ers save time and bake things more evenly. Convection ovens cook with an electric heat source and use a fan built into the back of the oven to circulate hot air. That fan helps to evenly disperse the heat and is especially nice if you're baking food like cookies on more than one oven rack at the same time.
Because the unit uses moving air to cook the food, convection ovens cook food more quickly than conventional ovens, but convection ovens can dry food out.
A steam/convection oven gives you the best of both worlds, as it combines the speed and browning capability of a convection oven with the moisture of a steam oven. The convection part of the oven also prevents flavor transfer between racks, so you can bake muffins right along side a seafood casserole. There are also combination convection/ microwave ovens.
Dual-fuel ranges combine an electric oven with a natural gas or propane-powered rangetop in a single unit. These ranges are popular with home chefs who want the even heat of an electric oven without sacrificing the precision control of a gas burner.
Wall ovens: Adding a second wall oven is a popular upgrade, especially if you do a lot of baking. You can have a cooktop and double ovens, or you might choose a range and a single or double wall oven.
Wall ovens come in 24-, 27-, and 30-inch widths and can be either gas or electric. There are also convection and steam wall ovens.
A wall oven is usually smaller than a range oven—typically 3.5 cubic feet, as compared to the 5.0 cubic feet of a range oven. That smaller size is why many homeowners choose to get double wall ovens. For those without the space or budget for a double oven, a less expensive option is to look for a single, large wall oven with maximum interior space.
You can find good quality ranges, cooktops and ovens at any price point, but the more money you spend, the more bells and whistles and more options for finishes you get. Be realistic about the features you need and will actually use in an oven or range to keep yourself from wasting money on upgrades that sound good, but aren’t practical for your lifestyle.
You can get a very basic range for $500 - $1,000. You’ll be able to perform basic cooking functions, like baking and broiling, but your options for finishes are usually limited to black, white and bisque. Occasionally you can find a few stainless-steel models in this price range.
For $1,000- $3,000 you have more options in cooking modes, styles and finishes, including lots of stainless steel models.
For $3,000-$6,000 you can get some fancy options like dual-fuel power, slide-in design and convection fans.
$6,000-$10,000 gets you professional-style appliances. You can buy a range with all-stainless steel construction (not just a stainless steel finish on doors and control panels). This price range also has many larger models with more than 4 burners.
If you are looking for ranges in unique colors like blue or orange, and if you want built-in features like steam for baking, you’ll most likely have to invest $10,000 or more for a range.
Other fancy features that you can see in higher end ranges include:
Wireless connectivity which allows you to control and monitor your stove from your smartphone. For example, you can use your smartphone to begin to preheat your oven on your way home from work. There are also some newer models that can be controlled by Alexa, Amazon's voice-activated virtual assistant.
Temperature probes are like meat thermometers that are built into the wall of the oven. You can use them to monitor the internal temperature of meat as it cooks. The temperature displays on the control panel of your oven, so you don't have to open the oven door to see if your meat is done.
A Self cleaning mode which will cost you an extra $300 or so, but most people think not having to manually clean the oven several times a year is worth the added cost.
A Delayed bake mode which turns the oven on at a predetermined time, and a warm and hold mode that maintains a low oven temperature and allows you to come home to a hot meal.
Lastly, a quick word about v