Pro-Style Ranges 101
Congratulations, you’re about to shop for a new professional-style range. A professional-style range or “pro range” is a range modeled after what you might see in a restaurant or commercial setting. Yet, pro ranges are rated for residential use. They come in a wide range of sizes, colors, and configurations. There are many brands to choose from including Wolf, Thermador, and BlueStar, to name a few. Since there are many pro ranges out there, it’s important to narrow down your choices to find the best product for you. The purpose of this guide is to teach you all you need to know to enhance your shopping experience, and make a great purchase.
What is a professional-style range?
A professional-style range or “pro range” is a range modeled after what you might see in a restaurant or commercial setting. Pro ranges are more durable compared to regular residential stoves. They are available in a wide variety of different sizes. Many pro range brands offer multiple custom color, knob color, and burner configurations so you can find a product that best fits your needs and design. On the surface, pro ranges have large sturdy grates designed to hold large pots and pans. Gas and dual fuel pro ranges have large powerful gas burners, most ranges reaching temperatures over 20,000 BTUs. Many pro ranges also offer a simmer burner for more delicate meals and sauces. Pro ranges are sold as either single or double-oven models with many of the latest features including convection, Wi-Fi connectivity, and steam cooking, to name a few.
What sizes are available?
Pro style ranges come in a wide variety of sizes. When designing your kitchen, consider the size of your space and how you like to cook. Pro ranges come in 60-inch, 48-inch, 36-inch, 30-inch, and 24-inch widths. The most popular pro range sizes are 36'' and 48''. When selecting a size, make sure to consider how you like to cook, whether you like to entertain, and the size of your kitchen. Opting for a large 60-inch or 48-inch range could be a beautiful focal point in your new space. Make sure that your stove is proportional to the size and value of your home. Large sprawling kitchens look best with larger ranges, whereas small kitchens with limited storage space look best with smaller ranges.
Pro Tip: Since there’s no standard size range, it’s important to pick out your appliances first before ordering your cabinets.
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What brands make professional-style ranges?
Pro-style ranges have been around for decades. Thermador was first to the market, followed by Viking, and Wolf. Today the market has a wide range of brands including newcomers like Signature Kitchen Suite, Hestan, and Fulgor Milano.
Check Out the Full List of Pro Range Brands:
Pro Range Types: All-Gas, Dual-Fuel, and Induction
There are three types of professional-style ranges, all-gas, dual-fuel, and induction. Most professional-style range brands will make a variety of different fuel types. Your decision on what type of range to buy will likely come down to your cooking style, budget, and the available power source in your kitchen.
In the past, ranges either came as gas or electric. Cooking with a gas range was seen as the preferred cooking surface. A chef once said, there's something primitive and emotional about cooking over a flame. Gas burners can get very hot, and are easy to control. Electric ranges were known for even baking, and accurate oven temperatures. Dual-fuel ranges were designed to combine the best of both worlds, a gas cooking surface and electric oven. Recently, induction ranges have also become a top choice among luxury kitchen remodelers for safety, easy cleaning, and rapid heating.
All-Gas Ranges
All-gas ranges have a gas cooking surface, and a gas-powered oven. Pro ranges with gas ovens have a moist heat and are great for roasting and broiling. Many all-gas ranges feature an infrared broiler. Gas ranges are powered by a gas connection and a 110 V plug. Pro gas ranges are typically less expensive than dual fuel or induction pro ranges, but sometimes have fewer features. If self-cleaning is a must-have feature, make sure to double check the product specs as many all-gas pro ranges don't offer self-cleaning. For more info, check out the chart in the self-cleaning section below.
Dual-Fuel Ranges
Dual-fuel ranges have a gas cooking surface, and an electric-powered oven great for multi-rack baking. They are known to be the best of both worlds as you get the high heat and control of a gas cooking surface, and the consistent even temperature of an electric oven. Dual-fuel ranges tend to be more expensive than all-gas pro ranges, but they tend to have many luxury cooking features like soft-close doors, temperature probes, and in some cases, steam convection cooking.
Induction Ranges
Induction is a relatively new electric cooking technology that uses electromagnetism to create heat. Induction is the fastest cooking method, even faster than many leading pro gas burners. Induction is easy to control, you can go from a high heat down to a simmer instantaneously. Induction is very easy to keep clean. Since the glass surface does not get scorching hot like regular electric cooktops, you can simply wipe down your induction range after cooking to remove any splatter. Induction ranges are also the safest cooking surface. It’s impossible to accidentally turn an induction cooktop on without a pan. Induction cooktops have been around for the last decade. In the last five years there has been an increase in induction pro ranges.
