Need advice on new oven
Hello all,
i'm in the process of buying a condo and kitchen updgrades are high on my list. I should also mention that I'm a relative amateur when it comes to breadbaking...I'm a huge fan of artisan bread but an absolute novice baker...so any and all tips are appreciated. In any case, I have a standard 30 inch space in my kitchen for a new electric range so an agha or other exotic european machine are off the list for now. What should I be looking for? My top candidate is a ge oven with two stoves, one large and one narrow. The latter would be perfect for proofing breads, baking pizza and so forth. Also, are there advantages or disadvantages to convection ovens?
Here's a link to a representative example of what I'm looking at: http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Cooktops%2C+Ranges+%26+Ovens&pid=02267513000&vertical=APPL&subcat=Freestanding+Ranges&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
Any and all help would be appreciated!!! =)
John
I should add that I'd like to spend less money on a stove than my example was listed at...it's just my aspirational target at this point. =)
I cook on one side of my Austrian kitchen, more like an island really. My oven 60cm wide (24")is waist high "on the wall" so there is no bending. My dishwasher is next to it and also elevated and I never regret making that decision! Mini Oven
Plannerjohn,
To me this seems like it's just to clever by half. The split oven takes away the drawer space below the oven which is a nice feature. Honestly I don't see the attraction of a separate pizza oven. I'm sure there are times when the upper unit could come in handy but I can't think of one off hand. You will be standing on your head every time you load or steam the oven. I would much rather a wall oven but if I couldn't fit a wall unit in just get a higher end 30 inch standard configuration (non convection) electric oven. Some of the better models have a feature where the top coils heat up to provide a more even (brick like) heat. Here is a link to a Meile which is a bit pricey but you only get one chance to dream about the oven you would of liked.
http://applianceshowroomonline.com/product.php?productid=16449&cat=315&page=1
Hope this helps.
Eric
We have a JennAir stove with double oven that is very similar to the GE model PlannerJohn is looking at. The second, smaller oven is definitely a benefit. It's a great size for cookies, muffins, pies, pizza, casseroles or anything else that is relatively shallow in depth. It beats heating up the larger oven (and kitchen) for baking smaller items. The other thing we like is the ability to use both ovens to bake two things at the same time that require different temperatures. That's a real plus for high-volume baking sessions, like holiday meals. And no, we don't miss having the drawer below. I will agree that the larger oven being at the lower elevation isn't as convenient as the oven location in a conventional stove, but not enough to make us regret choosing the stove. As a matter of fact, we're in the process of selling one house and buying another and the only thing we excluded was the stove! My wife is taking that one with her to the next house.
Depending on how fancy one wants to get, there are models with electric ovens and gas cooktops (my wife's choice), convection ovens, and so on. While more expensive than a standard one-oven stove, it costs way less than the single wall oven by Miele for $3,000--not that that wouldn't be nice to have.
PMcCool
Eric, I can but dream!!! At least the shipping is free, A
They have a steam injector wall unit that I lust for. Unfortunately it's out of my budget at the moment.
Eric
What a beautiful unit.
Thank you everyone for your comments.
Eric, that stove looks divine...unfortunately I'm not in a financial position to start tearing out my walls to install a nice oven lke that...at least not yet. ;-)
PMcCool, glad to hear you like your JennAir. We're looking at the configuration mostly from the same practicalities you are: convenience of not having to heat up a large oven for small items, and the ability to cook high volume or at two temperatures simultaneously. The low height doesn't bother me, I'm a taller fellow so I have to squat regeardless of the oven's position on the floor or 8 inches above it!
The search continues...
In addition to considering the cost of the product, check out delivery and installation fees as well.
I just took delivery of a new Whirlpool freestanding gas range with its Accubake oven last Saturday, purchased through Sears. I had shopped around, including at Lowes and Home Depot, and couldn't find as good a deal as Sears offered, not only with the price of the stove (it was on sale) but the delivery and installation wound up being free as they gave me a rebate coupon to cover those costs (normally $65). Plus another forty bucks off if I dropped off a few cans of food for our local food kitchen (I did) and a free haul away of my old stove.
Lowes charged a $110 delivery fee and said I'd have to hire an installer. I walked away and didn't look back. Never saw anything I liked at Home Depot, so didn't ask.
BTW, the Whirlpool is a joy and I was assured by their tech support that using steam in the baking process will not screw up the oven electronics.