Help with Kitchen - Rangetop, Oven, DW, Fridge

11 years ago

I'm trying to gather info on brands. It seems every brand has it's positives and negatives. I have a budget of about $13,500 and am looking for a 36" rangetop (5 or 6 burner), 30" double oven or single with convection microwave, drawer microwave if we do double oven, 36" french door counter-depth fridge, dishwasher, and undercounter beverage center.

What are your top 3 brands for each based on performance and reliability? Have looked at almost every brand it seems and could really use some help sorting through the mess. I'm not as concerned about brands matching as I am about getting reliable performance.

I would really appreciate any help and advice.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

SparklingWater
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
36" Gas Range Top
Open Burner: Capital Culinarian Series CGRT366 $3424
BlueStar RGTNB RGTNB366BV1 ~$3200
Sealed Burners:Wolf Srt366 6 Burners MRSP $3825*
Thermador Professional Series PCG366G $3099
Average: $3387

30" Electric Double Wall Ovens:
Electrolux Wave-Touch EW30EW65GS $3009
Thermador Masterpiece Series ME302JS $3999
Bosch 300 HBL350UC $2154
Average: $3084

30" Electric Single Wall Oven:
Electrolux ICON Professional E30SO75FPS $1999
Thermador Masterpiece ME301J $2699
Miele Classic Design H4884BPSS $4299
Bosch 800 HBL8750UC $3055
Average: $3013

30" Electric Single Wall Oven with Microwave:
Bosch 800 HBL8750UC $3055
Electrolux ICON Designer E30MC75JSS $3599
Thermador Masterpiece MEDMC301J $4299
Average: $3651

24" Drawer Microwave:
Sharp Insight Pro KB6524P $777
Wolf MWD242US MRSP $1690*
Thermador MD24JS $1499
Average: $1322

36" Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator:
Samsung RFG237AA $2899
Samsung RSG257AA $2199
KitchenAid Architect II KBFS20EV $1709
Whirlpool Gold GI0FSAXV $2695
Average: $2376

24" Dishwashers:
Bosch 500 SHE55M1 SS $895 http://www.retrevo.com/samples/Bosch-Dishwasher.html
Miele Futura Classic G4205SC $999
Miele Futura Crystal G5105SCSS $1399
KitchenAid Superba KUDE20IX $854
Average: $1037

24" Under Counter Refrigerator Center:
Subzero UC-24BG/O MSRP $2125*
Perlick C-Series HC24BB $2049
Electrolux IQ-Touch EI24BC65GS $1524
U Line 1000 1075BEVS00 $1179
Average: $1719

Variable Appliance Arrangements:

I. 36" Gas RangeTop Average: $3387
30" Electric Double Wall Ovens Average: $3084
24" Drawer Microwave Average: $1322
36" Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator Average: $2376
24" Dishwasher Average: $1037
24" Under Counter Refrigerator Center Average: $1719

Total $12,925.00 w/o tax, S&H, Install

II. 36" Gas RangeTop Average: $3387
30" Electric Single Wall Oven with Microwave $3651
36" Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator Average: $2376
24" Dishwasher Average: $1037
24" Under Counter Refrigerator Center Average: $1719

Total: $12,170.00 w/o tax, S&H, Install

III. 36" Gas RangeTop Average: $3387
30" Electric Single Wall Oven Average $3013
24" Drawer Microwave Average: $1322
36" Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator Average: $2376
24" Dishwasher Average: $1037
24" Under Counter Refrigerator Center Average: $1719

Total Average: $12,854.00 w/o tax, S&H, Install

References:

- The Least Serviced/Most Reliable Appliance Brands (Reviews/Ratings)
Posted by Steve Sheinkopf on Thu, Aug 23, 2012
http://blog.yaleappliance.com/bid/52334/KitchenAid-vs-Bosch-Dishwashers-

-The 5 Most Serviced/Least Reliable Appliance Brands
Posted by Steve Sheinkopf on Fri, Sep 14, 2012
http://blog.yaleappliance.com/bid/86397/The-5-Most-Serviced-Least-Reliable-

