We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
From high-end picks with all the bells and whistles to budget options under $1,000. Electric Range Cookers
No matter what kind of range you’re interested in — whether it's a gas range, an electric range or an induction range — buying a new oven is a big investment for your home that requires investigation before purchase. At minimum, a high-performing gas range needs to offer quick and even results, be easy to operate and come with features that work for your lifestyle.
There are tons of options, and to help you make sense of it all, the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has extensively tested over 50 gas ranges in the last decade to find the best options.
Basic features aren’t that basic when you start to break them down: Do you want one oven or a double oven? Do you want gas-only heating, or do you want dual-fuel (that’s a gas range with an electric oven) for more even baking? Do you want/need bonus features like air frying capabilities, knobs that light up, steam functions or smartphone compatibility? We found that the best gas ranges have a balance between burner size and variety, bake and heat evenly, don’t sacrifice utility for bonus features and are worth the price tag, no matter the budget.
If you’re concerned about the risk that gas ranges may cause, our pros at the Good Housekeeping Institute and healthcare officials agree that there are many ways to reduce any inherent risks. You can check out our article on the potential gas stove regulations for more information on possible upcoming policy changes. (Don’t worry, no one is coming for your range; this would only apply to new models being made.)
Doing a full kitchen overhaul? Don’t miss our reviews of the best refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers, grills and luxury kitchen appliances.
This feature-loaded, 30-inch LG range has a spacious ProBake convection oven with added features like air fry, air sous vide and even a window that allows you to tap twice and see what's cooking inside without opening the door.
This range has easy-to-use (and see) knobs and a digital display on a slanted panel. We also like LG's "smart diagnosis" feature that transmits data via your phone directly to LG's Customer Information Center to troubleshoot without stress. Though, it did take a few tries to get connected to the app during testing.
In our testing, we found that the balanced cooktop provided even heat distribution, boiled water quickly and kept water at a constant simmer. Throw in an 18,500-BTU power burner, self-clean options and a reasonable price tag, and you've got yourself a great gas range for almost any kitchen.
This Maytag gas range is the best value for what it offers and you can get an even better price on it while it's on sale. This sleek fingerprint-resistant stainless steel range replaced a similar model that performed well in Lab testing but is now discontinued. The MGR6600PZ has weighted knobs and an updated handle. The stove top features five burners including a burner in the center perfect for oversized Dutch ovens or stovetop griddles.
We feel confident recommending the newer model by Maytag given that the previous gas range produced consistent results in testing. Water stayed at a consistent simmer on the stovetop, and bread browned evenly in the oven. We appreciate that it's self-cleaning and includes a keep warm setting so your sauce won't go cold while you finish boiling your pasta. You can also take advantage of broil temperatures that go from 350°F up to 500°F. However, we do wish that the model retained the air frying capabilities of the older range.
This professional choice is hard to beat for cooktop performance, and if you are looking for a workhorse, this is the range for you. It's a range that's often used in professional kitchens for its superior performance. Four star-shaped open gas burners allow for even heat distribution, and the burners excelled at simmering. That said, if you want a lot of precise temperature control, this isn't the range for you, since the knobs lack exact temperature markings. The oven excelled in browning baked goods evenly.
We tested this model, but BlueStar also lets you build your own dream range exactly to your preferred specifications with 750+ color, door, trim and knob options. You can choose between French tops, griddles, char-broilers and burner configuration: It's serious fun if you're serious about your cooking.
GE's smart connectivity is some of the best around, with the brand's SmartHQ Wi-Fi-based app allowing for remote control, monitoring and diagnostics while being compatible with Alexa and Google Home (and ChefConnect, which can pair a range with a compatible hood or microwave). This sleek range pairs these smart features with a true convection oven and some very high-powered burners.
In testing, we baked cookies alongside roasting garlic and because of the dual fan function, the cookies didn't pick up any garlicky taste.
The Whirlpool Freestanding Gas Range comes equipped with five sealed burners putting out 5,000 to 15,000 BTUs under its continuous cast iron grates. It excelled in our simmer testing, which means you can leave sauce warming on the stove as you continue cooking the rest of the meal without worrying that it will scorch. The burners also scored very well for even heat distribution, but with only one burner that reaches 15,000 BTUs, you might be stuck at the stove waiting for water to boil.
The oven controls are easy to navigate, but one tricky function was the broiler: It can be difficult to access since it's located at the bottom of the range in the drawer. This oven also lacks a convection mode.
In addition to having a super sleek design, this pro-style Miele range has oversized knobs and a large, easy-to-grip door pull that adds to its professional look. This was one of the few models we evaluated that excelled at broiling, rivaling an outdoor grill when it came to browning steaks.
