KitchenAid vs. GE Profile gas ranges

Golden G. Richard III

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Jul 15, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/15/97

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Any opinions on the KitchenAid KGRT507 and GE Profile JGBP79 gas
ranges? I think I've narrowed my search to these two models.

I'm particularly interested in testimonials from owners of the
KitchenAid--the Profile seems to get rave reviews and frankly, looks
like a good buy. Consumer Reports (March 1996) loves the Profile and
bashes the KitchenAid as "overpriced and overengineered". I don't
think their comments on the KitchenAid are entirely fair, though.
They dismiss several features as "...features you don't need..."
without discussion, the most important of them being the KitchenAid's
convection oven. The KitchenAid also has a few other cool features,
including burners that relight if they're blown out, automatic
conversion of non-convection temps and times to convection temps and
times, a dough-rising setting, etc. And to pick at minor details, I
like the knobs on top, though Consumer Reports doesn't like this,
either. :-)

On the other hand, the Profile has higher BTU output (12,000
vs. 10,000), very low simmer settings, and it's $600 lower. Price is
not the most important concern, but I'm not inclined to throw the
money away, either.

I currently don't have a convection oven and once I purchase the
range, I won't have a place (at least not in this remodeling
incarnation) for a second oven. How much am I missing if I don't go
for a convection-capable range?

Disclaimers: Frankly, if this were a small appliance purchase, I would
simply buy the KitchenAid and be done with it. "Saving" money in
desktop appliances has almost always proven to be a mistake--my
KitchenAid stuff whirs through tasks that cause cheap appliances to
puff smoke. I pay "too much" for German cars because I love driving.
Having eliminated true commercial ranges because of cleanup/space
considerations, do I have to pay "too much" for a KitchenAid because I
love cooking or do I go for the Profile?

Your thoughts?

Cheers,

--Golden

--
Golden G. Richard III Asst. Professor, Dept. of Computer Science
gol...@cs.uno.edu University of New Orleans (504-280-6045)
finger: gol...@bozo.cs.uno.edu (PGP key) WWW: http://www.cs.uno.edu/~golden
[My opinions, unless I say otherwise, are not necessarily shared by UNO]

Sandy G

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Jul 16, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/16/97

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In article <5qgkvs$eil$1...@www.uno.edu>, gol...@cs.uno.edu (Golden G.
Richard III) wrote:

> Any opinions on the KitchenAid KGRT507 and GE Profile JGBP79 gas
> ranges? I think I've narrowed my search to these two models.
>

One difference might matter to you - I was told that you need a 220V line
in your kitchen for the convection oven in the KitchenAid range.

Sandy G.

Sergei Kalfov

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Jul 20, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/20/97

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it looks as if that KA may have discontined that particular line. We were
told by a local rep that particular model was not selling and it had too
many things, as well as being overpriced. We were looking for a new range
and started in that segment of ranges. Since we were going to spend over
$1000, we refocused on the commercial style ranges and are zeroing in on
either a Viking or Wolf

Sergei

Margaret Ngai

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Jul 24, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/24/97

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I just got a gas range a couple of months ago. I talked to several local
appliances dealer & didn't seem like anyone of them like GE. I was told
that since GE has moved their production to Mexico (or some countries in
that area), the quality is no good any more. The only good feature about
the Profile ranges are that they have a large display so you can see the
inside of the oven better while it's baking.

I have never seen the KitchenAid model so I can't comment. But I am very
interested in why you narrowed you choices down to these 2. Why not Amana,
Jenn-Air or Maytag?

I ended up buying a Maytag over an Amana because it has sealed top, i.e.
fewer parts to break & easier clean-up. The price is also cheaper. The
dealer who sold me the range said that if I am serious about baking, I
should definitely go for a convection oven. But since I'm not, I went with
the regular self-cleaning model.

--
Margaret Ngai
E-Mail: marg...@synrevoice.com

Golden G. Richard III <gol...@cs.uno.edu> wrote in article
<5qgkvs$eil$1...@www.uno.edu>...

>
>
> Any opinions on the KitchenAid KGRT507 and GE Profile JGBP79 gas
> ranges? I think I've narrowed my search to these two models.
>

> <snip ...>

Helen Trillian Rose

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Jul 25, 1997, 3:00:00 AM7/25/97

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GGR> == Golden G Richard <gol...@cs.uno.edu>

GGR> Any opinions on the KitchenAid KGRT507 and GE Profile JGBP79 gas
GGR> ranges? I think I've narrowed my search to these two models.

One thing to keep in mind is that the top of the line non-Profile GE model
(the JGBP35) is almost the same as the JGBP79. The only difference, as I
recall, is a bigger control for the oven (both controls are electronic,
however), one additional oven shelf on the JGBP79, and a "backlight" for
the JGBP79 - not much, perhaps about 20 watts or so (not enough to see or
cook by, IMHO).

My husband and I bought the JGBP35 after narrowing it down to that and the
JGBP79. The *salesman* told us that it wasn't worth the money for the
higher model. Imagine that!

We've been very happy with it, by the way.

--Helen