Range Types
Most ranges are electric or gas. Induction ranges are a type of electric range. Pro-style ranges are either gas or dual-fuel, which means they pair a gas cooktop with an electric oven. But you might also find a few dual-fuel ranges that are not pro-style models. Here’s what you need to know about the main categories when buying a range.
Electric Smoothtop Ranges
Ranges with radiant electric smoothtops, which have electric heating elements hidden beneath a layer of flat glass, are a popular pick. All the models in our tests have at least one high-power burner. Most have expandable dual or triple elements that let you switch from a large high-power element to a small, lower-power element within it. Some ranges have a warming element in the center to keep side dishes warm.
A downside to radiant electric models is that they hold a lot of residual heat, so after reducing the temperature, burners will take a few minutes to settle at the lower setting.
Depending on where you live and how much money you earn, your new electric range might qualify for rebates, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
Induction Ranges
Induction ranges run on the same electric line as a regular electric range but use magnetic coils below the ceramic glass surface to send electromagnetic pulses that transfer energy directly to your cookware. Food on induction ranges boils faster and simmers more steadily, and any adjustment you make to a burner happens immediately because the elements themselves don’t get hot. If you’re transitioning from other types of cooking surfaces, consult our complete guide to induction cooking.
You’ll need magnetic cookware for an induction cooktop—but that’s not as difficult as it sounds. If a magnet strongly sticks to the bottom of a pot, the cookware will work with an induction range. You might already have some stainless steel or cast-iron cookware that’s induction-capable. Read our guide on determining whether cookware is induction-friendly, as well as our take on the best pots and pans for induction surfaces.
If you’re in the market for an induction range, read our summary of their pros and cons. Induction cooktops have typically been more expensive than conventional electric cooktops, but prices have come down recently. What’s more, the Inflation Reduction Act’s incentives for the purchase of electric ranges, including induction, could help drive down the cost further.
Gas Ranges
Because of the flame it emits with each burner, a gas range provides a level of sensory feedback that electric models just can’t match. Most gas ranges have four or five burners of different sizes, typically with at least one high-power burner and one simmer burner.
Response time with gas ranges is particularly quick, especially when compared with a radiant smoothtop. When you turn the knob from high to medium on a gas cooktop, the pot—and the food in it—experiences that change almost immediately. And with most gas burners, you can strike a match to light them when your power is out. But gas burners—even high-power ones—tend to be slower to bring water to a boil than electric smoothtops and induction cooktops.
Consumer Reports has undertaken testing to measure levels of potentially dangerous gases produced by gas ranges. In our evaluations, we’ve found that in some cases, these ranges can emit worrisome levels of nitrogen oxides, even with only a single burner in use. So when cooking with a gas range, make sure to create as much ventilation as possible by activating your range hood and opening windows and doors.
Pro-Style Ranges
Pro-style ranges in our ratings are either gas or dual-fuel, meaning they partner gas burners with an electric oven. They tend to be built with heavy-gauge stainless steel, well-insulated ovens, and continuous cast-iron cooking grates, but these luxurious features often come at a higher price.
Many regular ranges now offer features once unique to pro-style models, such as high-power burners, dedicated simmer burners, and convection, for a fraction of the price. In fact, the best gas and electric ranges in our ratings outperform the best pro-style models.
Some regular ranges may even offer more features than pro-style ones, according to CR’s range-testing engineer Tara Casaregola. “Even basic conveniences that you’d take for granted on a regular range, like a digital oven display or preheat light, are often missing on pro-style ranges," she says.
That being said, the best pro-style models are works of art. If that leaves you feeling empowered in the kitchen, a pro-style range might be a good option for you.
How to Choose a Range
Once you’ve decided on a range type, consider the following factors to zero in on a model that fits your floor plan and cooking needs.
Freestanding vs. Slide-In Ranges
Freestanding ranges are the most widely sold and easiest to install. The controls are on a panel at the far end of the range. Slide-in ranges slip in between cabinets and appliances to give a custom, built-in look. Controls sit at the front of the range, so your backsplash can be showcased. The sides might not come finished, though, so a slide-in range might not work well as a replacement for a freestanding unit.
