The Stainless Steel Range Review

When we recently moved into our new house, amid all the other decisions on which my wife wanted my “opinion” (of course, she knew what she wanted, and thus the result was predetermined), was what type of cooking range we would buy. I thought it was easy—we just needed something to cook on. The basics, right??

Yea, sure. I guess that was the typical man’s reaction. What I came to learn from my wife is the critical importance—dare I say that it apparently ranks right up there with the size of the flat screen television and the high definition satellite service for NFL ticket??—of picking a stainless steel range and other stainless steel appliances for our kitchen.

Little did I know, that to be aesthetic and to contribute to a healthy environment for our family, our kitchen range had to be stainless steel. “Why” you may ask? (which, by the way, I could not ask, since she seemed to think I should know this stuff).

Apparently, stainless steel is considered “classic” and clearly a standard by which respected, stylish, well-designed home kitchens are appointed. Get it? Without my asking, the wifey told me, that although they were at one time found pretty much exclusively in restaurants and commercial kitchens, stainless steel appliances, such as a stainless steel range, are now considered a necessity in fine home kitchens.

My better half also educated me on the health factors afforded by a stainless steel range, as a barrier against germs and bacteria, rather than the ones I had grown up with, which were either avocado green or harvest gold finishes (I guess rust and stains on such non-stainless finishes can lead to potential germ contamination issues with food preparation contact). Boy, I love it when I learn a new way to put down an H1N1 bug or other bad guy micro organisms!

And when I heard that my long term cost would be less with stainless steel surfaces, I almost teared up! The stainless steel range would last a lot longer because rust and stains are not problems, since the surface quickly adjusts to scratches and other perfections, to consistently present an attractive look. That took my notice—she was really saying that our new stainless steel range would look like it was just purchased, even 5 or 10 years down the road, if we took care of it and maintained it properly. Finally, I learned from my dear mate that these stainless steel appliances are easy to clean—again my ears perked up, to hear that my job might be made a little easier—just use a little vinegar and water, simple green, or even try just a little olive oil on a soft cloth. Presto—clean as the day I pulled my back muscles, when I moved in the brand new stainless steel range. Well I guess my education is now complete! She says wait a minute dear—we also have to decide on the laundry room washer and dryer. Well that’s another story.