36" Gas range recommendations? Wolf, BlueStar RCS or Cafe?

3 months ago

last modified: 3 months ago

Hey all, our 2006 Viking is kaput. Would cost $3700 to repair it (it needs new hinges, thermostat, and igniters for burners and oven). We have been looking at the Wolf, Blue Star and Cafe ovens. Prefer less electronic tech. . We cook a lot and bake regularly. Our Viking had a griddle and four burners. We use the griddle regularly too. It seems for every range that people praise there are a few reviews that warn you against. So far the pricing I've seen is the Cafe for $5700 from CostCo (with a 2 year warranty), Wolf is $7200 for the 6 burner ($8060 with the griddle) and would come with a 3 year warranty, and $5K for the RSC 36" Blue Star that has a 2 year warranty. It seems the open burners on the Blue Star are better for temp control (they have the star shape and the sealed ones don't - correct me if I'm wrong but it seems the star shape burners is a big part of what makes Blue Star special)- maybe a little harder to clean though comments are not consistent. We may have to forego the griddle option as they add so much expense.

I'm curious what any of your experience with these ranges might be?

and if any griddles you've used on top of burners have been decent?

Thanks,

Joan

We went with the Wolf with 6 burners. We nixed the griddle (as much as I really wanted it - it was just too costly when you can get one on top of the stove for a not much money). Also nixed the Cafe because of the electronics. I prefer less tech when it comes to appliances. One of the reasons we chose the Wolf was the 3 year warranty (if you use Wolf certified installation). We plan to live in Germany for two years starting in the fall and renting out our house. I was concerned that the BlueStar would be too difficult a stove (and would never get cleaned!) while we were gone. Also the 3 year warranty will cover it for the whole time we are gone which is a relief. The Blue Star is absolutely a work of art but I felt like Wolf has better reliability. Someday I might get my dream oven (48" BlueStar platinum or RNB with a door that matches the kitchen) but for now I feel incredibly fortunate to have a gorgeous, durable, reliable range coming that will help make me a better cook!

Here's the google doc I made with lots of the information I gathered: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dWPo2RsBCB7Ker_LcjeLqe5wclEjYE9KMT6-kfM-IV8/edit?usp=sharing

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Comments (9)

pennfire
3 months ago
We have a 36" with gridle, dual fuel Wolf range. 7 years old. I am very happy with it. The temperture control for the burners is fantastic. We don't use the gridle as much as I thought I would becuase of cleaning it but you already have one so you know what you are getting into.
Joan Stevens
Original Author
3 months ago
Thanks! The Wolf seems like a solid product but my hubs is reluctant to spend that kind of money. I appreciate you taking the time to let me know you are happy with your Wolf!
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The glowbar igniters are a really old and proven technology. You'll find it in lots of gas appliances (e.g. water heater, furnace, ovens, ...) as they are so safe. Whenever the thermostat calls for heat, it turns on the igniter. As a first approximation, a glowbar igniter is the same thing as an incandescent light bulb without the protective glass shell. It draws a couple of hundred watts and uses that to produce heat. Right next to the glowbar is a temperature activated gas valve. As long as no heat it produced (i.e. glowbar doesn't call for heat or glowbar is defective), no gas flows. This is very safe. But if the valve detects sufficient amounts of heat, it opens and gas flows over the glowbar and ignites. This is damn simple and there is very little that can fail catastrophically. So, it is inherently a safer design than using click igniters. Those are good for the stove top where a person can supervise the burners. But the oven has to work even when it cycles on/off without human intervention. The downside, of course, is that this glowbar behaves just like an incandescent bulb. Some bulbs live for decades, most live for a couple of years, and a small number dies within months. Same is true for glowbars. Nothing much you can do about it. Fortunately, they are cheap and standardized components. Every appliance manufacturer buys from the same factory. And yes, gas ovens always cycle on/off completely. There generally isn't a great way to modulate heat output. This is a noteworthy difference when compared to electric ovens, which frequently can keep constant temperatures much more easily. For many dishes, that doesn't actually matter. But there are some that do in fact cook much better in an electric oven. And I guess the reverse is true too.
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pennfire
3 months ago
I was also VERY reluctant to spend "Wolf" level money. My husband encouraged me to get what I wanted becuase I cook constantly.

I went back to the dealer three seperate times and talked to three different sales associates, who patiently answered all my many, many questions about Wolf, Viking and Blue Star ranges.

I eliminated Blue Star as the burners looked like a pain to clean. (I am not a tidy cook).

Because of the package savings, we went with Sub Zero/Wolf as I far prefered the Sub Zero product over Thermadore. Thankfully, I am really happy with the range.

I am happy to answer any questions.
opaone
3 months ago
With BS you should stick w/ the RNB. We had two Wolf's with griddles and in our new build went with a BS RNB w/ griddle. It's proven many times over to have been the right choice.

More: https://bamasotan.us/2020/12/the-kitchen/
Joan Stevens
Original Author
3 months ago
I didn’t ask about that line because it looks to be $12k and my hubs is already getting gives at $5k. It looks amazing though. Btw I’m also a bamasotan. My family is from Minnesota but my Dad was stationed in Huntsville AL and loved it so much he retired there. We used to spend summers in Huntsville and winters in MN (kind of backward 😜)
opaone
3 months ago
Not backwards at all. We've been known to travel from MN to northern Finland during the winter.
Joan Stevens
Original Author
3 months ago
Whoa! I just read your description of your kitchen. It sounds absolutely amazing- a real joy to cook in. The Blue Star RNB with a griddle and a blue door is my dream oven. I have champagne taste and beer funds though. Hubs is leaning towards just getting the Viking fixed. Seems an awful lot to spend on something with so few features.
Kendrah
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
I had a Blue Star - don't remember the kind but bottom of their lines. I really liked it. I'm a messy cook too and when food boils over or splats it just goes inside the stove on to a tray that you pull out and hose down in the sink. I like that feature a lot. It was also a piece of cake to pull the star shaped burner off and clean it on the counter or sink. (Though frankly my cleaning person did most of that work.)

I loved that there was nothing digital at all on it. When I had a problem during Covid lockdown I followed a youtube video, took a few things apart, and repaired it myself. I'm completely not handy at all and it was a really easy.
HU-16168550092
3 months ago
Very nice. Oh, and BTW, Bluestar also offers a less costly line of ranges, called RCS which can also be had with open burners. The BTUs on the burners are lower but not everyone needs enough firepower to launch a rocketship into space 🙄. Of course, some folks benefit from the higher BTU versions, especially those who do Wik stir frying or a lot of high temp meat searing. But for someone like myself, lower BTUs work, just beautifully and require lower CFM ventilation; so there’s that.

36" Gas range recommendations? Wolf, BlueStar RCS or Cafe?

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pennfire

Joan Stevens
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36" Gas range recommendations? Wolf, BlueStar RCS or Cafe?

Comments (9)

pennfire

Joan StevensOriginal Author

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pennfire

opaone

Joan StevensOriginal Author

opaone

Joan StevensOriginal Author

Kendrah

HU-16168550092

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CONNECT WITH US

Joan Stevens
Original Author

Joan Stevens
Original Author

Joan Stevens
Original Author