Range Width
Most gas, electric, and induction ranges are 30 inches wide. But a pro-style range can come in a larger size—even as wide as 48 inches—if you custom-configure it with extra burners, an additional oven, or an integrated grill, griddle, or wok burner. (In our labs, we test 30-inch and 36-inch pro-style ranges.)
Oven Capacity
A roomy oven comes in handy when baking or entertaining. So assess the oven cavity in person if you can, or check the capacity scores in our range ratings. Note: We measure only the usable oven space, while some manufacturers advertise dimensions that include the space below the lowest rack position.
Single-Oven vs. Double-Oven Ranges
Many ranges now come in single- and double-oven configurations. Double-oven ranges often have a smaller oven on top and a larger one below. They’re great for baking or roasting two different foods at different temperatures. What’s more, you can activate just the smaller upper oven to save time on preheating for small items, like a pizza. But you’ll need to bend farther down to cook foods in the lower oven because the door for the larger oven is closer to the floor than that of a conventional oven. To explore other issues concerning double ovens (such as the absence of a storage drawer), see our guide on double-oven ranges.
Gas vs. Dual-Fuel Ranges
Some gas ranges are dual-fuel—they use gas for the cooktop and electric power for the oven. Electric ovens tend to be drier and more even in their heating. The downside is that you’ll need both a gas and a 240-volt power hookup because you’re using both systems at once.
Common Kitchen Range Features
Some models tout bells and whistles that can save time and boost convenience. But usually, the more features, the higher the price.
Air Fryer
Almost every major range brand now has at least one model with an air-fry setting. It usually engages multiple fans to circulate hot air, much like a countertop air fryer. Some brands also include (or sell) wire mesh cooking baskets to maximize circulation, which comes in particularly handy if you’re whipping up homemade fries.
Photo: LG
Control Lockout
This feature lets you disable the electronic range controls. We recommend it if the control panel is at the front of the range. These ranges are more likely to be accidentally turned on, especially if you have young children in the house.
Convection
More typically found in mid- and higher-priced ranges, convection usually reduces cooking time, especially for large roasts, by using one or more fans to circulate hot air in the oven. Some ovens—typically electric models—have an extra convection heating element so that the convection fan is circulating the hottest air possible for more even results.
Convertible Oven Space
Some ranges, notably those from Samsung, have the ability to add or remove a divider between the upper and lower ovens. Samsung calls this Flex Duo, and it gives you the additional flexibility to move between a really large baking space (for an enormous holiday roast) and a smaller one (for a single sheet of cookies).
Photo: Samsung
Expandable Elements, Bridge, and Oval Burner
On gas cooktops, oval burners accommodate griddles and elongated pans. As for electric range tops, some have an elongated bridge element spanning two burners to fit a griddle or other odd-shaped cookware. Most electric radiant and induction smoothtops have an expandable burner that lets you choose the best size for your pot’s diameter.
Hot-Surface Warning Lights
This light warns you when an element is still hot. That’s particularly useful on electric radiant smoothtops and induction ranges, which don’t emit a visible flame. (Although induction burners don’t get hot, touching an area where a hot pan was placed can still be dangerous.) Some ranges have a warning light for each burner; others have just one.
Variable Broil
Ovens with variable broil provide adjustable low and high settings for food that needs slower or faster cooking. Most electric and gas ovens have this feature, except for some entry-level models.
WiFi Connectivity
Most WiFi-connected ranges work with an app on your smartphone to let you check the oven temperature, set a timer, or (if your range comes with a temperature probe) check the internal temperature of whatever you’re cooking. With electric ranges, you can even preheat your oven via your phone or turn off your oven or burner remotely if you accidentally leave it on.
Photo: Whirlpool
Air Fryer
Almost every major range brand now has at least one model with an air-fry setting. It usually engages multiple fans to circulate hot air, much like a countertop air fryer. Some brands also include (or sell) wire mesh cooking baskets to maximize circulation, which comes in particularly handy if you’re whipping up homemade fries.
Photo: LG
Kitchen Range Brands
CR’s market analysts monitor developments across more than a dozen kitchen range brands, tracking where each brand’s appliances are sold.
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