What To Consider When Buying a New Range

If you’re in the market for a new oven or range, you’re likely overwhelmed by the number of options available. Here are two basic questions to ask to help you narrow down the choices and find the right range for your needs.

Electric or Gas?

Before you even consider how to find oven installation Washington DC options, you need to know if you’re looking for an electric or gas range. This is the most basic question to get out of the way, and for many people it’s answered by looking at your hookups. If you don’t have a gas line, you’ll need to go for an electric range unless you want to undergo expensive updates to your home. If you do have a gas line, the main reason to choose that option is more even cooking and being able to use a greater range of cookware. Woks, for example, only work their best with a flame range.

In some cases you may be able to find a dual-fuel option that uses gas for the cooktop and electric power for the oven.

Smooth Top or Coil?

If you are going for an electric range, you’ll need to opt for either a coil or smooth top for the stove. Coils are the cheapest, but they are nearly impossible to keep level. The uneven heating coils provide makes it harder to cook food consistently.

Smooth tops heat the burner from underneath a glass-ceramic surface. They work more evenly than coils but are difficult to keep clean and prone to getting scratched.

For the best cooking and safest operation in a smooth top range, go for an induction cooktop. These generate heat via electromagnetic energy, so you need the right type of magnetic cookware or it won’t heat up at all.

These questions in addition to your budget will narrow your options down to a much simpler selection.