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Range, BTUs, and Propane Tanks

10 years ago

I've read as many threads as I can on pro-style ranges. I'm about to make my selection, and want opinions about a couple of questions I haven't really seen addressed in depth elseshwere.

I'm going to end up with a 36" dual fuel freestanding range- I like Blue Star or the Aga Legacy, but not quite sure what we'll go with pending availability, pricing, etc.

To be honest, I actually don't think I really need 22000 BTUs. Given that, I'm wondering if going with something with that much firepower (i.e. the Blue Star) is a bad idea because we live in the middle of nowhere and don't have a gas line. This thing will have to run off of our existing 100 gallon propane tank, which exists to support our emergency generator.

So, my questions:
1. Is there any reason to be concerned about running a gas range off a propane tank (a few other threads here suggest no)?
2. Does that answer change if the range is maxing out at around 15,000 BTUs (AGA) vs. 22,000 (Blue Star)?
3. Since I'm not doing a lot of intense stir frying, etc., I really think I can live without the BTUs. As much as I like the look of the Blue Star and its American manufacturing, what other options would you recommend as a less powerful machine? I can admit that I like the look/styling of the pro ranges- if only the "downmarket" options didn't have such a cheap look and feel--I really think the power of less expensive brands is more suitable to me, I just can't get over how cheap they look (and appear to be based on ratings). I know that's vain, but I want this thing to last and I don't want to hate seeing it for the next 15 years. I cook a lot, so quality and functionality are really important.

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Comments (3)

deeageaux
10 years ago
AGA Legacy is dual fuel only. Electric oven and gas(or propane) stovetop.

Blue Star only makes all gas(or propane) ranges not dual fuel.

Relative to 100 gallon propane tank the difference between 22k btu and 15btu or 7k btu is miniscule and irrelevant.

You can always turn down the Super Nova burner down to 15k btu but you can't turn up the Legacy burner up to 22k btu.

Nobody "NEEDS" a Bluestar nor an AGA Legacy.

Our grandmonthers managed to feed our families on 8-10k btu burners.

22k BTU burners can be very useful for techniques other than stir-frying. SautÃÂ©ing, searing, grilling, boiling large amounts of water, and quicker recover times. Dropping cold food into hot pans lowers the temperature of the oil and/or pan.

Deep frying for example. If you have oil at ideal 350 degrees and you drop cold chicken the temp of the oil drops and you are no longer "deep frying " but paraboiling. Instead of crisping the exterior the oil is seeping deep into the chicken meat. Gross. Powerful 22k btu burners help you to quickly get back up to 350.

In addition there is the differences in the evenness of heat between a traditional open burner and a sealed burner like the AGA Legacy. With sealed burners it will be hotter around the edges of the pan while open burners are a lot more even across the pan.

Cheaper options? American Range Performer Series(an open burner range made in Southern California) 36" starts at $5k and Bluestar makes the RCS with max 15k btu burners.

Cheaper you start looking at Mexican and Chinese made ranges like the Chinese NXR at $3200 for 36" propane model.

The cheaper American made ranges begin at a much lower price point, in other words cheap stuff.

This post was edited by deeageaux on Wed, Jul 3, 13 at 19:15
kaseki
10 years ago
The propane tank size is driven by two factors: (a) how long one needs it to supply fuel before it can be resupplied, and (b) how much surface area it presents internally to allow liquid propane to become gaseous at the temperature of the liquid in the tank. For generators, (b) may be the driving factor, and here in southern NH I require a 500 gal horizontal tank to supply my generator under the lowest likely temperature slightly underground.

If you want to be able to use the stove and the generator in an emergency (and I would), then the combined BTU requirements should drive the propane vapor generating capability and hence tank capacity.

The other related issue is that the higher BTU stoves require larger gas lines than wimpy stoves.

kas
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Hippy, propane is a liquid inside the tank. Doesn't matter if it's 1lb or 1000lbs, it's always a liquid. The pressure inside the tank, while it is full of liquid, is always the same in every tank as long as they are the same temperature. In the 50 or so degrees in my garage, the vapor pressure in the propane is 78 PSI. Doesn't matter if the tank is 1lb or 1000lbs, if it's 50 degrees, it's 78 PSI. Look up "propane vapor pressure" in google. If anything, I would guess it's getting LESS pressure with the adapter hose, because everything I hook up to it seems to have a slightly decreased output. That makes complete sense, because with any compressed gasses longer hose = less pressure. As for refilling the tanks, that's probably what I will be doing if I don't get the adapter to work. It is most definately safe and not illegal. If it was as dangerous as you make it sound credible companies like Mr. Heater would NOT be selling them to the general public. Of course coleman tries to trick you into thinking they are illegal to refill - they want you to throw it away and buy another! If you refill the tank before it is completely empty the pressure never changes, thus, there are no metal fatigue issues. Sure, they'll wear out eventually, but they will easily last 10 or more fills. Under no circumstances will I continue to pay $2.50 for a QUART of propane.
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Too late- we're committed! Hopefully, the house is sufficiently energy efficient that it won't be a big deal. Third gas company was a no show and the fourth was hilarious. He quoted $4,500 for the tank and when I told him he was at least $1,000 higher than his competitors he suddenly discovered a "typo" on his price list and reduced it to $3,100. I asked what brand of tank it was and I was told that it's "proprietary" to which I responded- Well if we're buying a tank, THEN do we get to find out? He very seriously told me at that point I'd be able to read the manufacturer off the side of the tank. These people crack me up. One more quote on Monday and I am putting this issue to bed. Someone today actually quoted $1.61/ gal which sounds pretty darn good to me! Thanks for all the feedback- keep it coming, please!
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I recall that there was a thread on a similar topic a few years ago that, ultimately, "degenerated" into links to monster propane cookers for tail-gating parties. However, a Google search using this site's URL and your subject wording may wake it from the dead. I question whether having such a unit so close to what appears to be an upper cabinet edge in your picture would meet code. My Cooktek 3.5 kW induction wok unit would fit in that space, I think, and be equivalent to somewhere around 30k BTU/hr heat equivalence. But while it can caramelize meat and have the responsiveness of gas, it won't have the 100k BTU/hr performance of a restaurant wok burner. kas
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llaatt22
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"Living in the middle of nowhere" suggests working backwards from service providers in the area to the products they commonly service. If the diners and small restaurants in the area get along with Garland or similar stoves they must have access to people who could keep a Blue Star doing its thing.

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