> Now we're remodeling our kitchen and are actually contemplating spending
> more money on a 6-burner-range-of-our-dreams than some people spend on
> an automobile. The problem is that unlike when you purchase a car, they
> don't let you test out the ranges in the store - I can't see how long it
> takes to boil a pot of water, or how evenly the oven bakes. Does anyone
> want to recommend any specific brands? We're looking the
> quasi-professional range, and are even considering one of those new
> dual-fuel ranges. BTW - it's gas or nothing on the cooktop. Anybody
> have a stove that they don't think we should buy? Do you love your
> stove? Tell us why - please - I just don't want to buy a dog and spend
> a whole lot of money on it.
When my husband and I had our house built 4-1/2 years ago, we had them
build it with nothing in the kitchen except the floor tile. After we
closed on the house, we had our own contractors come in and install all
the appliances, cupboards, and finish up the tile work on the
backsplashes, etc. We installed a Viking range (more about that below), a
KitchenAid wall oven, a Sub-Zero refrigerator/freezer, and a GE
dishwasher. I love my kitchen (and it gets used a LOT)!
To be more specific about your request, I have a 6-burner 36" Viking range
with thermal/convection oven. It is a full-size range that is built into
an island in our kitchen. For that reason, we have the Viking hood
installed over it and mounted from the ceiling. We chose the outside
venting option, so the fan is really QUIET and is hardly noticeable -- it
allows for people to have conversations and to hear the radio/TV without
any problems at all.
We also installed a KitchenAid Superba Selectra 30, a 30" wall oven with
thermal/convection oven (I wanted to find the widest oven available at the
time, but didn't opt for a professional model like the Viking). I use
both of them quite a lot (can you guess that I do a lot of cooking? heh),
and I love both of them. I don't know how I made my bread without
convection! I also love it for browning things like roast chicken,
casseroles, etc. I can turn the convection on/off on both ovens, so that
it bakes without that feature at any time.
After installing these ovens I carefully tested the temperature settings
several times over the first year. I found them to be very accurate, and
they've always baked perfectly for me. I've never had any problems with
odd "hot spots" in either oven, although I usually bake my breads in the
big Viking oven because I can fit a lot more in there at once. Since the
Viking is 36" wide, I can fit the big, professional-sized baking trays in
there, and I can fit many loaves of bread in the oven simultaneously as
well.
The only problem we've ever had with the Viking is the igniters not
working properly on the top burners. While I was cooking and the burners
were on the igniters (these are electronic igniters, designed to re-light
the flame if they should go out) would suddenly start snapping, trying to
re-light a flame that was already on! We discovered that there is a
control module that had become faulty and needed replacement. We had a
Viking repairman to the house to replace this control module, and he
tested the oven while he was here -- his tests confirmed that the oven was
running at proper temperatures. Although that single visit cost $100
(module was about $50-60, and the visit was the other $40), we learned how
to replace the igniters and the module ourselves. We replaced the module
again about 3 months after that, but have had no problems with it since
(about 2-1/2 years now).
The problem with the igniter control module is a common one, I understand.
In fact, after obtaining stories of other customer experiences through
the newsgroup rec.food.equipment, we wrote a letter to Viking and included
our experience along with all those other stories. They gave us a free
control module when it failed that second time, and told us that it was a
known problem.
As far as I know, that's the only recurring problem I've heard about for
the Viking stoves. Ours was purchased in 1994, so I don't know if the
problem still exists.
Despite the problem I described, it did not change my overall appreciation
of my stove! I love that Viking stove, and don't know how I ever survived
without it before!
HTH,
Joan
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