Need to chose a new 24" gas (propane, really) range. hope me!
January 7, 2024 9:47 AM Subscribe
Do you have a small (24") gas or propane stove/oven in your kitchen? What model? Is it powerful enough? Especially would like to hear from people who are using propane since sometimes natural gas-->propane conversions lead to burners being less powerful.
I have used various low end small gas ranges in NYC rentals for years. I love to cook, and have never felt hampered by the btu of the burners.
Have you had a previous experience that left your feeling like the stove itself couldn't put out enough heat?
Propane has something like double the energy per cubic foot of gas over natural gas, so you shouldn't have an issue with either.
All this to say, I think just get something that you like the look of and fits your budget. Double check it doesn't have some weirdly small btu output (I think the range on my current Hotpoint is 5,000-13,000 for the burners) and make sure it's plumbed correctly, though I can barely imagine a scenario where the input line is the limiting factor.
posted by jellywerker at 10:03 AM on January 7
Have you had a previous experience that left your feeling like the stove itself couldn't put out enough heat?
Propane has something like double the energy per cubic foot of gas over natural gas, so you shouldn't have an issue with either.
All this to say, I think just get something that you like the look of and fits your budget. Double check it doesn't have some weirdly small btu output (I think the range on my current Hotpoint is 5,000-13,000 for the burners) and make sure it's plumbed correctly, though I can barely imagine a scenario where the input line is the limiting factor.
posted by jellywerker at 10:03 AM on January 7
Crap, missed the edit window.
This is just to say - they don't usually use different components in various widths of ranges and stuff. The burners on a 32in range are likely the exact same as those on a 24in.
posted by jellywerker at 10:10 AM on January 7
This is just to say - they don't usually use different components in various widths of ranges and stuff. The burners on a 32in range are likely the exact same as those on a 24in.
posted by jellywerker at 10:10 AM on January 7
Response by poster: Have you had a previous experience that left your feeling like the stove itself couldn't put out enough heat?
I don't want to thread-sit but:
Yes, I've had endless problems with my current low-end range. I've done a fair bit of reading and comparing specs on different models at this point and now want to round that out with hearing personal experiences.
Also it is not a simple issue of energy per volume because propane and natural gas aren't (or shouldn't be) used at the same pressure or with the same orifice size. Per an appliance tech I spoke to, a (correctly-done) conversion to propane can result in a derating of something like up to 1500 BTUs per a burner, but this is not the case with every conversion.
As I write that last bit out...I should have limited my question to people using propane.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:29 AM on January 7
I don't want to thread-sit but:
Yes, I've had endless problems with my current low-end range. I've done a fair bit of reading and comparing specs on different models at this point and now want to round that out with hearing personal experiences.
Also it is not a simple issue of energy per volume because propane and natural gas aren't (or shouldn't be) used at the same pressure or with the same orifice size. Per an appliance tech I spoke to, a (correctly-done) conversion to propane can result in a derating of something like up to 1500 BTUs per a burner, but this is not the case with every conversion.
As I write that last bit out...I should have limited my question to people using propane.
posted by needs more cowbell at 10:29 AM on January 7
I have this Zanussi 2 burner hob running off a propane cylinder and it works great. Don't know if it's a brand available where you are.
posted by Rhedyn at 10:47 AM on January 7
posted by Rhedyn at 10:47 AM on January 7
Echoing Rhedyn:
In our first apartment, we had two gas burners and an electric toaster oven. Would that work for you?
I hardly ever used the oven, but learnt to do everything on the burners including bread, which was good for my cooking skills. Knowing how to cook everything under primitive circumstances is a valuable skill. Obviously, not everyone wants to learn that.
Today, I'd probably supplement with an instant pot rather than the oven. I'm not a big cake person, but I do love a hearty stew.
My aunt has an antique stove that she uses with her propane gas. I don't know if that is even possible in the US, but here it is a far better option than finding a new appliance. In the old days, things were built to last, and meant to work with whatever source of energy was available. She found it at a garage sale.
posted by mumimor at 1:06 PM on January 7
In our first apartment, we had two gas burners and an electric toaster oven. Would that work for you?