The burners are very powerful, ranging from 12,500 BTUs all the way up to 19,500 BTUs, so you'll be able to quickly reach a boil in multiple pots at the same time. It's also outfitted with dishwasher-safe cast iron cooking grates, dual convection fans for fast baking and a top-notch self-clean cycle. This model continues to stand up against the competition, from its oven to its cooktop. Best part? It's backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal.
Air fryers have gained a lot of popularity — and probably some of your counter space. Take some of that space back with this Frigidaire gas range with air fry capabilities, one of the first models to introduce this feature. We found that the oven also boasts a speedy preheat, even for broiling, and a useful delayed start option.
We found that air frying does get a bit messy and smokey, but it crisped up chicken wings deliciously, and with four self-clean settings, clean-up isn't so terrible. This range's easy-to-read control panel and knobs take the guesswork out of cooking, but the cooktop and oven both performed only moderately well in our tests. It's still a solid choice, especially if you're an air-frying fanatic.
This dual-fuel smart range from Samsung combines the best of both worlds in more ways than one. In addition to having a gas cooktop and electric oven for more even baking, the oven itself divides into two sections, producing a faux-double oven. And if you're broiling halibut in the top half while baking shortbread cookies in the bottom, it won't make your cookies taste fishy. You can cook with a large single cavity (6.3 cu. ft.) or two smaller cavities (2.7 cu. ft. and 3.4 cu. ft.) with independently controlled temperatures.
In testing, we loved this range's easy-to-use, brightly-lit control dials and panel. Like other top models with air fry, we found the frying functionality works well but tends to produce more smell and smoke than traditional baking because of the fans.
If you're looking for a sleek, professional-style range with great performance, the Viking 36-inch Freestanding Dual Fuel Range is a quality option. This model comes in two configurations: the VDR5366B with six burners and the VDR5364G with four burners and a griddle top in the middle. We tested the six-burner model ranging from 12,500 to 18,500 BTUs, so it has the power to take you where you need to go. We found that even at a lower BTU, water came to a boil very quickly and kept a pretty consistent simmer over time. It also comes in 16 different colors so you can customize it to fit the look of your kitchen.
In our testing, we found that the self-cleaning function worked well, and it only needed light scrubbing and a wipe after the cycle finished. The grates fit over the individual burners, so the range is easy to clean too. The knobs are brightly lit and are labeled in a contrasting color, so they're very easy to read. There’s no audible cue to indicate when the oven is done preheating, however (though there is a blue light that turns on). There's also no digital interface, so if you’re looking for something with more smart-feature bells and whistles, this might not be the range for you.
We loved the Dacor 36-inch Smart Dual Fuel Range's easy-to-use control panel and intuitive interface, large knobs that are easy to grab and two roll-out racks in the oven. We thought it had a beautiful design that was very sleek and low to the ground, with brass covers for the burners. It has six burners ranging from 16,000 to 22,000 BTUs, so it also packs some serious power.
During testing, this range excelled at our oven heat distribution tests, evenly toasting bread on bake and broil settings. When testing the steam function, our salmon skin got nice and crispy while remaining very moist. We did find that while the self-clean function was not very noisy or smelly, it didn't clean as well as we had hoped and there are a lot of small crevices and grooves that make it tricky to clean.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab we're always testing new ranges, and we put some of the very best ones to the test. We've tested more than 80 ranges in recent years, including more than 50 gas ranges.
When testing stove tops, we test burners to see how quickly they can reach a boil and if they maintain a steady simmer over a set period of time, checking the temperature of the range’s surfaces as we go. To test the heat distribution of the burners, we coat a skillet in flour and put it on the heat, watching to see how evenly it browns (pictured here).
We run another series of tests on the ovens, toasting bread on a cookie sheet to determine where any hot spots are in the oven. We also test real-life situations by baking cookies (pictured) and cakes on bake and convection bake settings to test for evenness and doneness in different sectors of the oven, measuring how evenly the cakes rise (pictured below). The broiler function gets another toast test to check for hot spots, and we broil a steak to see how it browns up (or not). If there’s an air-fry feature we test it by making chicken wings, and if there’s a steam cook function, we cook salmon and check how the skin crisps up and if it dries out the fish.
We finish off the entire testing process with oven cleaning. We cover the interior of the oven with a mixture of household ingredients, bake it on and then run the self-cleaning cycle to see how well it pulls off all of the gunk.
As we go along, we also note the ease of use of the controls, handles, knobs, racks and more. Using a thermal gun, we take the temperature of touch points — like knobs and handles — while the oven and stovetop are running to ensure they remain safe to handle.
