Bosch Benchmark slide-in induction range
steph2000
9 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (14)
steph2000
9 years agoRelated Discussions
induction range dilemma
Comments (4)When it comes to stoves, cooktops and wall ovens GE has been among the most reliable appliance brands according the the annual membership surveys compiled by Consumer Reports. GE had some issues with dishwashers, but reliability has been improving. It was refrigerators where the company had (and contiues to have) a reputation for poor quality control and warranty service failings. For severa years, GE outsourced all of its refrigerator production and those had a truly abysmal defect rate (close to one in four needing service in the first five years of ownership). GE has "onshored" production of some fridges to its Kentucky plant and those, apparently, are more durable and reliable. The GE stoves have been a completely different story of class leading reliability and longevity. CR's membership experience for over a decade now have been showing the GE and Hotpoint electric ranges to have been the most reliable and among the best performing (at least by CR's lights.) . I really don't know where to find hard data on the Bosch electric ranges. Not enough CR members purchased Bosch electric ranges to generate what CR regarded as a statistically significant sample, so Bosch stoves didn't get listed in the survey reports. A couple of friends have had Bosch dual fuel ranges for five and six years without problems, but that's hardly data of any scope. You might check out the complaints on www.consumeraffairs.com and look for patterns. (IIRC, most f the complaints will be about washing machines and dishwashers with relatively few about the ranges.) BSH is a big company, and all big companies will generate some hundreds of complaints. The new Bosch Benchmark Induction Range has an interesting burner layout that may work well for some and not for others. It has touchpad controls on the cooktop surface which some like and others do not. I'm personally prejudiced against cooktop touchpads because of some bad experiences with cooking spills on older induction ranges with cooktop controls a decade or so ago. For me, there is also potential control issues that can turn up if you pull hot pans out of the oven and place them on your cooktop over the control panel. Other folks do not have this problem and they swear by the cooktop touchpad controls. It is really a YMMV thing. The Bosch has some very nice features including individual timers for the each of the burners. (AFAIK, it is the only induction range that offers this in the North American market). The oven may be a mite too small for some folks. If you regularly use two half sheet pans on a rack, I'd want to check it out it person to make sure that the convection fan housing doesn't impede this. BSH has been making induction appliances in Europe for decades now and some of the divisions (Gagenau) apparently have a good reputation for reliability but I have yet to find an solid data comparable to the CR membership surveys. (The data may well be out there for Europe or Australia, and I just have not found it yet. Maybe somebody else has?) If you like using a rectangular griddle(for pancakes, tortillas, etc.), check the Bosch owner's manual as they might prohibit burner spanning on this particular model. (IIRC, the new Benchmark induction cooktops are specifically set-up for this but the new Benchmark range is not.) If burner spanning is of interest, both the GE freestanding induction range (PHB920) and the slide-in (PHS920) permit spanning but you have to control each burner separately. If you can't lay hands on an actual Benchmark in a store, I'd suggest printing out a top view of the cooktop and then make a full scale drawing of the burner sizes and layout on a piece of newspaper. Pull out your pans and see how they fit onto the burner circles. To me, the Bosch layout would be preferable to the Whirlpool/Maytag induction range layout, but still would be problematic for the kind of entertaining and projects I do. (I often use three or four largish pans, but not everybody does or cares about this so YMMV.) One final thought: If you wind up having to choose a single oven induction range, then consider adding second oven capability with a countertop oven with either the Breville 800 Smart Oven (around $250) or the Cuisinart CSO-300 countertop combi-steam oven (around $300). Each seems to have a fairly devoted and impressed following as reflected in several threads here and at Chowhound. Although the countertop units eat some counter space (like toaster ovens), both seem very capable small units. One of them might be a workable alternative to the twin oven capacity you were looking at. This post was edited by JWVideo on Mon, May 5, 14 at 17:59...See MoreBosch Benchmark Slide-In Induction Range Review
Comments (181)I personally have never used the self clean feature. I'm too worried about the heat from that messing up the electronics (that's what people thought several years ago when I got mine; not sure if opinions have changed). I generally use some kind of pan to catch drips, so only rarely have things drip onto the oven floor, and for things like roasted chicken that may spatter grease all over, it seems to just bake off over the next times I'm using my oven. So, I can't tell you how the self clean works, but I can tell you that I haven't really ever felt the need for it, either....See MoreWhat to do? Jenn-Air induction range still not ready!
