We got a 36" for our reno last year. Yes, there were plenty of times I wanted not only more than 4 burners, but more space between the burners. When I make chicken soup or tomato sauce, for example, I tend to make several large stockpots worth (and then freeze them in batches). I'd have two large pots front to back on my burners on my old 4-burner range, and the front pot would overhang the front burner, not the best situation.

Also, on holidays, I often ended up playing musical burners.

I would have liked to have ended up with an extra oven as well, but our kitchen size precluded that. To that end, I wish the Wolf oven was deeper inside to allow me to place my 1/2 sheet pans on the racks lengthwise. That would certainly help with spacing/staggering stuff in the oven.

Right now, in my current kitchen, I've got 4 burners and I absolutely need more. In a perfect world I would get 6, and a 48 inch range, without question. But space is the issue, and I'm settling for 5 burners (available on many cooktops) for the following reason: in addition to needing more burners I also have some oversize frypans and stockpots. Since I have to stay with a 36 inch cooktop, I'm concerned that when I'm using my largest pots and pans I won't get to use all 6 burners much of the time.

My suggestion is to take a couple of your biggest pans with you when you shop and put them on the stove to try them out. That's what I did. I'll be getting the Wolf 5 burner cooktop which has the knobs all in one corner, and so leaves me the entire 36 inch cooking area along the top row.

This probably isn't an issue for anyone getting a range or rangetop with the knobs in front - then you've got your full 36 inches on top. However, I want the shallow drawer that I can get just under the cooktop, which I could not with a range-top. Most important, I've got 5 young grandchildren (I'm about a generation ahead of you) and I simply want the knobs out of their reach.

We selected the 36" DCS AG range with 6 burners. We absolutely love the extra rangetop space for oversize pans and multiple cooks. The 36" oven can take FULL size sheet pans, not just half or 2/3 size (available at restaurant supply stores), & has great rolling racks, infrared broiler, & convection fan.

On the other hand, if you went with a 30" DCS range, you could do it now and it comes with 5 burners and 3 versions: dual-fuel, all gas, or all gas with self-cleaning oven. The oven will be smaller than the 36", but still be conventionally sized and should preheat faster. We do have a separate wall oven, which adds a lot of flexibility, & use it more than our big range oven; since most wall ovens are electric, we picked all gas for our range to have the best of both worlds.

We chose DCS over Wolf because it offers higher burner BTUs plus a great low simmer, & the rolling oven racks. The Wolf dual-fuel had rolling racks but not the gas version, and we didn't have to do any rewiring for gas. A DCS knob can't be turned by little ones until they're old enough to figure out that it must be pushed in first.

Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions and advice. I will definitely take a few of my pots and pans in to "test drive" - great idea! Since I have a little bit of time I think I will also take inventory of how often I really use 4 burners or wish I had the extra room. Right now, I typically only use 2 burners at once and on occasion have the oven going as well. I took a look at my pans and the largest I have is a half sheet, 18 x 13, a 12" saute, and regular size stock pot. So nothing super large and I'm the only one at the stove, unless it's my birthday or Mother's Day! so no sharing of space is needed there. What a fun decision I have to make! Thanks again for all the input. Would love to hear more!

You might consider magnetic induction burners. They're sold as cooktops or as a range. I have gas myself, but since you already have the 220 volt electric, and 3 little ones, you might enjoy the benefits of induction.

Here is a link that might be useful: Induction info

I have a 5 burner currently and in my new house remodel I bought a 48" 8 burner rangetop! I do T-Day in my house and it is almost impossible to deal with only 5 burners; you can NOT use them all at once b/c as people have mentioned, the space between is not big enough. (Also, my stupid range has one super large burner, TWO tiny simmer burners and only TWO regular, medium sized burners - dumb design! My new, pro-style rangetop will have all the same size burners and I can't wait to start using them!)

I didn't get a griddle or grill b/c we grill outside rain/snow or shine, and I have a wonderful All-Clad griddle pan that I can thoroughly wash in the sink and put away - I only use it about 3-4 times a month and while we were house hunting the stink from not-quite-clean-enough grill and griddles on the ranges was a complete turn-off.

So, my answer to your question is the more burners the merrier if you cook a lot!

And about your 2nd oven question; I too started out thinking I wanted double wall-ovens. After my GW education, I ended up with one 30" wall oven and one 120v Monogram Advantium (speedcooker, microwave, warming oven, convection oven, regular radiant heat oven all in one.)

You must have run across it during your lurking period, right?

smarge, doesn't immediately ring a bell but my search has recently been focused on ranges. I'm sure once the kitchen reno happens, wall ovens will become the next thing I obsess about!

