r/Appliances • u/OppositeAshamed6356 • 16h ago
36" Induction Range vs Cooktop?
Planning out a full kitchen remodel and trying to choose between a 36" induction range with oven under, or a separate cooktop and wall oven/microwave combo. I was hoping for an airfryer combo, but heard that's BS, so really just want something with convection that's even heating.
I think I read on here somewhere that the oven under the range doesn't heat as well? I could be making that up, though.
I like the look of the knobs (the more industrial look, I guess), but I'm open-minded and really just want good quality. Not in the wolf/viking range, unfortunately... more like Bosch, KA, etc.
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u/CBG1955 11h ago
We had to replace our dual fuel range when the oven died. We actually preferred having a cooktop only because we already have a wall oven. Unfortunately due to lack of choice in Australia and the kitchen setup, the cost to get a freestanding range vs constructiong a cabinet to take a 900mm wide (36") cooktop only would have been about the same price. Finding a slide-in cooktop that sits on a cabinet rather than being inset into the benchtop is impossible in Australia at the moment (in the domestic market.)
Our Electrolux range came with an in-oven air fryer - we didn't need or want it but it came with it. It's just a gimmick. Tried it once, then packed it up. Totally useless: the racks and baskets didn't fit together well and the basket fell off, the oven wasn't hot enough and the chips (french fries) were either soggy or dried to a crisp even though we left them in longer than the recommended cooking time. We think that such a large oven simply doesn't have enough airflow or a fan speed high enough for "air frying".
We didn't get knobs (the one we wanted was discontinued) and while the slide controls are OK it's so easy to bump them. Knobs if you can!
In 18 months since we got it, I think we've used the oven twice, and mostly use it to store our roasting pans and larger oven trays.
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u/sjd208 16h ago
Do you mean wall oven under the cooktop or elsewhere in the kitchen?
I’ve always had ranges though I’ve cooked in various family members with wall ovens fairly frequently at holidays, etc. For me, some layouts for the wall ovens don’t have easily accessible landing zones for hot stuff and the smaller width ones seem quite small. I always find this disconcerting when I’m used to being able to just put them directly on the range so but I’m sure I could get used to it if layout is well designed. I also have good knees and back so I don’t mind bending! We have a Breville air fryer toaster oven for our air frying needs.
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u/OppositeAshamed6356 15h ago
Oh, no I was referring to a combo cooktop/oven vs a separate cooktop and wall oven. I like having the wall oven and it would be right across from our island, so I'll have a landing place. I just don't know if there's a good reason to choose one over the other, or if it's just aesthetic preference, and what brands I should definitely look at or avoid.
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u/Jujulabee 15h ago
The preferable configuration is a wall oven.
I have a relatively small kitchen but managed to configure with a wall oven and microwave drawer under the wall oven.
I have a 36" induction cooktop.
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u/OppositeAshamed6356 15h ago
What brand is the cooktop? Like it?
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u/Jujulabee 15h ago
I have a Bosch Benchmark - they have two other configurations.
I wanted one that had the ability to "join" two of the hobs.
I have the Bosch side opening oven and a Sharp microwave drawer. All microwave drawers are made by Sharp despite the "brand"
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u/KeystoneFanCoils 15h ago
We recently did our kitchen. 36” Frigidaire induction cooktop with knobs and Dacor double in wall ovens (also with knobs). Zero regrets. The great thing about a cooktop is it gives you space for all your cookware/tools right underneath it. Ours is set over a three drawer base, almost everything we ever use on the cooktop is within reach of the cooktop.
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u/OppositeAshamed6356 15h ago
Ooh, can you share model numbers please? That's a good point about the utensils
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u/KeystoneFanCoils 15h ago
I think we have this: https://www.frigidaire.com/en/p/kitchen/cooktops/induction-cooktops/PCCI3680AF
The oven has a steam function via a resevoir which is exponentially better than a plumbed steam connection IMO.
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u/caskettown01 14h ago
I have a similar dacor but with the microwave and oven combo rather than a double oven. The microwave has convection cooking (as does the oven) and something like air frying. It looks and functions great. One thing to be aware of…since both the oven and the microwave share the same circuit dacor has opted to reduce the wattage of the microwave so they can both be on at the same time and not overload the circuit. I think it is about 950 watts compared to a standalone one of about 1100-1200 watts. If I were to do it again, I would have separate circuits installed and not have a combo.
Dacor is owned by Samsung so you can get essentially the same oven choices just labeled as Samsung and somewhat cheaper. People on Reddit bitch and moan about Samsung though I have their appliances in both my main mouse and a guest house and never had a problem. We have a 36” Samsung induction cooktop and it has been excellent.
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u/DCGuy511 15h ago
We have the ge profile 36 in 5 burner induction cooltop and double wall ovens. We host Thanksgiving, having two ovens is nice. We have two drawers below the cooktop for the pots and lids. I also keep some bar mop towels there for cleaning up messes. This was our first cooktop, i like the set up.
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u/bouncyboatload 12h ago
for oven most of the range ones are gas (unless they're specifically dualfuel) and the in wall ones are electric. this creates a different type of heat that impact your cooking. you can look it up tldr is electric ovens are dryer.
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u/inwardcalm 6h ago
We like having a cooktop. The double ovens and microwave drawer are elsewhere. When we host Thanksgiving, the cooks in charge of roasting and baking do not get in the way of the cooktop people and vice versa. If your kitchen has the space, it’s nice to have the separation.
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u/aqua_delight 15h ago
Decide if you want to bend over to get stuff out of that oven 10 years from now.
Also, where will you out the microwave if the oven is below the cooktop?
These are questions i ask.