For some reason, you are probably thinking buying built-in ovens and cooktops is difficult.
It's actually pretty easy. Think about a normal stove. Cut the oven out and that essentially is a wall oven. The top becomes the cooktop.
Maybe I am oversimplifying, but I will show you how to buy both and the best products to consider for built-in appliances.
Sizes for a wall oven are 36", 30", 27" and 24". That’s not the size of the oven, but the cabinet measurement.
Most cabinets for new construction are 30 inch. 27 is older replacement. 24 is a European size for companies like Gaggenau and Miele. 24 inch can also be for a gas wall oven. But 99% of the wall ovens are electric.
It doesn’t matter what oven you buy; single, double, microwave wall oven, steam or speed oven. The appliances are produced to fit in cabinets.
Convection is an obvious one. In a double oven, convection is available in one or both ovens. Some ovens offer rotisseries. I would look at the controls. Jenn-Air and Miele have incredibly easy to use, intuitive controls. Wolf has the most cooking modes.
Microwaves can be incorporated as part of the unit or you can buy a microwave and place it anywhere in your kitchen with a separate kit.
In the higher end brands, you can buy steam and speed ovens. These would be separate pieces from the main ovens and are offered by the high end brands like Gaggenau, Miele and Bosch Benchmark. Steam is the healthiest way to cook.
Speed uses convection and microwave to cook faster without loss of flavor and texture. The thrust of this article is really double wall ovens. Click the bottom two articles for more information or get our Speed and Steam Oven Buyers Guide.
The standard cooktop is 30" or 36" wide. You can purchase just two burners at 12" or 15 inches wide and place them anywhere. Older cooktops can be 24" or 45 inches, but they are very rare.
Professional gas cooktops with high output burners and grill/griddle capability are available in 30", 36" and 48 inch.
Induction is magnetic heat and is faster to boil, more child safe and offers a quicker simmer than even professional gas. In 1995, these cooktops sold for $4,000. Now they sell for a bit higher than an upscale electric top. You can read about the technology in our Induction Cooking Buyers Guide.
You do not need a professional unit for high output burners. Every cooktop has at least one burner of 15,000 BTU or better. Pro cooktops do have the ability to incorporate grills and griddles in the unit itself.
I like Frigidaire, mostly because it is reliable. We are in the service business. It matters. Product highlights include a counter depth refrigerator, convection double oven (they will all have convection in these packages). I like the hood, and the gas cooktop has a 17,000 BTU burner.
Bosch is great for style and affordability. Product looks good and functions well. Naturally, you have convection and the refrigerator is counter depth. Their dishwasher is also excellent.
For more Bosch packages click here.
Induction is highlighted in this package. Jenn-Air has a powerful induction with bridge elements for odd shape dishes. The wall oven controls are arguably the best in the industry and the refrigerator is a French door counter depth.
You will also like the dishwasher as it's actually produced by KitchenAid. The triangular hood looks good as well.
Benchmark is a new series of professional looking appliances. I love this line. The gas cooktop has a volcano like 20,000 BTU maximum output. The wall oven is double convection. This package also includes their best integrated dishwasher.
This new product is worth a look.
Thermador is really an excellent choice in the ultra premium segment. Their wall ovens are excellent. The gas cooktop has the lowest simmer, and their induction cooktop is powerful. The refrigerator is integrated, meaning it fits within the cabinet. You will not be able to distinguish between the cabinet and the refrigerator.
You can always download the Yale Counter Depth Refrigerator Buyers Guide for specs and differences of integrated versus other counter depth refrigerators.
The key pieces are the wall oven and cooktop. The wall oven is a slick new android based controls and the cooktop has a 18,000 BTU burner. I like the hood, and the dishwasher is an Asko.
There are over 40 packages from 9 different manufacturers. Click here to see the rest.
Additonal Resources
Get the Yale Appliance Buyers Guide with features, specs and buying strategies (yes there is a right time to buy appliances) to all the brands. Well over 60,000 people have read a Yale Guide.