Love this range

We bought this range December 2007 and I am very happy with it. It does everything I want it to do and more. When we started shopping for a new range, I knew exactly what I wanted: smooth top, self clean and convection. What really caught my attention about this range was the second oven in the warming drawer. The temperature goes up to 450F in there and has proven to be really handy, especially during the holidays.

I also really like the large burner that adjusts from 6" to 9" and 12". I have several large skillets that fit the 12" burner perfectly and the 6" size is perfect for the little sauce pans. I really like the bridged burners as well...handy when making turkey gravy in my large roasting pan. ;o) I love the look of the smooth top burners but learned very quickly that pot and pans absolutely HAVE to be smooth on the bottom. It also has a three temperature "keep warm" element that keeps food and beverages warm for a while.


One of the problems I have encountered with the smooth top is cleaning it. The CeramaBryte that comes with the range does a really good job at cleaning the smooth surface, but it takes a good 10 minutes of serious scrubbing and buffing to get it absolutely spotless. Right now I use the CeramaBryte a couple of times a week and when company is coming. Otherwise I just use soap and water to clean the smooth top and dry it well with a soft towel. I've learned to ignore the spots and smears. The other issues, and this one can be a real pain with the smooth top is that you're limited to the type of cookware you use. I accidentally scratched the surface soon after getting the range when I tried to use a skillet with a ridged bottom. Unfortunately the scratch won't come off. Another issue with the smooth top of this particular range model is that it would be nice to have another large burner available.

The oven is enormous and works extremely well. The oven temperature is even and constant. I love the convection, especially the option to multi-bake and single bake. Multibaking allows for all three racks to be used at once and it cooks evenly. The Convection roast feature is really handy as well because the broiler element is used along with the convection. I use that when I'm making a casserole and want the top to brown as it bakes. There is also a built in temperature probe which ensures that the food you're cooking comes out perfectly. There is also a keep warm feature to the oven that keeps food warm and a proofing feature that rises bread. The bottom elements are covered which makes cleaning up spills really easy and the self-clean works well. The racks are enamel covered and can be left in the oven when cleaning. The oven is generally quiet with the exception of a low hum from the convection fan...which runs even when you're preheating the oven for regular bake. Preheating is relatively quick.

The biggest issue I have with the oven is the racks. The owner's manual recommends applying some vegetable oil to the edges of the racks to ensure that they slide easily in the oven. The problem with that is that after one or two uses, the sides of the oven are smeared with burned on grease. It comes off in the self-clean process, but doesn't look good. When the racks are not covered with oil, they don't slide well and tend to get stuck...which often results in food being spilled all over the inside of the oven.

The controls are easy to use and the cook timer buzzer is sufficiently annoying to get your moving when the time is up. :o)

The second oven in the warming drawer works very well. Our biggest concern was the potential to damage the floor under the stove as the elements are below the drawer. I've used it several times at temperatures as high as 400F and have not noticed any damage to the floor, but it does get a little warm. It's not self-clean but the whole drawer insert comes out and washes well. The biggest problem I encountered is that it's not very tall. Last Christmas I baked a fruit cake in there and when I tried to get it out, the cake got stuck. I ended up shearing the top off the cake to get it out. Also, casseroles with lids may not fit...I use foil instead.

The stainless steel is easy to care for and resists a lot of fingerprints. I got a sample bottle of stainless steel cleaner with my stove, but I don't use it. Generally I just use a mixture of white vinegar and water and it cleans the surface to a nice shine.

Overall it's a great range and I'm enjoying using it.