I cooked on a 40 year old electric coil stove with 2 1/2 working burners for 15 years! Last week we installed a 4-burner gas stove. Now that I remind myself I can actually cook several things at the same time, I can definitely see that a 5th burner could be useful if I had it.

As far as your question about updating goes, of course it's your call. But why bother with an interim stove? Either stick with your old electric one for another couple of years, or treat yourself now to the one you really want. Cabinets can always be removed if you need more room for a bigger stove.

A last thought: are you definitely going with a Wolf? I ask because now that I finally have a gas stove (the burners have the typical ring shaped flames), I understand the benefit of star, or radially arranged flames. Every time I cook I think what a waste it is that the flames are only in one ring under the pot, when the whole bottom could be heated. It seems much smarter to heat the whole bottom. Granted, I've never used a star type burner, so it might not actually be more efficient. But it seems like it would be. Our burners bug me when I use small or medium sized pots. Even on the two small burners, I have to turn them down lower than I want them so the flames stay under the pots and aren't too wide.

egganddart, you bring up a good point regarding a star type burner, I've never used one either but as you said it would seem like it would be more efficient. Wolf is just what I've always had my heart set on but then again it's not set in stone and I am willing to look at all my options. I'm not sure if any of my local appliance stores carry the Bluestar line so that may limit me somewhat.

And I think you are right about not bothering with an interim stove, seems like a waste of money as I think about it more. Thanks everyone for your input, it's so great to hear different perspectives and advice.

Thermador and Castle, possibly others, also make star-shaped burners. My friends have a Castle, but I think it's a true restaurant range, ie., not necessarily insulated or modified for residential use. They do have it in their home kitchen, tho. I don't know anything about the quality of either of these brands, I'm just aware of their burner configuration.

I think the Castle was actually lower priced than the other pro-type ranges I've heard of, maybe because it really is made for commercial use. Again, not sure about this.

good luck!

I have had a 36" range with five burners since last June, and I have never used all five -- even at Thanksgiving! There was one time back in the days when I had only four burners when I could have used another burner, but I'm 47 years old and I'm thinking that if it's only happened once in my life, I don't really have a burning need for five.

I do like the extra space of the 36", though. I tend to cook big pots of things on weekends, and I can fit all four of my big pots on the stove at once.

I have the 4 burner 30" Wolf cooktop and have not found myself wanting more burners and I do cook a lot. Only problem I have found is accomodating 4 large pans/woks on the cooktop simultaneously. Having 6 burners would probably give me more options to accomodate my pots/pans/woks but I don't think I will use more than 3 to 4 burners at a time even then. I am still very happy with my 30" 4 burner cooktop, since I don't simultaneously use 4 large pans much and I don't have to clean any more burners than I have to.

My house came with a 6 burner commerical Wolf. The burners are HUGE,big enough for the really big pans and stock pots...LOVE that! If I could do it over again, I would have chosen a 4 burner with a center griddle option. But if a center griddle is not an option then 6 burners is great just to have the space for hot pans to rest on(to keep them hot, while waiting to serve, or reducing a sauce).

I have a 48inch 6 burner Bluestar with a grill and two ovens. I love having 6 burners. I don't use all six every day, but there have been several times when I have. Like everyone else has mentioned, I like the additional space on my cooktop. Also, I like being able to put 3 pots on the front burners even when I am only using 3 burners.

Two ovens was a must for me. Originally I wanted the 36" and a separate wall oven, but I couldn't configure my space in a way that I liked with it. I opted for the 48" with a big and small oven and a separate speed oven/microwave. I have a KA Ultima. I think the speed oven was overkill, but I got a good deal on it, so that is what I have.

I would forgo the interim oven. You will appreciate your new oven all the more. Save the $$ and put towards something else. There are many unanticipated costs in renovating. You will be glad not to have spent them on the interim oven.

alexamd, I, too, am looking at the 48" blue star and wanted to get a single wall oven, in addition. I have the room, but I could use the money somewhere else. I have always cooked with gas but though having an electric w.o. would be nice for baking, but thinking would I not use my range as much. This process is very stressful because you want to make the right decision

Believe me, I know. I had my heart set on a Miele Masterchef to go along with my Bluestar. I thought it was the best of all worlds. Unfortunately, I couldn't make the layout work properly. I thought that the wall oven would work in the island, but then I couldn't find a place for the microwave. I spent a long time with it. I even ordered the 36" and all but bought the wall oven when I realized it just wasn't going to work. All in all, I love my Bluestar and the 48" looks great in the kitchen, but I do "miss" not having the Miele oven.