✔️ Type of Fuel: While most of the time your choice of fuel is dictated by what kind of fuel line is available in your house or building, if you have access to gas you can choose between a traditional gas range or a dual-fuel range. A traditional gas range uses gas to fuel both the cooktop and oven, while dual-fuel uses gas to fuel the cooktop and electricity to fuel the oven, though it does require a higher-volt power supply source. If you are able to install a dual-fuel range you will get the best of both worlds, a quick and powerful cooktop and an oven that bakes evenly.
✔️ Size: There are a variety of different range sizes to choose from. Most ranges vary from 30 inches wide to 60 inches wide. The larger the range, the more space there is for additional burners. The capacity of most household ovens varies from 4.5 cubic feet to 6.6 cubic feet. Any oven over the size of 6 cubic feet is considered a large-capacity oven and is great if you need to cook large quantities.
✔️ Burners: Most gas cooktops have between four and six burners, with five being the most common. While the number of burners is important, you should also consider the layout of the burners on the cooktop. Five cramped burners are no more useful than four well-spaced ones.
✔️ Grates: Gas cooktop grates come in a variety of styles, but the most important thing to look for is that the grates are continuous, meaning they cover the surface of the cooktop end-to-end to prevent gapping, tipping and shifting of pots and pans. You also want elevated grates that can be easily lifted to clean up messes. Most grates are cast iron, which is heavy and durable but harder to clean and risks scratching your cookware. Some grates are enameled cast iron, which is easier to clean but risks chipping.
✔️ Oven settings: Newer gas ranges offer more oven settings than ranges of the past. Newer settings range from air fry to convection to steam cook. While these settings will help you unlock new cooking techniques, they are not completely necessary to get great use of your oven. Air fry settings use convection fans to circulate air rapidly to achieve crispy ingredients. Convection circulates air less rapidly than air fry for quicker and more even browning on delicate bakes like cake or cookies. Steam cook incorporates moisture, requiring less oil in your baking, and it's great for delicate ingredients that are prone to drying out in the oven like broccoli or salmon.
✔️ Self-clean: Most ovens feature a self-cleaning option, which traditionally uses extremely high heat to remove the grime. Newer models feature a steam clean option to loosen dirt and baked-on messes. Steam cleaning is a much quicker process since it doesn't require as much heat and allows for a quicker cool-down time. But while it's quicker, it may not be as effective as the traditional high-heat self-cleaning method — and ultimately requires more elbow grease.
Recent conversations around the possibility of federal consumer safety regulators introducing new rules for oven and stove manufacturers might have you concerned about whether a gas range can cause poor air quality or lead to respiratory issues. While burning gas certainly affects indoor air pollution, gas ovens aren't likely to be the sole reason that you develop a respiratory issue, and our experts say there are ways to mitigate risks.
Exhaust hoods, or range hoods, can help dissipate nitrogen dioxide build-up in addition to smoke, odors and grease. You can also open windows to better assist range hoods that don't vent directly outdoors. If your kitchen doesn't have a range hood, make sure to open a window to allow fresh air to move through the space and consider investing in an air purifier. Regular maintenance of your gas oven and stovetop is also crucial to ensure that air pollution remains as minimal as possible while you cook. Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab recommend doing the following:
✔️ Turn vents or fans on before you start cooking. It takes time for high-speed fan settings to kick in, and smoke and other pollutants in the air simply hang suspended if the airflow isn't strong enough. Turning your vent or fan on before you begin cooking helps ensure this won't happen.
✔️ Keep your gas burner clean. Grease, splatter and other kitchen residue can easily build up on the gas burners on your stove top, which may delay or prevent the complete ignition of a burner. This could contribute to potential gas leakage over time, according to Kitchen Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou. Keeping your burners clean can help prevent this.
✔️ Replace fan filters and have vents serviced regularly. You can do this with the help of your oven's manufacturer. Replacing filters regularly ensures grease and other airborne pollutants are captured effectively, leaving less work for air purifiers elsewhere in your home. And if it's possible, work with a professional to ensure the filters and vents are properly maintained.
For more detailed information, check out our full article on the safety of gas ranges and the potential regulations that might be passed.
Eva Bleyer has tested all types of kitchen products, from blenders to kitchen scales. Eva conducted our latest side-by-side test of gas ranges for this guide.
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she oversees all of GH's kitchen and cooking appliance testing and reviews.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
The Best Bread Loaf Pans
The Best Kitchen Utensil Sets
The Best Small Air Fryers
17 Best Food Subscription Boxes of 2023
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Kitchen Gas Stove ©2023 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.