Best 30 Inch Professional Gas Ranges (Reviews / Ratings / Prices)

The professional gas range is still the marquee kitchen appliance, and yes, it will make a statement in your kitchen.

Viking was the early pioneer but has lost interest especially against Wolf, Thermador, Jenn-Air, Miele, and BlueStar. Which should you consider? That all depends.

Do you like to boil quickly, simmer slowly, broil or bake in the oven and what kind of controls do you prefer?

We will look at the companies, the ranges, and then break down the best range for each feature. There is not one dominant range or brand, so you are best to choose one based on how you cook.

Best 30" Professional Ranges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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What is a Professional Gas Range?

A professional range is a stove with high output BTU burners in a commercial appearance. They are available in all-gas or dual fuel with electric convection ovens.

Regular gas ranges will have at least one professional style burner. The professional range will have all high output burners and at least two burners with a very low simmer.

The Companies

Jenn-Air: Jenn-Air was best known for downdraft ranges and cooktops then languished after being purchased by Maytag. New parent Whirlpool has invested 300 million dollars in wall ovens and this range. Suddenly, Jenn-Air is relevant again with some really cool features and aggressive rebates.

Thermador: Thermador was known for their wall ovens and cooktops before languishing in the early 1990s. In 1997, Bosch acquired Thermador and turned the company around with the Star Burners and incredible simmer. Thermador is another brand with aggressive rebates.

BlueStar: BlueStar is the only brand in this lineup maintaining commercial features and style. The BlueStar brand surfaced in 2002 by Prizer-Painter Stove works, a company that has been manufacturing ranges since 1880. BlueStar is known for high burner output, custom color/trim options, and a powerful convection system.

Short on time? Get our free Pro Cooking Buying Guide

Wolf: Wolf was independent until being purchased and rejuvenated by Sub-Zero in the late 1990s. It is still considered state of the art in the industry due to its twin convection powered oven and dual stack simmer burners.

Miele: Miele ranges are designed and manufactured in Germany. Known for their iconic dishwasher, Miele typically produces the most reliable appliances on the market. Although Miele was originally known for manufacturing cleaning appliances, their cooking product has taken off in the high-end residential market especially with their MasterChef M Touch controls.

(The free Pro Cooking Buying Guide explains the evolution of Miele cooking products and their new pro range)

All these ranges are manufactured in the US with the exception of Miele. Each has its features and reasons to buy. The ranges are all gas. Some are available in dual fuel with electric ovens as well, but dual fuel has totally different features and requires 40 amps.

The Best 30 Inch Professional Ranges

(click here for 48-inch ranges)

Jenn-Air JGRP430WP - $3,999 

Jenn-Air has retooled their cooking and has started to manufacture a great professional range. This range has one 20,000 BTU burners, an advanced interactive LCD clock, and twin convection oven. Jenn-Air also offers a $1,300 toward select Jenn-Air appliances with the purchase of this range.

Features:

• Dual-Fan MultiMode(R) True Convection System 
• One 20,000 BTU Stacked PowerBurner 
• Two 15,000 BTU Burners 
• 5,000 BTU Simmer Burner
• 7-Inch Full-Color Touch-Anywhere LCD Display 
• Auto Convection Conversion
• Four Sealed Burners 
• Convertible to LP 
• Electronic Ignition and Flame-Sensing Re-ignition
• 4.1 Cu. Ft. Oven Capacity
• Closed-Door Broiling 
• Cast-Iron Grates 

Thermador PRG304GH - $4,149 

Thermador is known for its star burners with even heat distribution and extremely low simmer. The Thermador can simmer at an unbelievable 100°. It turns on and off intermittently to achieve this temperature. Thermador offers a free dishwasher (valued at $1,299) as well as a free hood promotion with other qualifying purchases.

A few years ago, Thermador released a 5-burner, 30-inch range. This 5-burner range was designed with less overall burner power to help combat the requirement for high-CFM ventilation.

Features:

• Star burners with 18,000 BTU 
• Widest range of simmer options from 375 BTU to 3,000 BTU
• Powerful, 23,500 BTU bake and 20,000 BTU broil burners
• Convection Bake offers precise multi-level baking results
• Massive oven capacity of 4.4 cu.ft.
• Six rack levels for multiple item cooking
• One Full Access(R) telescopic rack and two standard racks, all with integrated easy-grip handle

Wolf GR304 - $4750 

Wolf has the dual stacked burners for a really good simmer on each burner. There is also up to $1,000 in rebates with other combined purchases from Sub-Zero.