-The 4 Most Reliable Appliance Manufacturers
Posted by Steve Sheinkopf on Wed, May 25, 2011
http://blog.yaleappliance.com/bid/55677/The-4-Most-Reliable-Appliance-\

Prices as listed on AJMadison.com 10/16/12 except as marked *

-SW
newhousehelp123
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thank you so much. That's exactly what I was hoping to see, so that I can now narrow the lines down and start focusing on the finer features. One other thing I wanted to ask about is the hood. We are planning to put in a chimney cabinet with a built in hood. Do you recommend certain manufacturers for hoods?
Related Discussions
Help us choose -- Lacanche (Sully) or Wolf Rangetop/Double Ovens
Q
Comments (49)
"What would you say is the biggest difference between the gas or electric for the main oven" There are some very specific differences. Most people like their food to be browned because it adds flavor to what you are cooking. In order for food to be brown, the Maillard reaction must take place. In order for this to happen, need to evaporate water. I would look at what happens in either oven. In a gas oven, there is moisture released in the combustion of gas but because there is much more ventilation in a gas oven, it and the moisture from what you are cooking are ventilated out so you have superficial drying of your food which promotes browning. This will also add more heat to your kitchen. An electric oven is more of a closed system so will hold on to the humidity more. You can increase the superficial evaporation in an electric oven by increasing the heat or using the fan. In reading some marketing materials, Wolf and Capital, come to mind, they will state that gas is "moist heat". In the past that was the belief. That would be true of the flame but does not take into consideration the oven as a whole and the effect it has on what you are cooking. They also seem to think that the external moisture from the "moist heat" produces moist meat when it would have nothing to do with it. It is a function of the internal temperature. There are certain irreversible physiological changes to meat as the temperature rises which dictate the amount of moisture in meat fibers. Some also attribute crispiness to the moistness but again is is drying that produces that. On on the other hand, an electric oven can hold on to moisture which can be a benefit in baking because it promotes starch gelatinization. It can affect the amount of rise, browning and crust formation. This is why bread bakers add moisture at the beginning of baking and/ or use a cloche in a gas oven. The cloche is then removed or moisture allowed to escape and the drier environment promotes browning.
...See More
Fridge, DW, and Range hood help?
Q
Comments (0)
I am pretty sure we have selected the cabinets for our kitchen renovation and now I need to research appliances. I have decided to get the NXR 36" range. It seems to have good feedback on here. Although I don't live in a "pro range" neighborhood, I cook a lot and am always frustrated with having to move pots and pans around. This one seems like a happy medium, budget friendly and with a nice size. Now I need input for dishwasher, fridge and range hood. I have budgeted $3000 for fridge, $1000 for dishwasher and $1000 for range hood. I currently have a Whirlpool Gold SXS fridge that is a few years old but I am not happy with it. I get rock hard ice cream and frozen lettuce. If I change the settings, I get warm milk. I am looking for a FD large capacity French Door. I really liked the looks of both the LG and the Samsung but reviews on here don't seem promising. I like the idea of the 4 door fridge. No clue where to look start for dishwashers, I just want one the cleans well. Range hood, needs to be a minimum of 600cfms and I think it will go under the cabinets. My current set up is a microwave which vents outside. I would love some direction in this area and hopefully can narrow it down for Black Friday. Thanks so much!
...See More
Panels on DW, ovens, fridge, etc.
Q
Comments (27)
Adding a panel to the dishwasher would be the one thing I would change about our new kitchen. However, we had just purchased a really nice and expensive ASKO instainless steel when we moved in, so couldn't see replacing it. My reason is a little different, but might go along with your "period" kitchen. The reason is, the stainless steel right next to the apron sink, takes a little wow away from the sink. If it was only cabinetry, it would be a cleaner look and the Shaw sink would sing in all it's glory. However, when this dw dies, I will replace with fully integrated and have a door panel made to match my cabinets, no matter the cost. The frig is a frig and really large (42" SS) and I didn't feel the need to conceal it, it sits at the end of a cabinet run and is built in and looks just great. It isn't taking away from any other "feature" in the kitchen. By the way, I love the idea of the green-ish cabinets you described. They sound lovely and would be just that little bit different than the norm! I tend to like "a little different"! Good Luck!
...See More
Range/Rangetop/Oven Help
Q
Comments (8)
We were keen to treat ourselves to an all gas Wolf Range... I bought a Wolf 36'' rangetop (center griddle) and will have separate wall ovens. The reason that I shied away from the range was because of the 36'' oven (because it's so big). In hindsight, I could have gone with the range and a small (24 or 27'') single wall oven. The larger ovens usually take a long time to preheat and seem like a waste when you're baking only a 9 x 13 cake. As far as the Wolf range-top goes, I love it. Bought it four years ago and just got it installed in February. Mine is an open burner version that Wolf has discontinued. (I specifically wanted open burners.) The only time that I wish for a more powerful burner is when I stir-fry. For all other tasks, the Wolf burners are way more than adequate. I'm anxious to give it a go come canning season. I suspect that I wouldn't be happy with anything other than a commercial wok burner when it comes to stirfrying. Those puppies produce 90-125,000 BTU's, dwarfing anything put out by Wolf, BlueStar, Capital & company's burners. Went with Wolf because I found a good deal on this one at an appliance warehouse sale and because of Wolf's reputation for stellar customer service. And since Wolf is a Wisconsin company (I live in WI), I knew 'where they lived', so to speak, if I had any problems. As I expected, have had zero problems...not even a hiccup of a prob. Oh, I love the expanse of rangetop where I can fit my largest cooking vessels on front to back burners. I was sooooo frustrated w/ my old 30'' gas range using normal but largish pans that just wouldn't fit. Canning was just about a forgedaboutit on that thing but, somehow, I managed.
...See More
newhousehelp123
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Please review these recomendations and see if you think these are reasonable and if you would recomend any other alternatives. I have also included pricing given to see if it is reosonable. We have made some slight changes after speaking with kitchen designer.

