HomeThangs.com Has Released A Guide To The Pros And Cons Of Dual Fuel Ranges (And A Few Alternatives)
(PRWEB) July 20, 2013 -- HomeThangs.com – the Online Home Improvement Store has made their goal to deliver the right product to the consumer. With that in mind, shopping and home design tips, as well as special product selections are being introduced.
Gas stoves are the go-to for professional chefs, prized for their high heat and rapid response time. But gas ovens – especially older ones – are notorious for heating slowly and cooking unevenly. That’s why high-end manufacturers have started making kitchen ranges that combine the best of both worlds: a gas cooktop with an electric oven. HomeThangs.com has introduced a simple guide to the advantages and drawbacks of these dual fuel kitchen ranges, as well as a few less expensive alternatives.
Dual fuel ranges are more powerful and more reliable, but they have yet to really catch on for the simple reason that they can be a whole lot more expensive than more conventional models. Dual fuel ranges do twice the work, converting two different kinds of fuel into heat, and they have to do it in roughly the same amount of space as a standard kitchen range. The technology isn’t particularly new or exciting, but fitting it into a small space can be pricy – to the tune of as much as a couple thousand dollars added on to the price tag.
A three-to-six thousand dollar or more price tag is certainly nothing to scoff at, but if the price isn’t totally off-putting, it’s worth noting that dual fuel ranges offer more benefits than just “a less finicky oven.” In fact, many of the priciest dual fuel ranges are Italian imports outfitted with all the bells and whistles of a professional kitchen: dual-ring burners that offer more precise control, convection ovens that cook faster and more evenly while using less energy, fast preheating, self-cleaning functions, warming drawers, double ovens, built in range hoods, and a whole host of other luxury accessories and add-ons.
Before investing in a dual fuel kitchen range, it’s important to make sure the kitchen can support it. Not all gas ranges are positioned near electric hook ups and vice versa. Even in a house with both electric and gas power, depending on where they’re located it can be prohibitively expensive to run them to the location of the range. This won’t apply in some situations, and is less of a problem if the installation is part of a larger kitchen remodel, but should definitely be factored in to the total cost of the range.
If a dual fuel range is simply too expensive, there are alternatives that offer some of the same advantages. Modern gas ranges are much more reliable than they used to be – to the point that many consumer researchers insist the difference is negligible. For those having serious trouble with a gas oven, simply replacing it with a newer model might solve the problem. For those very concerned about even heating, consider opting for a gas convection oven, which uses fans to circulate the heat inside, cooking food faster and more evenly. These are a little pricier than a standard range, but much less expensive than most dual fuel ranges while offering similar cooking quality.
Having the consistency of an electric oven doesn’t have to mean sacrificing a powerful cooktop. In fact, many pro chefs are switching from gas to induction – a new type of cooktop powered by electricity. Induction cooktops look like ceramic-topped electric stoves, but instead of using electric heating coils, the electric current creates a magnetic field that heats pots and pans (and the food in them) while the cooktop itself remains cool to the touch. These use less energy and produce much less heat than conventional ranges, but have the same high heat and precise control of gas. As with any setup, this isn’t without its drawbacks – induction ranges are more expensive than conventional ones (though again usually less so than dual fuel) and only work with flat-bottomed magnetic cookware, but offer a nice compromise for an electric-only kitchen.
To find out more about these powerful alternatives to conventional kitchen ranges, read the full article here or check out more luxury ranges from Bertazzoni and EuroChef.
HomeThangs.com is not only a home improvement superstore, it also provides expert design tips and a comprehensive shopping guide, taking the ideas from professional interior designers, and offering tips to the consumers on how to pick the products to best suit their needs.
Tanya Tymoshuk, HomeThangs, http://www.homethangs.com, 1-866-278-0880, [email protected]
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