Big Box of Fire - A sturdy performer
Pros:
Simple basic technology which makes it easy to work on.
Cons:
Back splashes are an extra charge.
The Bottom Line:
An excellent product that should last a lifetime - leave it to the kids. Top quality as long as you know what you're getting.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
Having had a bad experience over the course of seven years with a Dacor Dual Fuel, I decided that a back to basics stove was needed. I looked at Wolf, DCS, BlueStar, Thermador and Viking plus a few more. In the end I decided on BlueStar and am glad I did.
This six burner range with a gas oven and broiler is the best thing I've ever had the pleasure of cooking on. Firstly, understand that this stove is the closest thing you can buy to a commercial range for the home. It has cast iron burner grates, burners and top. The oven is not controlled by a micro processor and there is no clock - a good thing. (Name the thing that shouldn't be in the following: Heat, moisture, grease, microprocessor). Secondly if you want a "bright, shiny super clean cooktop" look elsewhere. This stove is a tool and is for serious cooks.
The two 22K BTU burners give you a true restaurant sear on steaks, will heat a wok for a true stir fry and boil water in record time. The simmer burner will hold sauces at just the right temperature. The 15K BTU burners are just as useful.
The oven quickly reaches the requested temp and holds it well. I've baked cookies, meringues, chicken, bread, tarte tatin and ribs and never have had a failure. It is a big old box of fire.
One of the things that is ideal about this appliance is the ease with which it can be serviced, if required. Any service guy who is qualified to work on gas stoves can work on this. I've done some simple adjustments with just a Phillips screwdriver (one of the ignitors was not adjusted properly when I took delivery - five minutes with the screwdriver put that right). And despite the lack of a self-cleaning oven it's really easy to clean - the complete oven rack assembly comes out, leaving four bolts on the flat sidewalls so you can easily get at all the grease.
The lack of a clock or timer doesn't bother me at all. Kitchen timers are cheap as long as they're not connected to a stove. Remember if you've got bells and whistles they will eventually stop ringing and whistling.
My only quibble is that the stove produces so much heat that I have to run my exhaust hood whenever I cook.
I am completely delighted with this product.
US Appliance