36" Bluestar RCS Range - $3999
34" Vent-A-Hood Custom Insert, Dual Blower Array - $1,145
24" Wolf Convection, Steam Oven
Miele Crystal Dishwasher, Panel Ready - $1,399
Samsung RFG293HARS Standard Depth Fridge, recessed to counter-depth - unsure on pricing
24" U-Line Beverage Center, 1000 Series - $1,209

Specifically, what do you think about a steam/convection oven versus another 30" single oven from likely Electrolux. Also, what do you recommend as far as standard depth fridges are concerned. We have no need for through the door ice and water and have read they are the greatest cause of repair with a fridge. We saw the Samsung seemed to have positive review, but neither appliance place we are working with carry Samsung so we would need to order it elsewhere. They recommended KitchenAid, Bosch, or Electrolux. Lastly, the Vent-A-Hood is the "only hood" our dealer would recommend for a Bluestar range. Do you tend to agree or recommend something else?

Any help is greatly appreciated.
clinresga
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Re the VAH hood: be proactive. Do some research on this forum. In particular, search Vent a Hood. You'll see that the overall consensus is that they are overpriced, extremely noisy, and underperformers. There are many options that are IMHO clearly superior. I have long suspected that dealers must be getting some kind of kickback as your experience is all too common ("VAH is the ONLY hood we recommend!").

PS: I speak from experience--I own one.
chris401
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey newhousehelp, what did you end up going with? We are looking at similar options. Just curious. Thanks!

Help with Kitchen - Rangetop, Oven, DW, Fridge

Comments (5)

SparklingWater

newhousehelp123
Original Author

Related Discussions

newhousehelp123
Original Author

clinresga

chris401

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Help with Kitchen - Rangetop, Oven, DW, Fridge

Comments (5)

SparklingWater

newhousehelp123Original Author

Related Discussions

newhousehelp123Original Author

clinresga

chris401

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

newhousehelp123
Original Author

newhousehelp123
Original Author