The oven features an infrared broiler for faster cooking and searing of meats.

(Our Pro Cooking Buying Guide explains everything you need to know about Wolf gas ranges)

Features:

• Convection oven for faster, more consistent cooking
• Patented dual-stacked sealed burners for precise control
• Cast-iron burner grates with easy-slide finish
• Infrared broiler for fast preheats, quick sears
• Stainless steel construction
• Rigorously tested to ensure dependability
• Spark ignition system for each burner

Miele HR1124 - $4,999 

Miele has really great output per burner at 19,000 BTU. They also offer the twin convection for even cooking. This range is also the most cleanable and is self-cleaning.

The racks are designed to withstand the heat of the self-cleaning cycle, so you do not have to remove them and wash separately. The grates are also dishwasher safe.

Features:

• 4.6 Cu. Ft. convection oven
• BTU: (3) 19K, 12K
• No Storage drawer
• Self-Cleaning
• Infrared Gas Broiler

BlueStar Platinum BSP304B - $6,195

BlueStar platinum ranges have the highest heat output at 25,000 BTU on their highest burner. Their grates can be modified to fit a round-bottomed wok, great for high-heat cooking.

This range comes with an interchangeable griddle/char broiler for added cooking flexibility.

BlueStar has a POWR convection oven that reduces preheat and cooking time. It is also the only pure convection oven, so it eliminates taste crossover between racks (you should ask for a custom demo).

BlueStar Platinum series ranges are offered in 750+ custom color/trim options for an added cost. BlueStar occasionally offers rebates and incentives but they change regularly.

Features:

• Restaurant style 25,000 BTU PrimaNova open burners
• All burners, plus Interchangeable Griddle and Charbroiler
• The PowR Oven provides 40% faster preheating and 30% increase in oven efficiency
• Gentle 130(degree) simmer burner
• Integrated wok cooking
• Extra-large oven with True European Convection and 1850(degree) infrared broiler
• Accommodates a full-size commercial 18" x 26" baking sheet
• Available in Natural or LP gas

Which do you buy?

Below is a table comparing features between these ranges:

BTU Output

Winner: BlueStar is the most powerful with the 25,000 BTU Nova open burner. 

BlueStar Burner

Runner-Up: Jenn-Air is really powerful for a sealed burner range at 20,000 BTU.

Jenn-Air Burner

Convection

All the ranges offer convection (fan forced heat for more even baking and roasting).

Winner: BlueStar's POWR convection oven is designed to be the fastest and most even. It is the only pure convection. The air is blown in through the rear versus the bottom. 

BlueStar Oven

Runners Up: Miele and Jenn-Air have twin convection or two fans for even baking. I like twin convection in 36-inch ovens because there is more of a difference in larger cavities.

Miele Twin Convection Oven

Jenn-Air Twin Convection Oven

Still, many 30-inch wall ovens have twin convection, so it is an advantage.

Self-Cleaning

Jenn-Air and Miele are the only companies offering self-cleaning in an pro all-gas models. Every company features self-cleaning in their dual fuel ranges. (BlueStar is the exception because they don't offer a dual fuel range).

Simmer

You would think high to low would be an easy comparison, but it's not. Thermador is the lowest with temperatures as low as 100 degrees. It is, however, an intermittent or on/off simmer. Wolf has a consistent simmer at a higher temperature of 500 degrees with a smaller burner of 375 degrees.

Promotions

Thermador and Jenn-Air are the most aggressive with their rebate promotions. Both give you a product valued at ($1299) from buying the range. Both brands offer additional incentives with the purchase of full-size integrated refrigeration.

Wolf will offer a $1,000 mail-in rebate until March 2018.

Miele is offering up to 10% back via mail-in rebate with qualifying kitchen packages starting Febuary 1st.

Reliability

This is interesting. Wolf and Thermador are on our list of most reliable manufacturers. Miele as well, but in all gas ranges, BlueStar is the most reliable.

Final Thoughts

As I said before, this is a tough choice. If you are using the top cooking surface, look at Jenn-Air or BlueStar for power or Wolf and Thermador for a better simmer.

I like the twin convection of Miele with the clock/timer functionality of Jenn-Air.

All have merit depending on your budget and what features interest you.

Additional Resources

Download the Yale Pro Range Buyers Guide with features, specs and inside buying tips to all the major brands. Over 280,000 people have read a Yale Guide.