Colorful Pro Ranges
If you're looking for a pop of color in your design, consider your range. Going with a color will make the cooking area a unique focal point in the kitchen. There are two types of color ranges. Most brands that offer a color offer a collection of pre-set colors to choose from like a white, black, red, blue, or yellow. Some brands however, give you more flexibility in that you can special order a custom shade of your choice.
Open Burner Ranges vs. Sealed Burner Ranges
Sealed burners are gas burners that are fully sealed to the cooking surface on the range. The flame on a sealed burner surrounds a burner cap. Most sealed power burners on a pro range can achieve hot temperatures between 18,000 up to 23,000 BTUs. Sealed burners are relatively easy to keep clean as spills and food is contained on the cooking surface.
Open burners are gas burners with a commercial inspired design. Open burners have an open base and rely on air to create additional heat. Open burners are a top choice among home cooks with a restaurant background. They deliver direct heat and can achieve temperatures up to 25,000 BTU. Open burners need to be cleaned periodically as food particles and spills can make their way into the open burner. Many open burner enthusiasts love the performance and find the extra cleaning keeps them accountable.
Top Configuration Options
Pro ranges provide opportunities for customization. 36-inch, 48-inch, and 60-inch professional-style ranges come with gas burners and many models have a built-in cooking zone that provides more versatility. Most brands offer a built-in grill or griddle. More recently, appliance manufacturers are getting more creative with built-in induction, French top, or even sous vide.
Oven Options
Pro ranges provide a wide range of oven options as well. It’s fair to assume that all pro ranges offer a convection mode. Convection ovens have a fan in the back to circulate air for more even heating. True convection ovens, also known as European convection ovens, have a third heating element behind the convection fan which provides very even heating and faster cooking. Some pro ranges offer an infrared broiler. An infrared broiler is the hottest kind of broiler for home cooking. Air and gas radiate through ceramic plates at extremely high temperatures directly cooking your food. In addition, there are a few luxurious features to consider when looking for a pro range. Many pro style ranges also offer soft-close doors, gliding oven racks, and a temperature probe.
Steam convection wall ovens have been trending for a few years. Select manufacturers started incorporating steam cooking into their pro ranges. Thermador, Signature Kitchen Suite, and Dacor offer a large double oven range where the smaller oven has steam cooking capabilities. Steam convection cooking is a healthy way to add moisture to meals, it’s also the best oven for reheating leftovers. Thermador Pro Grand Steam 48-inch and 60-inch ranges also come with a built-in warming drawer for added versatility. Signature Kitchen Suite and Dacor both make 36-inch ranges with a steam assist mode, great for breads and casseroles.
Self Cleaning Pro Ranges
Smart Wi-Fi Pro Ranges for your SmartHome
Smart ranges connect to your home Wi-Fi to deliver new possibilities. Smart appliances have been around for a few years and the technology is starting to gain popularity in the luxury appliance market. If you are looking to build a SmartHome, consider a range that is compatible with your home automation system. Guided cooking opens up a new range of possibilities.
Guided Cooking
In the past, some pro ranges offered specialty cooking modes built into the stove. These modes were a pre-set temperature and duration but did not account for confounding factors like portion size, or ingredients used. They essentially assumed that all "beef roast" dishes were the same, for example. Smart ranges with guided cooking afford you the opportunity to find recipes, tailor them to your family size, and can even account for dietary needs and preferences. Not only does the oven cook the food to perfection for you, but many smart appliances can even walk you through how to prepare the dish before you put it in the oven. Many of these smart ranges partner with third party culinary applications such as Innit, Drop, or Yummly so you can find recipes that work well for you and your family.
Service Troubleshooting
How does service troubleshooting work? In most cases, when your appliance breaks, you need to set up a service call. In order to fix your appliance a technician needs to stop by your home and diagnose the problem. They then order parts and set up a follow-up visit to fix the problem. Smart appliances with self-diagnostics simplify this process. Many smart appliances can self-identify issues and take the diagnostic visit out of the equation. This benefits both you, and the brand because with self-diagnostics, the process is more efficient.
Remote Control
Smart appliances can be operated from your phone, tablet, or smart speaker. Many smart appliances can be voice-controlled (through your smart speaker) for hands-free operation. You can also monitor the status of your smart appliances from your phone or tablet, giving you peace of mind. Many smart appliances will send you notifications with status updates, such as an open refrigerator door or an oven that is done preheating.
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