I hardly ever used the oven, but learnt to do everything on the burners including bread, which was good for my cooking skills. Knowing how to cook everything under primitive circumstances is a valuable skill. Obviously, not everyone wants to learn that.
Today, I'd probably supplement with an instant pot rather than the oven. I'm not a big cake person, but I do love a hearty stew.
My aunt has an antique stove that she uses with her propane gas. I don't know if that is even possible in the US, but here it is a far better option than finding a new appliance. In the old days, things were built to last, and meant to work with whatever source of energy was available. She found it at a garage sale.
posted by mumimor at 1:06 PM on January 7
I purchased this range in 2020. I converted it to propane myself with the directions that came with it. I don't cook much, or anything particularly fancy, but it's worked fine for me all this time. I use it to bake cookies too. I don't notice any difference between this range and any other gas range I've used.
posted by DEiBnL13 at 8:59 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]
posted by DEiBnL13 at 8:59 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]
I really like my BlueStar stove. I don't have the 24", but they burn hot and they don't have any circuit boards in them so there's not much maintenance other than cleaning and maybe changing an igniter or light bulb.
https://www.bluestarcooking.com/cooking/ranges/24-rnb-series-range/
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:40 PM on January 7
https://www.bluestarcooking.com/cooking/ranges/24-rnb-series-range/
posted by jeffamaphone at 9:40 PM on January 7
I have had a propane range in my kitchen for many years now. It is a very old Tappan in the 32-1002 family with pilot lights and no electronics whatsoever. The front burners are rated for 9000 BTU on LPG or 12000 on natural gas; the rear burners are 9000 regardless. This has always been adequate. I am at intermediate elevation where water boils at 207.
The burner I use most often has a pure blue flame. My digital carbon monoxide monitor consistently reads zero ppm. The wrong-side rear burner threw licks of orange flame when I lit it for the first time in years; a quick clean resolved that almost entirely. I have never seen anything like the image linked from your previous question.
If you would rather replace than fuss further with your lemon, a second-hand non-electronic model would work fine with fewer ways to go awry. Or if you want a brand new unit with a warranty, it doesn't have to be a $5000 commercial model. A $700 big-box stove burning propane will cook just as well as the natural gas stoves you're used to. I have no personal experience to suggest one over another. Just chiming in to say yes, my propane cooktop is powerful enough, and I'm sorry the conversion of your unit was botched.
posted by backwoods at 10:58 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]
The burner I use most often has a pure blue flame. My digital carbon monoxide monitor consistently reads zero ppm. The wrong-side rear burner threw licks of orange flame when I lit it for the first time in years; a quick clean resolved that almost entirely. I have never seen anything like the image linked from your previous question.
If you would rather replace than fuss further with your lemon, a second-hand non-electronic model would work fine with fewer ways to go awry. Or if you want a brand new unit with a warranty, it doesn't have to be a $5000 commercial model. A $700 big-box stove burning propane will cook just as well as the natural gas stoves you're used to. I have no personal experience to suggest one over another. Just chiming in to say yes, my propane cooktop is powerful enough, and I'm sorry the conversion of your unit was botched.
posted by backwoods at 10:58 PM on January 7 [1 favorite]
Propane produces fewer BTUs than natural gas, but should be able to be adjusted for high heat. The guy who installed my stove adjusted the burners to all be very high, and only the small simmer burner can do a low flame. I asked that 1 burner be high and the other2 medium, but he was not particularly skilled.
My next stove will be electric, though it's nice to be able to cook when the power's out, but propane has been expensive.
posted by theora55 at 7:20 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
My next stove will be electric, though it's nice to be able to cook when the power's out, but propane has been expensive.
posted by theora55 at 7:20 AM on January 8 [1 favorite]
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posted by needs more cowbell at 9:49 AM on January 7 [1 favorite]