My new stove changed my life, and I’m not kidding. After a decade of constant struggle with an ancient Amana range (just like the ones Monty Hall used to give away in the 1970s on "Let’s Make a Deal!"), the final blow came on Thanksgiving. I put the lovingly stuffed 20-lb. turkey in the oven and set it at 325 degrees, only to find, after hours of basting and checking meat thermometers and fiddling with the dial, that for some inexplicable reason the oven wouldn’t work at any temperature lower than 350 degrees. So the turkey roasted, then cooled, then roasted, then cooled, and I spent several sleepless nights wondering if I’d poisoned my nearest and dearest with inadequately cooked poultry. I finally saved my dollars and bought a spanking new smoothtop electric range. It’s amazingly easy to clean, the electric elements do a great job on everything from high-temperature searing to low-temperature simmering and the oven is large enough to accommodate an entire holiday feast (and cook it at the right temperature!)As clichéd as it may sound, the kitchen stove is the heart of the home, especially during the holidays. More cooking appliances (including microwave ovens as well as ranges) are shipped out to retailers than any other major home appliance,
according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Manufacturers shipped more than 23 million cooking appliances in 2003, compared to 9.7 million refrigerators.
You can get more options than you’ve ever imagined in a new range, from a stove that actually keeps food cold then turns itself on and cooks it, to one that includes a microwave drawer as well as an oven. Prices begin at $400-$500 for a basic level range, $800-$1500 for midlevel models, and $1500 and up for premium or professional-style ranges. Features that used to be considered premium are now standard on many ranges, including smoothtops, sealed burners on gas cooktops, and self-cleaning ovens. Even stainless steel finishes, which continue to be in high demand, have dropped in price to as little as $150 more than plain black or white, says Christine Frietchen, managing editor of Consumersearch.com, a website that evaluates product reviews from a wide variety of sources (www.consumersearch.com)
If you’re in the market for a new range, you need to ask yourself some questions before you head to the store. Consider:
Is your kitchen currently plumbed for gas or electric? As much as you may long for the real flames of gas burners, it can be very expensive to run a gas line to your kitchen if there’s not one there already -- $400 or more, depending on the distance, BTUs needed, etc. Generally, your best bet is to go with whatever type appliance your kitchen is already set to handle.
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.hgtv.com/HGTV/2004/10/12/kmcleary_mug_e.jpg",350,450))