A modern kitchen stove with a stainless steel finish and countertop.

What is a Kitchen Range?

Often the centerpiece of any kitchen, a kitchen range, or stove combines a cooktop and an oven into a single appliance. Functional and efficient, it's where you'll boil, bake, and bring to life those family recipes that fill your home with love and warmth.

What is a Range in a Kitchen?

The terms “range” and “stove” are often used interchangeably, and both mean the same thing when talking about the kitchen cooking appliances we use today. GE Appliances range stoves come in a variety of styles to meet different needs and home styles, and they also offer features both innovative and practical.

Exploring the Different Types of Ranges

When it comes to choosing a range appliance, it's all about finding what fits your kitchen and meets your needs and your cooking style. GE Appliances offers a couple of different styles of ranges to fit your kitchen layout and your cooking needs.

A modern gas stove in a yellow cabinet kitchen setting.

Freestanding Ranges

The most common type of stove, freestanding ranges are designed to fit most kitchens, with controls on a panel at the back of the range. They're versatile, easy to install, and suitable for most kitchen needs.

Modern kitchen with a black and stainless steel range on yellow cabinets.

Slide-In Ranges

Tailored to fit between cabinets for a streamlined look, slide-in stoves feature controls at the front above the oven. They give a custom, built-in appearance without the custom price tag.

Those two styles of ranges also offer different fuel types that fit various cooking and household needs.

Gas Ranges: Favored for their fast heating, many cooks choose gas stoves. If you love cooking with a flame, this is the way to go.

Electric Ranges: Known for their smooth glass cooktops and even baking, they're easy to clean and offer a sleek look.

Induction Ranges: These ranges use magnetic technology for faster, more energy-efficient cooking, though they do require you to use iron cookware. Induction ranges are sleek, safe, easy to clean, and boil water in record time while leaving the cooktop cool to the touch.

Dual Fuel Ranges: To many cooks, dual fuel stoves offer the best of both worlds: a gas cooktop for flame control and an electric oven for even baking.

Measuring Your Kitchen for Your New Range

Finding the perfect fit means measuring your kitchen space.

Here's how to do it right:

Most ranges are 30 inches wide, but it's important to measure the open space between your cabinets to make sure a range will fit.

Number 2 and the word 'Depth' in stylized text.

Measure from the wall to the front of your counters. Ranges are typically 25-28 inches deep and usually come out to the front of your cabinets if not slightly beyond.

Ensure there's enough space between the range and your overhead cabinets. About 36 inches from the floor to the cooktop is standard and about 48” to the top of the back control panel.

Features to Look for in a Kitchen Range

When selecting your range oven, consider both practical features you’ll need and new technology that will save time and make cooking even easier.

Interior of an oven with racks and heating elements.

Convection Oven

Provides quicker, more even baking for cooks who love to create pastries, cakes, cookies, and more.

Express Preheat*

Bake foods faster thanks to a quick preheating oven.

*Preheats oven in just 7 minutes, bake mode to preheat beep, 350 degrees, one standard rack.

A person holding a smartphone displaying a wireless connection interface.

Built-In WiFi

Connect your range to your WiFi and SmartHQ app to control oven functions, monitor baking, change oven temperature, turn off your oven, and more.

Pepperoni pizza baking in an oven with no preheat required.

No-Preheat Air Fry

Turns your oven into an air fryer to cook your favorite crispy treats with less oil.

Oven-safe tray with pizza, easy to clean and dishwasher compatible.

EasyWash™ Oven Tray

The bottom tray of the oven removes for cleaning and can fit in your GE Appliances dishwasher for an even easier wash.

Crisp Mode

Uses your bake and broil elements to crisp foods as they bake, much like an air fryer mode used in some ovens.

Double oven with baked goods and casseroles inside.

Double Oven Ranges

Some ranges are available with two oven cavities to expand your baking capabilities. In double oven stoves, each oven bakes at its own temperature so you can cook two separate dishes at once. (This comes in handy for cooking large meals like Thanksgiving. You can roast your turkey while you bake your dressing.)

Choosing the Right Cooking Range

In essence, selecting a kitchen range is about understanding your cooking habits and your kitchen layout. Whether you're reheating leftovers, whipping up a family meal, or tackling a new baking project, your range is your kitchen workhorse. At GE Appliances, we offer kitchen ranges with many finishes, features, and design styles. You’re sure to find one that meets your needs and fits seamlessly into your kitchen.