Slide-In Ranges, Arguably the most important piece of equipment in your kitchen is the range without which no cooking would take place making your kitchen redundant regardless of whatever else you can do in it.
Cooking may seem today an easy convenient task but it has not always been that way which is why the range is possibly the single piece of equipment that has undergone extensive metamorphosis over the centuries to get to the efficient machine we enjoy today.
The range is known by several names but in general, a range comprises of an oven coupled with a stovetop with either four or six burners.
The most common types of ranges today are the slide-in range and the free-standing range. Many of the others can also fall into either of these categories. This article will compare slide-in ranges to free-standing ranges.
As the name suggests a slide-in range is built to simply be placed or slid into a reserved space between two countertops in the kitchen while the free-standing range can be placed against a wall anywhere in your kitchen.
Slide-in ranges are becoming very popular though they are more expensive compared to the free-standing models. They are, however, worth the added cost.
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Why are slide-in ranges more expensive?
Elegant Design
The defining element of a slide-in range is its unfinished sides and back made specifically this way to make the seamless look perfect.
Once the range has been fit into the space between countertops, the sides and back can be sealed using a strip from the countertop sealing the spaces between the range and the back wall as well as the spaces between the range and the side countertops.
In some installations, this may even be unnecessary for the sides, if the slide-in range has a wider stovetop surface that lips or overlaps slightly but securely, over the countertops forming a seamless boundary with the countertops.
This seamless look is stunningly elegant and the flush fit is rather classy compared to the free-standing range that is bulkier and does not offer this design advantage.
Most kitchens today have beautiful stylish decor and slide-in ranges grant further definition to the sleek look that most homeowners are going for. Though expensive it is worth the cost to have the sleeker slide-in range in your kitchen.
Space-saving Design
Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes and a range is a must-have in any kitchen. If your kitchen is modest in size, a slide-in range is the better option since its built-in design is made to fit in smaller spaces better than the free-standing range.
The exact dimensions of a slide-in range also prevent you from brushing against or bumping into the range as you work. This may seem obvious but many freestanding range designs have a backguard that holds the controls.
This back guard needs space and that forces the entire structure forward making it protrude into the floor space in front of it. In a small space, this is both unattractive and possibly hazardous.
Slide-in ranges come in a large assortment of dimensions even while keeping within a range that allows for maximum efficiency. You will utilize your smaller space better with a perfectly fitting slide-in range than with a freestanding range.
Even with a spacious kitchen, the space-saving design is still the better option because the flush fit will give the room a neat look and the seamless appearance makes your kitchen appear even more spacious and inviting.
Wider Cooktop
Slide-in ranges come with a wider cooktop which needless to say makes maneuvering cooking pans and pots easier and the stovetop does not look cluttered. The wider space is designed to allow the range to fit flush into the space and get sealed in making the design appear as one continuous surface.
Aside from the extra space, the seamless design also prevents food and liquids from spilling down the sides and back of the range.
Keeping slide-in ranges clean and hygienic is easy as it requires only washing and wiping the top surface and if necessary, the front surface.
You will never need to move your range from its position in order to clean around it or pick up food items that have made their way to the sides.
Free-standing ranges do not have this feature and often food scraps and liquids spill onto the sides and back. The process of moving the free-standing range in order to clean the sides, back, and floors is tedious and unnecessary. A slide-in range will spare you this hassle and is therefore worth the cost.
Front Controls
Some free-standing ranges have their controls at the back end of the range, against the wall, about five inches above the stovetop.
This means you have to reach over hot items to adjust the controls. All slide-in ranges come with their controls at the front for easier access preventing you from possibly burning your hands to reach the controls.
The control panel at the back of the freestanding range also interferes with the beautiful design motif of the wall which is meant to be visible. A slide-in range enhances the beauty of the kitchen instead.
Having the controls at the front is also useful for many people who would have some kind of difficulty reaching across the range to the controls such as the elderly, a convalescent, those with a disability, or anyone with a hand injury and cannot extend their hand fully.
Slide-in ranges have more custom options available made with these specific individuals in mind.
Free-standing ranges do not come with as many variations to cater to different situations and therefore the added cost is justifiable.
Finally
Slide-in ranges are quickly becoming popular but it is important to note that from an efficiency standpoint, both free-standing and slide-in ranges perform exceptionally well and any differences in performance have no relation to this specific aspect of their design.
The most significant contributor to the extra cost of a slid-in range is the aesthetic value it adds to your kitchen.