My stove is slowly dying...

**mommy4ever** · 08-09-2007, 09:53 AM

So I'm researching a replacement.

Dh said he requires the ceramic top..lol. Don't know why because he doesn't cook, but I'm in agreement. Now for ovens.

What is the difference between convection and conventional. I understand the convection has a fan circulating the air. But beyond that? We have a larger family, and during the week I'm cooking for 10 people. I bake extensively. Would the convection benefit us? The only reason I ask, is there is a convection for sale for only $50 more than the regular oven..lol.

Any insight greatly appreciated. I'm reluctant to part with my $$ right now, however, my oven is dying, not maintaining temp, and it is nearly 20 yo so not worth fixing again.

**YankeeMom** · 08-09-2007, 11:37 AM

I HATED my ceramic top. I have gas now & will never ever go back to electric. Even if I had to get electric, I would never get another glass-top. They are such a pain in the butt to clean. You can only use special products on them. They constantly get smeared/smudged. The black ones you see every speck of dust. You can't use certain cookware...shoot, even some foods you can't cook on them because if they splatter on the glass/ceramic, it could ruin it (like candy)

**Mom23boys** · 08-09-2007, 12:10 PM

I have heard the same thing about ceramic tops...they are hard to clean. DH's aunt has one and hates it. I wanted one too until she convinced me otherwise.

We are also looking for a new stove/oven as ours is about to die too.

**jamie79** · 08-09-2007, 12:28 PM

I would never buy ceramic top for all the reasons listed. I had a stove in my last house that needed replacing and I bought a G.E Spectra. Didnt cost a lot. 2 big burners, 2 small a 5 cubic ft oven and self cleaning. Cost us right around $400. Loves it.

**mommy4ever** · 08-09-2007, 12:28 PM

I know several people that love theirs, including mom. The trick is to wipe while still warm. I HATE my range top. HATE it.

I would go gas, but then we need to run the gas, plus iwth the cost of gas it's prohibitive.

So, anything about convection?

**YankeeMom** · 08-09-2007, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

I know several people that love theirs, including mom. The trick is to wipe while still warm. I HATE my range top. HATE it.

Actually, when you wipe it while it's still warm is when the smudges are the worst. It dries so fast you don't have time to clean it before it's dried on again. I've never had convection, so I can't comment on that

**Domestic Gal** · 08-09-2007, 03:09 PM

I have a smooth top and I would not trade it for anything. Mine is a white top. It is not that hard to clean in my opinion. I use the special cleaner and a sponge with the scrubber on it. I have had mine for 2 years and it still looks like new. No scratches at all. And I do cook on it daily.
I was told with the smooth top that to get the best results is to use pans that have the extra heavy bottoms. I have a set of reveareware pans that has the thick bottoms and have no problems. I rarely have an overflowing pan using these pans.

As for as the convection I have a regular convection wall oven as well as a regular oven with the fan in the back of the oven. Mine is called speed bake oven. I hate the speed bake oven it dries the food out.
But in my wall oven which is a convection oven I love it. I do a lot of baking and I can bake 3 pans of cookies at once. Makes your muffins more fluffy. cooks your food faster and you do not need the temperature as high as when baking with a regular oven.

I think that you are only getting the speed bake feature with the price being only $50 more. As a regular convection oven is $$$. My wall oven alone was retailed at $1500.

With the speed bake feature you are not getting the heating coil that is behind the fan that is in a regular convection oven. It is just pushing the air that is in the oven instead of pushing the heat from the coil in the convection

I just got the new consumer reports magazine in the mail today. They are rating appliances this month. So now is the time to check the ratings on the one you are looking at. If you do not get it head to the library.

Best buy ones listed are

Smooth Top
1. Kenmore 9641,9642 $750
2. GE profile JB968Tk $1550( This is the wall oven that is a convection that I have)
3. Frigidaire Gallery GLEF369D $700. (This is the stove that I have with Speed Bake)
4.Kenmore 9611,9612 $580
5. Maytag MER5752BA $550

Electric coil Models
1.Kenmore 9421 $530
2. Hotpoint RB757WH $350

That is all that is listed for the coil models.