Kitchen Range Features Worth Paying For (and Those You Can Skip)

Modern ranges come loaded with all sorts of features. Some are cutting-edge and transform the cooking experience, while others are gimmicky and probably not worth it. Then there's a third category—range features that might be great for you, assuming they match your cooking needs and style.

Now, you may be wondering how you'll know what you'll actually use. After all, human beings are notoriously bad at predicting what they'll like in new products. Saturday Night Live made fun of the first iPhone in 2007, and industry experts thought it would bomb. Today, 98% of Americans own a smartphone.

The good news is that kitchen ranges have been around a long time, and new features come about slowly. We've got a good idea of what's just a gimmick, what's good for certain types of chefs, and what every modern home chef should include on their list of deal breakers.

Let's dive in, so you can decide for yourself what's worth investing in.

Essential features that every home chef needs

If you love to cook and you're looking for a modern range, here are some features you won't want to live without.

High-quality burners and heating elements: Look for strong, consistent flame control (for gas cooktops) or precise electric output (for electric). This allows you to take the heat from a powerful sear to a gentle simmer.

In gas stoves, look for heat that ranges from 6,000 BTUs to greater than 12,000 BTUs. Hauslane ranges go up to 20,000 BTUs on the hottest burner's max setting.

LED knob design with precision knob control: This helps you fine-tune burner heat settings, and the LED knob design can light up to let you know that a burner is on. That way, you don't have to rely on noticing the blue flame. This is an excellent safety measure.

Reliable oven performance: Consistency matters more than maximum output. Look for even heating, responsive control, and predictable results. This is the foundation of good cooking.

Convection cooking: Convection ovens use a fan to move heat throughout the oven. It's ideal for roasting and multi-rack baking, and it cooks food faster and more evenly.

Telescopic racks: The latest in rack technology, telescopic racks let you take food out of the oven with one easy glide. They're not just convenient, they're also safer than ordinary racks.

Triple-paned glass: Multi-paned oven glass keeps the exterior of the oven window cool, protecting kids and pets from burns.

Overall durability: It's hard to assess durability online, since looks can be deceiving. However, if you purchase a range from a highly reputable company with a solid warranty plan, you'll be fine. After all, no reputable company offers a strong warranty on a flimsy product.

Hauslane offers a 5-year warranty on parts and labor, along with a limited lifetime warranty on burners. The industry standard is 2 years on parts and labor, with no lifetime warranty on burners. We offer that 5-year warranty because we're tremendously confident in the ranges we sell.

Excellent features (for the right chef)

The following features are worth paying for if they align with your needs and cooking style. Take the ones you like and add them to your list. If you'll use them, then they're definitely worth it.

Dual-fuel ranges: Dual-fuel ranges use gas to power the cooktop and electricity to power the oven. This is great for those who want the control that gas burners provide, along with the dry, even heat of an electric oven. Electric ovens are great for baking, while gas ovens work well for some types of roasting.

In many cases, dual-fuel ranges cost more. However, here at Hauslane, we don't charge any extra if you choose dual-fuel over gas. We just want you to find the range that works best for you.

Larger capacity: If you've got the space in your kitchen, choosing a larger range with extra burners will make throwing dinner parties much easier. It might be worth considering a larger range if you don't mind making the adjustments to your kitchen, but only if you think you'll use everything it has to offer.

Induction cooktops: Induction works differently than gas and traditional electric cooktops. It heats the cookware itself by creating resistance through an oscillating magnetic field. The cookware heats up incredibly fast, which may take some getting used to. However, if you're a fan of induction and you don't mind purchasing compatible cookware, then it might be worth it.

Features worth skipping

Here are some kitchen range features that might be worth skipping, unless you're sure you'll use them.

Smart connectivity: At this point, we see minimal real-world benefit to app control, Wi-Fi, and voice assistance on a kitchen range. It adds costs without improving cooking performance.

Warming drawers: Warming drawers are used to keep foods warm while waiting for other foods to finish cooking. It sounds like a good idea, but they take up space and add cost without adding much benefit. Most people just use the oven at a low temperature to keep food warm.

Built-in recipe programs: Built-in recipes with auto-cook presets don't get much use from home chefs, and they don't replace actual cooking knowledge.

Complex interfaces: Touch screens with excessive menus just make the range harder to use. At their core, the culinary arts are an analog experience, not a digital one. No need to complicate things.

The choice is yours

In the end, the choice is yours. If you're an occasional cook and you just want the bare bones, you could go with something even simpler than what we recommend. However, keep in mind that a modern range can protect your home's resale value.

Or maybe you like the idea of controlling the oven temperature from your smartphone while you're in the living room watching TV? If so, then by all means, get yourself an oven with smart connectivity.

Whatever you decide, think very clearly about your decision, because a good range is meant to last at least 5 to 10 years. Plus, a quality range is an essential part of the cooking experience. And the more you love your range, the more you'll use it.