KBB - March 2010 - (Page 14)

T rends Powered Up Ranges are stepping up their game both on top and below A certain romance surrounds the idea of a home-cooked meal and thanks to outlets like the Food Network, its appeal has never seemed more obtainable and even exotic. But while more of us may be dining in nowadays, time and convenience often take precedence over our culinary ambitions. Fortunately, today’s ranges understand this quandary and offer features and functions that not only take the guesswork out of cooking, but do so with greater efﬁciency and style. Of course, as any foodie knows, temperature control is always key. For those who prefer the drama of gas, many commercial-style products have upped their ﬁrepower to 20,000-22,000 Btu to ensure the perfect sear or to accommodate wok cooking, which, said Gail Bruce, cooking expert at Whirlpool Corp., is part of a growing interest in ethnic cuisines. For simmering delicate sauces and melting chocolate, burners that can be turned down to low temperatures—though not new—are much more commonplace, as is convection cooking. And some makers have added steam to their ovens to boost cooking or to facilitate cleaning. budget and time. In addition, as consumers tend to use only the smaller upper oven for everyday meals, “it can use up to 50 percent less energy when compared with an oven on a full-size range,” Bruce noted. Those who truly desire energy efficiency, however, may want to look into induction technology, which is 90 percent efﬁcient, said Sue Bailey, director—major appliance product management at Viking Range Corp., and is no longer limited to drop- or slide-in cooktops. Although gas, electric and dual-fuel ranges still dominate the market, induction has gained some ground, especially as affordable models can be had for under $2,000. In fact, with prices continuing to fall, Bruce sees much promise in the technology and more companies may introduce products of their own. SLEEKER DESIGNS But what about looks? Although pro-style ranges continue to hold the upper hand, makers are also seeing an increased interest in sleeker designs that integrate better with the rest of the kitchen. Similarly, control panels are taking on a more discreet appearance with mirrored displays that reveal settings only when activated and “disappear when not in use,” said Bailey. For the upscale consumer, more companies are offering the ability to customize their ranges with different burner conﬁgurations, griddle and charbroiler options, as well as colors and design details. “We’re very focused on customization, as we feel that that’s where the high-end market is going,” said Keith Wolf, VP of marketing for BlueStar. Bruce agrees. “Customization will continue to be something we’ll pay close attention to,” she said. “Consumers want a variety of options to ﬁt their speciﬁc lifestyle.” After all, Bailey said, ranges are about “the emotional gratiﬁcation that comes from the act of preparing food.” s —Alice Liao SMARTS AND SIZE But beyond convection and steam, ranges and their ovens have acquired considerable electronic smarts to ease kitchen life and produce restaurant-quality results. Many already come with a robust program of preset cooking modes that reduce achieving the perfect roast, broil or bake to pushing a button. According to Robert McKechnie, manager— new product development for Electrolux, the latest ranges incorporate software that allows for a Sabbath mode, can store menu and “favorite” selections and, in some cases, wires the units for Smart Grid compatibility. Oven capacities are also expanding, with some as roomy as 5.3 cu. ft. on a 30-in. range. If double ovens are more your style but space is an issue, a 30-in. range with twin cavities is one option that saves on space, 14 + K BB March 2010 / www.kbbonline.com / The Ofﬁcial Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com July 2004 http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - March 2010

KBB - March 2010
Table of Contents
Editor’s Note
Online Content
Online News
Consumer
Trends
Products
Profile
Bright Outlook
Easy, Breezy, Beautiful
Education
Editorial Index
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - March 2010