Best gas ranges from Consumer Reports' tests

Cooking with gas has its fans. They’ll rave about how the flame makes it easier to judge the heat, and how quickly you can adjust the heat from high to low. And while owners of electric ranges are out of luck when a storm hits and power’s out, most gas range fans can strike a match to light the burners, then eat dinner by candlelight. Not bad. The cooking appliance experts at Consumer Reports tested dozens of gas ranges. Here’s a glimpse at some of our single oven top picks.

Samsung NX58F5700WS, $1, 600
Here’s the deal: This top-rated gas range is stylish and unlike most gas ranges tested offers fast cooktop heat and superb baking. Even broiling was impressive—not something most gas ranges do well.
Need to know: Five burners, including two high power. The oven is large and has gliding oven racks and a convection feature that can trim cooking time for some foods. There’s a warming drawer below.

Samsung NX58H9500WS, $2,000
Here’s the deal: It's a slide-in range so the knobs are up front and there isn’t a back panel, giving it a stylish, built-in look. This range offers super simmering and impressive baking, broiling, and self-cleaning.
Need to know: There are five burners; two are high power and deliver fast heat. The oven is big and has convection and a temperature probe. And the warming drawer comes in handy when hosting parties or keeping dinner warm for teens who straggle in.

LG LRG3095ST, $1,500
Here’s the deal: The best had faster cooktop heating, but this LG offers superb simmering and its large oven was very good at broiling and turning out evenly browned cakes and cookies.
Consider this: Like most gas ranges this model was only so-so in our tough oven self-cleaning tests.
Need to know: Five burners, including two high-power, and a convection option.

Frigidaire Gallery FGGF3032MW, $700
Here’s the deal: This CR Best Buy isn’t a showpiece but it’s superb at simmering and impressive at baking. It comes in a stainless steel finish.
Consider this: Cooktop heat wasn’t as fast as the top picks and broiling and self-cleaning were so-so.
Need to know: Five burners, two are high-power. The oven has convection and a temperature probe for gauging doneness.

Samsung NX58F5500SS, $900
Here’s the deal: It performed similarly to the Frigidaire but has a larger oven.
Need to know: There are five burners, including two high power. No convection, but you can get it in stainless.

Kenmore 74132, $700
Here’s the deal: Fast cooktop heat and impressive simmering. Baking was very good, and it was one of the few gas ranges to ace our self-cleaning tests.
Consider this: Like most gas models broiling was mediocre.
Need to know: Available in stainless, but no convection. Two of the five burners are high power.

The worst gas range we tested was the $1,700 KitchenAid Architect Series KGRS807SSS–it scored 31 out of 100—and was unable to simmer tomato sauce on the largest burner set to low. Check our range Ratings to see how the top picks compare to other ranges in our tests. You’ll find a compare-model tool, user reviews, and brand reliability data to help you choose.

—Kimberly Janeway

More from Consumer Reports:
Best cookware from Consumer Reports’ tests
You can remodel your kitchen for as little as $5,000
Most and least reliable refrigerator brands

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers on this website. Copyright © 2006-2015 Consumers Union of U.S.