Our kitchen is about to undergo a major transformation and we are looking to buy the best slide in range to fit the new design. Unfortunately the kitchen area is small so in order to maximize bench space we have decided that the slide in range was going to be the best way to go. Even though I would really prefer a built in range, this is simply not possible.



Slide in ranges are completely new to me as all my previous kitchens had built-ins. At first I was fairly dubious, but our designer convinced me that it was going to be the best option. Because we have to work around large windows there is not much space to incorporate a wall oven. Installing a slide in range saved sacrificing my precious bench space, and this is a big priority for me.

We have been informed by our kitchen designer that the best slide in ranges for our situation are the electric downdraft models. These are really neat because they remove the steam, grease and heat through special vents which are situated on the center of the cooking surface. Downdraft ventilation pulls the steam etc. downwards and then it is removed through special ducts which are situated either in the floor or in the cupboards. The electric downdraft models do away with the overhead ventilation hoods which I think is a great idea.

Our new kitchen is going to consist of a kitchen island which is where the slide in range will be installed. We don't want to have to install overhead ventilation here, so the electric downdraft model will suit perfectly. All the reviews that I've read say that people who have these types of slide in ranges are really happy with them. I have been a little concerned that they would really do the job of removing steam and grease well, but obviously they do.

The best slide in ranges are usually around $2,000 which includes the extra downdraft feature. We think the extra money is well worth it, particularly as the warranty is so good. This is usually for around five years and includes the electronic components as well as elements and the flat cook top.

There are plenty of other features of course in this particular slide in range, such as the convection oven and wipe-clean cooking surface. The oven sounds fantastic and it is going to take a while getting used to this type of cooking. Fortunately though it comes with an automatic conversion setting which should help prevent accidents. One really interesting feature is that it has a food-drying cycle which I'm really curious to try.

It seems that the Jenn-Air slide in range is considered to be one of the best around. From my research it also appears to be the only one that offers the downdraft feature. Even though it is on the expensive side it has rave reviews by customers, so the money is obviously very well spent. They do offer a dual-fuel model which we considered, but in the end the flat cook-top won. It is so much easier to keep clean.

Remodelling a kitchen is certainly proving to be an interesting experience. Choosing new appliances, bench-tops and of course the slide in range that we think offers the best choice, has been fun. Now the difficult part is being patient and waiting for the workman to get their job finished.