Shop for stoves and ranges

One to two people:

You'll need 2 to 3 cubic feet of oven space.

Three to four people:

You'll need 3 to 4 cubic feet of oven space.

Four or more people:

You'll need more than 4 cubic feet of oven space.

Both:

High-power burners or elements: Good for quick boiling and other cooking tasks that require more heat such as quick boiling or searing. Most ranges have one or two high-power burners, and commercial-style ranges may have more.

Medium burners or elements: Good for all basic tasks.

Low or "simmer" burner or element: Good for slow cooking and simmering.

Gas:

Wok burner can be an option.

Grates: The pricier the range, the more heavy-duty the grates. Materials range from thin steel to porcelain-coated cast iron to brass as well as a weightier cast iron. Also, continuous grates allow you to slide a pot from one burner to another.

Electric:

Bridge element: This is an extra element that bridges one burner to another so that you can use griddles or other large pans with maximum efficiency.

Different-size elements: Accommodates round pans in many sizes.

Warning light: A light that lets you know when a burner is still hot, even though it has been turned off.

Self-cleaning cycle: Burns off oven residue and build up using high heat. Self-cleaning ovens also tend to have more insulation. Some models come with a self-cleaning countdown display.

Racks: Most ovens offer five or more oven rack positions.

Smart timers: Some models now offer programmable timing options, such as start cook and stop cook, to automatically turn off the oven when the timer buzzes.

Automatic door lock: Models may include an automatic lock for the self-cleaning cycle and some come with child locks, too.

Broil: Models may come with broil setting or high and low broil settings, for meats of different cuts.

Window: Many models now come with a large, clear window so you don't have to open the oven door and lose heat to check on your food.

Touchpad controls: Beyond the basic dial, models that come with touchpad controls allow more control over temperature and timer settings or for custom cooking options. Others allow you to save your favorite recipes.

Dehydration: Some models have a setting that allows you to dehydrate fruits and vegetables.

Sabbath mode: This feature keeps cooked foods warm on the Jewish Sabbath and holidays. For any host, this setting can also be a plus when you're hosting lots of guests and need to keep food warmed over a long period of time.

Warming drawer: This drawer warms food or you can use it for bread proofing (letting bread dough rise).

Internet or telephone remote control: Now you can use the Web or a phone to get dinner started. One model allows you to remotely access your oven from the Net or a landline or mobile phone. It works because the oven also doubles as a refrigerator and keeps your food fresh until you're ready to activate the oven remotely.

Touch screens: Flat-panel control screens throughout the house can enable you to control your oven via Microsoft Media Center Home Network.

Speedcook: This oven type is in the microwave family and can, for example, cook a turkey in 42 minutes. You can pick settings like bake, roast, broil, air crisp, dehydrate, or toast along with your preprogrammed recipes. Models can also include profiles (one model boasts 500) to automatically determine cook times and temperature.

Ventilation: Some models include downdraft ventilation that will suck up smoke, steam, and odors, eliminating the need for an overhead hood. Their effectiveness compared with over-the stove hoods, however, is debatable.

According to the Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, here is an energy cost comparison of ovens based on cooking an average casserole. It assumes the cost of gas is 60 cents a therm, and electricity is 8 cents a kWh: