Best for Varied Heat Settings
This model has a cooktop with multiple burner sizes, including a central burner that can accommodate extra-large pots and skillets. It also features low-heat burners for simmering and high-heat burners for searing steaks. 36” Viking Designer Series, $1,650, vikingrange.com
Best for a Flat Countertop
Smooth ceramic cooktops have contemporary aesthetic appeal, and they’re a cinch to clean. Some people complain that they stay hot too long since they’re electric, so look for one with a light to indicate when it’s still warm. Miele, model KM5656, $1,399, miele.com for stores
Best for Speedy Boiling
Want to impress? Invest in an induction cooktop, which uses a magnetic field to generate heat. It boils water in seconds. Wolf 15” Induction Cooktop, $1,538, subzero.com
Best-for-your-budget Stainless
Stainless steel doesn’t have to be pricey -- this range has a gas cooktop and an AccuBake oven. Whirlpool, model SF362LXT, $749, whirlpool.com
Best Multitasker
Check out this cast-iron range that kicks up the heat: It has a simmering oven, roasting oven, and baking oven. Aga 3 Oven Cooker Gas Model, $11,375, aga-ranges.com
Best Retro Range
It’s the best of both worlds: a ’50s look with modern features, like a self-cleaning oven (you can even upgrade to convection) and a warming drawer. Northstar Ranges, $3,695, elmirastoveworks.com
Best for a Skinny Space
A number of manufacturers make a 24-inch-wide model, but this svelte gas range can fit in a 20-inch nook. Avanti, model DG200W, $650, avantiproducts.com
Best for Big Jobs
Meet a model that can handle even your heartiest cuisine, including an extra-large oven and a central burner, plus a 16,000 BTU burner for high heat. GE Profile, model PGB910SEMSS, $1,799, turbochef.com
[Nestperts] Skip Heinrich
, Merchant-Cooking The Home Depot; Audrey Reed-Granger, spokesperson for Whirlpool
-- Miles Stiverson
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