Comments (10)Well, sorry about your down sizing. I'm 73 now and we still live in our 2700 sq ft home that we bought new in 1975, No downsizing here, they will carry us outta this place "Feet First", (LOL). And in my garage sits a 1958 Chrysler New Yorker Convertible, Next to it is a 1959 Dodge convertible, and next to that is a 1964 Dodge "Muscle Car" that I bought brand new, 51 years ago, but I digress. I do find it strange, that they can't design kitchens for townhouses/Condos, that can accommodate a wall oven. I mean at our age, (or mine at least), the less stooping the better, and since a lotta folks when they reach their "senior years" downsize, Condos/townhouses should be designed with them in mind. Anyway, since you are "apparently stuck with a range", look for a range that has at least one fully gliding out rack as that will make the oven a lot easier to access that which is inside it. I'm sorry to hear about the Jenn-air, but I would take the time to look at the Electrolux, as it "most likely" has the racks I talked about above. I do think you made an excellent decision to go with induction. We've had our induction cooktop for 7 years now, and you want to know how many times we've had to scrub it in those 7 years? None, Zip Nada!!!! Add to that , the Safety factor, the speed, the controllability, You just can't beat Induction!!!! Good luck on your pending decision, but to be honest, I would still find a way to do a separate Cooktop & Wall oven, even if we had to go to a "smaller oven". Gary...See MoreBosch Benchmark or Miele Induction Range ????
Comments (3)Lots to like with the Miele but the $7k price really gives me pause. I might feel better about that if the price included a ten year warranty. It does not. Near as I can tell, this range seems to have the Industry standard 1 year warranty. My past experience with 10-setting induction burners is that the adjustments are not fine enough for things like pressure cooking and simmering, at least for me. Do note that the few owner reports here to date have ranged from pretty favorable to raves. However, for the money, I'd sure want to have a test drive before buying it. At half the price, the Bosch is still pretty darn expensive. I like the burner layout but I've been leery of cooktop touchpad controls. (That's a prejudice that carries over from some older generations of induction cookers, and the prejudice dies hard.) I'm also not sure if the control ergonomics would suit me. Again, I would want a test drive....See Moresteph2000
9 years agoswifty0802
9 years agoliveinseattle
9 years agodancingqueengw
9 years agogramarows
9 years agoliveinseattle
9 years agoNew Freedom Nurse
9 years agojwvideo
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNHow to Find the Right Range for Your Kitchen
Range style is mostly a matter of personal taste. This full course of possibilities can help you find the right appliance to match yours
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNDetermine the Right Appliance Layout for Your Kitchen
Kitchen work triangle got you running around in circles? Boiling over about where to put the range? This guide is for you
Full StoryKITCHEN APPLIANCESFind the Right Cooktop for Your Kitchen
For a kitchen setup with sizzle, deciding between gas and electric is only the first hurdle. This guide can help
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN9 Popular Stovetop Options — Plus Tips for Choosing the Right One
Pick a stovetop that fits your lifestyle and your kitchen style with this mini guide that covers all the basics
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA Cook’s 6 Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances
An avid home chef answers tricky questions about choosing the right oven, stovetop, vent hood and more
Full StoryTASTEMAKERSPro Chefs Dish on Kitchens: Michael Symon Shares His Tastes
What does an Iron Chef go for in kitchen layout, appliances and lighting? Find out here
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN8 Kitchen Design Tips for Foodies
If you own at least one pricey knife and have a slew of kitchen tools, you’ll want to read this
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNStandouts From the 2014 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
Check out the latest and greatest in sinks, ovens, countertop materials and more
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNNot a Big Cook? These Fun Kitchen Ideas Are for You
Would you rather sip wine and read than cook every night? Consider these kitchen amenities
Full StoryHOMES AROUND THE WORLDThe Kitchen of Tomorrow Is Already Here
A new Houzz survey reveals global kitchen trends with staying power
Full Story
hvtech42