The number of people in your household, your entertaining preferences, time spent cooking in the kitchen vs. eating out, and your family’s needs, are among the factors to consider when deciding upon the range features to include in your purchase.
There are many features that you can choose from when purchasing your kitchen range. Always, always, measure for size before you set out to buy your appliance. Measure cut-out space for proper fitting. Do you need gas(natural or liquid propane) or electric? Do you need a large capacity oven to accommodate more dishes? How will the range fit into your decor?
For households with young children, an important safety feature to have is a Control Lockout. This allows you to disable oven controls preventing active, and/or inquisitive children from turning on the range.
Some ovens feature a time/delay start. A countdown display, which lets you know how much time is left in the cycle, is another option. Keep in mind, however, that you should never leave your oven on unattended.
To prevent unnecessary burn accidents, a hot surface light feature is useful on smoothtops because it stays on while elements are still hot.
If you want to keep plates and food warm, a warming drawer is a wonderful feature to have.
A self-cleaning cycle nowadays is almost a must have. Who has time to clean and scrub the oven? High heat burns off grease residue in the oven. An auto safety lock prevents opening the oven door while it is still hot.
Look for raised edges around the cooktop which contains spills and makes cleanup much easier.
Some ranges come with electronic touchpads. Make sure they are placed in an appropriate spot so that they will not be activated by inadvertent contact.
Speeding up the cooking process is a great feature for busy households. Convection heating uses a fan to circulate hot air in the oven reducing cooking time. Trivection, a microwave feature, on pricier model electric ovens, speeds the cooking process.
If you stir fry or sear foods, having at least one high heat element or burner may be a good choice. To adjust for the size of food you cook as well as distance to the broiler element, consider the available oven rack positions.
The choices are many. The decision is yours. Asking questions and doing a little homework will make your shopping experience much more rewarding and successful.
