Best freestanding electric range? $500 price range.

14 years ago

My husband and I have shopped our local stores, and here are the choices we have... we could go to the next biggest town for other models, but we'd likely have to pay a delivery fee. With other major house expenses coming soon, and with the expected lifetime of stoves nowadays, I think we'd like to stay in the $500 range. So that means local and from this list. Any thoughts on which of these models are the most reliable are most welcome.

Kenmore: 9503 series

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02295039000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooking+Appliances&sName=Freestanding

Kenmore: 9600 series

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02296009000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooking+Appliances&sName=Freestanding

Kenmore: 9612\1 series

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02296119000P?vName=Appliances&cName=Cooking+Appliances&sName=Freestanding

Amana: AER5822VA

http://www.wikio.com/product/amana-aer5822vaw-181064.html

Whirlpool: WFE361LV

http://www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/WFE361LV.html

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Comments (11)

desertsteph
14 years ago
good question... I'll be watching the replies. I'll be looking for one next fall/winter I think. I could go higher but - always good to know opinions of the lower priced one - also. if any of these are good why spend more? I only use my hotplate a few times a week now anyway. I don't think I'll be increasing my cooking even if I have the option of 4 burners! lol!
bananastand
Original Author
14 years ago
Yeah, I was reading on the Consumer Reports forum and most people there say everything these days is pretty low quality, even more expensive ones. If it's not made to last, why waste an extra $200 or $300 I don't have?
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caroleannboyle-- Were you hoping that there would be a simple answer? No such luck. I think that there is more to consider than just an abstract choice between gas or electric --- or induction or dual fuel. For example, saying you are planning on a freestanding range implies you are not considering slide-in ranges. Slide-ins do tend to be more expensive that the freestanding versions. (The basic differences are that slide-ins will have all oven and burner controls in front with no backsplash/riser at the rear and many of them will have some overhang on the sides above the counters. Almost all major brand freestanding gas ranges and dual-fuel ranges have the burner controls down front and the oven controls on the backsplash/oven vent. Almost all electric ranges have all the controls on the backsplash. The exceptions being GE's "Artisan" line seems to put everything down front on the electric ranges as well as the gas ones.) Budget is also a consideration. Dan mentioned the Miele induction slide-in (Miele 1622i, I think) . it is a wonderful stove. If you had space limitations but no budget limitations, you might find it very interesting as an option for an electric range. But priced at $7k, it is well beyond the budgets of many of us. WIth a budget in the range of, say, $3k to $4k range, you could get a lot of discussion here (as has started) comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of say, the very sleek and spiffy looking Bosch HIIP054 slide-in induction range ($3100+) with a Blue-Star RCS pro-style gas stove ($3500 +/-) and maybe throwing something else into the mix like the GE Cafe electric, dual fuel and/or all-gas ranges ($2500 to $3000, depending.) Some of those who post here regard what they do with these kinds of stoves as "ordinary family cooking." Others might not. If you are planning on a stove budget of, say, $2k, the mix of tradeoffs and choices will change some. You may get different sets of pros and cons for choosing between the gas versus electric versus induction versus dual fuel ranges that are available in that price range. If you are planning on a $1k budget -- and I do not mean to suggest that there is anything wrong with that ---- some different considerations will apply. For one thing, we won't be talking induction ranges any more. The least expensive induction range that I know of is a Frigidare whose price fluctuates between $1300 and $1500 depending on when and from whom you buy it. In the $1k that price range, there still will be some tradeoffs between the gas stoves and electric stoves and those might or might no matter to you. Some other considerations. Do you live in a warm or hot climate. Will you have an externally venting range hood or OTR?
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Sorry, I just noticed you said electric in the title, I didn't read carefully enough. The main reason I was asking is that with gas, the KA will not let you use the surface burners with the power off unlike most other gas ranges. Since you're electric that's not an issue for you but I still like the GE better. I wouldn't worry about mixing brands, the stainless won't be different enough to cause an issue, and stainless often varies within the same brand anyhow since the appliances are usually made in different factories. How hard is your water? If it's at all hard and you don't have a water softener I would recommend buying a dishwasher with one built in. It's especially important nowadays with no more phosphates in the detergent. Yes it's expensive, but you'll notice the difference in performance, and the parts will hold up better over time. Have you considered Bosch for the dishwasher?
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I was just out a couple of days ago to our local appliance store. They've been here 50+ years so I trust them. I need/want to get all new appliances as I hope to sign up our contractor for a new kitchen next week. So I think I've narrowed it down to a GE freestanding range. Actually all of them are GE (we have a 20+ year old Frigidaire that still works great). It is a real self-clean oven which I must have. It also has a "steam clean" which I won't use. It's a convection range with no pre-heat air fry which I guess is the new thing???? (I cook mainly with my toaster oven lol). It's about $800.
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desertsteph
14 years ago
from reading on here it seems even the very expensive ones have lots of problems. that's one thing that changed me from getting a DW drawer to a KA 18". If I put that much money into a drawer and it has problems I'll be stuck w/o one. If I don't sink top dollar into it I'll have some put back to replace it and I also won't feel near as bad about it. Mine will probably break down from lack of use - lol! I don't imagine I'll run it more than twice a week.

i've rethought going for an induction burner or 2 w/ wall oven also. for what little cooking I do that's way too much money to spend.

even tho those you listed are in the lower range pricewise it's still a bunch of money to sink into an appliance to have it be a crappy unit or not last very long. I guess those making them are preplanning for future sales... but think of our landfills. ugh - it's so wasteful!
bananastand
Original Author
14 years ago
OK, so I'm thinking about the Amana range since it is the cheapest. $434 or so. I am following the other Amana thread with interest. Please share any thoughts here also. Thanks!
desertsteph
14 years ago
I would try to not buy the lowest priced from any maker. I'd go up in price a step or 2 if possible. If that version had the same things that I wanted. it will probably have a thing or 2 the lower priced one does not. I'm always leary of the one at the bottom of the rung.

you might post asking this over on the small house board also. Many over there don't have the finances or desire to put so much into their appliances or are not looking for new appliances so might not read this board anymore.
weedmeister
14 years ago
Check the ConsumerReports rankings. They're not bad in this regard.
turtleshope
14 years ago
I have the CR 2009 Kitchen buying guide in front of me ... they list the Kenmore 9612 as a "best buy" FWIW. Don't see ANY Amanas. The particular Whirlpool is not on the list; other Whirlpools are not highly ranked.
Good luck!
bananastand
Original Author
14 years ago
Turtleshope, thank you!! I was looking for the kitchen issue, and couldn't find it! What month was that? Thanks for the heads up on the Kenmore model!
desertsteph
14 years ago
i'll make a note of that in case i decide to go with a 30" rather than the 24" range! thx.
bananastand
Original Author
14 years ago
Agh, now they have a stainless version of that Whirlpool marked down to $430. The Consumer Reports recommended Kenmore is $500 on sale.

Save $70 and upgrade to stainless, not knowing quality?

Or go for the CR recommendation?
petererb
11 years ago
Amana offer great value for money. However I would go for the AER5523XAB rather than AER5822VA.

We also have an Amana washing machine which works very well for us.

Here is a link that might be useful: Amana 4.8 cu. ft. Self-Cleaning Electric Range, AER5523XAB

Best freestanding electric range? $500 price range.

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Best freestanding electric range? $500 price range.

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