least two cooking spots on top, furnishing a “range” of places to cook.
What is a Kitchen Range Hood?
A kitchen hood, exhaust hood, extractor hood, or range hood is a device containing a mechanical fan that hangs above the stove or cooktop in the kitchen.
What is the Difference Between Range and Stove?
Stoves also have stove tops that are removable that is often used to support cooking appliances or for placing them on top of the stove during preparation.
A range is a stove with an oven and has a source of fuel which is either gas or electricity. It resembles an oven and stove all in one more than anything else.
Final Thoughts on Kitchen Range
I suppose you now have a clearer idea of what a range is. A good chance exists that you already have one in your kitchen, but you might eventually need to replace it.
And when you do, you’ll realize that what you really need is a dual fuel, professional-grade, stainless steel range with porcelain drip pans.
