Swapping a range for a cooktop and wall oven can be an appealing option. The look is sleek and modern plus you have some flexibility where you install the appliances. Place the wall oven at a height that works for you. Install the cooktop over a cabinet that stores pots and pans. But keep in mind that the cooktop and wall oven combination is typically more expensive than a range.
Size
Most cooktops are 30 or 36 inches wide, so that’s what we test. But you’ll find cooktops ranging from 21 to 48 inches. Some have five or even six burners, but that doesn’t mean you’ll have room to use them all at once.
Available wall oven widths are 24, 27, 30, and 36 inches. Wall ovens 30 inches wide are the most common and what Consumer Reports tests. If you’re replacing a wall oven it’s crucial that you measure the wall oven and the cabinet cutout. GE’s website offers step-by-step instructions, which includes removing the screws that secure the oven and pulling it forward an inch or two.
Fuel
Electric wall ovens are overwhelmingly the most popular type and what we test. For cooktops, both electric and gas are capable of delivering a fine performance. But you may find it easier to judge heat by the appearance of the gas flame, and when you turn the knob from high to medium on a gas model, the pot and the food in it experience that change almost immediately.
Electric elements tend to heat faster and maintain low heat better than gas burners. Electric induction cooktops use an electromagnetic field to directly heat pans, offering quick response and control. In our tests no other technology was faster than the fastest induction elements, but we're talking 2 to 4 minutes faster to bring 6 quarts of water to a near boil.
Capacity
There was a time when choosing a wall oven over a range meant you had to settle for a small oven without a self-cleaning feature. No longer. Manufacturers are finding ways to increase capacity in wall ovens, often now comparable to that in a range.
Of the single wall ovens we tested, usable capacity scores (which differ from the figure supplied by the manufacturer) range from fair to excellent. The smallest in our tests is about two cubic feet and the largest is over three cubic feet.
Choose from electric smoothtop, electric induction smoothtop, or gas. Each has its advantages.
Electric radiant smoothtops are the popular pick. All of the models we tested have at least one high-power burner. Most have expandable dual or triple elements that let you switch from a large, high-power element to a small, low-power element within it.
There is a lot of residual heat so when reducing the heat it can take a few minutes to really settle at the lower setting. Smoothtops do make it easy to clean up spills, but require a special cleaner, and dropped pots and sugary liquids can damage them.
Electric induction cooktops use magnetic coils below the ceramic glass surface to quickly generate heat directly to the pan, offering precise simmering and control. You'll see these models in our Ratings of electric cooktops.
Magnetic cookware is needed for induction to work. If a magnet strongly sticks to the bottom of a pot, it will work with an induction cooktop. Some stainless-steel cookware is induction-capable, and some isn’t.
If you prefer cooking with gas, we get it. The flame makes it easier to judge the heat, to get a feel for it, and to quickly move from a high setting to low.
Response time is particularly quick, especially when compared to a smoothtop. When you turn the knob from high to medium on a gas cooktop, the pot and the food in it experience that change almost immediately.
And with most gas burners you can strike a match to light them when your power is out. Dinner by candlelight. Not so bad.
Most sold are 30-inch wide electric models and that's what we test. They come with single or double ovens. With a model in mind, check the manufacturer's online manual or when shopping read it to find out exact cutout dimensions for the wall oven.
Some user reviews online complain that a wall oven’s cooling fan can make a loud noise. The manufacturers’ websites explain what is normal and what’s not. Check before you buy.
Make sure the controls are easy to see and reach, and that the door is at a height that prevents unnecessary bending.
Having two ovens lets you simultaneously prepare different foods at different temperatures.
The more features the higher the price. But some features really do boost safety and convenience.
Lets you disable the oven controls. Recommended for households with children.
It lets you select times for the oven to start and stop cooking, but there are very few foods you’d want to put in a cold oven and let sit until the delayed start.
On gas cooktops oval burners, shown above, accommodate griddles and elongated pans. Most smoothtops have an expandable burner that lets you choose the size burner that best matches the pot’s diameter. Some cooktops have an elongated bridge element that spans two burners to accommodate rectangular or odd-shaped cookware such as a griddle. (In some, one knob or touch control then operates both).
The first is a single door with hinges on one side. French door models have two doors that separate in the middle and open outward. Both types prevent you from having to reach over the door to retrieve that 30-pound turkey.
It's an important safety feature since the cooktop surface can remain hot long after an element has been turned off. Many smoothtops have at least one warning light. Ideally each element should have a separate warning light.
Many mid- and higher-priced wall ovens have one or more convection fans that circulate the hot air, which can reduce cooking time with some foods.
Most electric and some gas ovens have it. This feature offers adjustable settings for broiled foods that need slower or faster cooking, instead of only “on” (typically 500 degrees) or “off.”
