Wolf vs. Thermador is your toughest comparison when buying premium appliances. Here is the problem: both are excellent. So, how do you choose?
They do have significant differences in features depending on what you like. So, let's look at rangetops, both companies, and then compare. First, you should know the difference between a rangetop and a cooktop.
Rangetop vs. Cooktop
Simply explained, a "Rangetop" is the upper portion of a professional range without the lower oven(s).
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Pro Rangetop Installed |
Regular Cooktop Installed |
A rangetop is wrapped by a countertop along the two sides and rear, with knob controls aligned along the front. A cooktop is dropped into a "cut-out" and surrounded by the surface of a countertop on all four sides, with top mount controls.
You also have hotter burners and the ability to choose a grill, griddle, double griddle, and/or French top with a rangetop.
However, it is pricier and hard to retrofit for existing kitchens without replacing the counters and some cabinets. Cooktops can be for new or existing installation.
Wolf
Wolf is an American-made brand with over 80 years of experience in manufacturing high-end cooking products. Wolf has always been known for their classic “Red Knobs.” (They now also offer black and stainless knob options).
They are under the same ownership as Sub-Zero, are the second largest family owned appliance manufacturer, and based out of Wisconsin.
Wolf is well known for their professional look, cooking precision, and a consistent simmer with their dual-stacked burners. They were not very well known for their BTU power until 2015.
Wolf Rangetop SRT364C - $4,100
Features:
- Dual-stacked, sealed surface burners - 4 total
- Infrared Charbroiler Grill
- Porcelain-Coated Cast Iron Continuous Grates
- Simmer capabilities standard on all burners and automatic re-ignition at all settings.
- Stainless steel finish with island trim, including bezels
- Optional Chrome or Brass bezel also available
- Optional classic stainless steel risers in 5" or 10" heights, or 20" high riser with shelf
Benefits of Wolf Rangetops
Power
Their recent rangetop models offered a modest 15,000 BTU’s on all their power burners and a 9,200 BTU simmer burner - BUT - the new class of Wolf rangetops, will offer a variety of BTU outputs on their burners that will now range from:
- 9,200 BTU’s / 15,000 BTU’s / 18,000 BTU’s and the almighty 20,000 BTU power burner
All the respective rangetop units in their line-up, from the 30” to the 48”, will offer at least one of the above mentioned burners. In the wider units, specifically the 36” & 48” that offer at least 6 burners, those will come standard with the following burners: (1) 9,200 / (2) 15,000 / (2) 18,000 / (1) 20,000 BTU’s.
Griddle
Wolf rangetops offering a griddle are available in units that are at least 36” wide. The Wolf griddle is 15,000 BTU infrared gas. The benefit to infrared is that it’s ideal for quick heat up and even distribution of heat.
The griddle is not limited to breakfast type cooking, many use this application for so much more; including meats, chicken, burgers, pork. You can really cook anything on a griddle.
Grill
Wolf rangetops offering a grill are available in units that are at least 36” wide as well. The grill is also an infrared gas driven component that sits 12” wide. The grill isn’t as flexible an option as the griddle in all that it can do/cook, but it's ideal for in-home grilling during cold winter months.
This grill offers a very powerful 16,000 BTU output. Some may perceive the grill to be challenging in keeping it clean, but the benefit to the infrared is that anything that falls into it will burn off because the extra debris is isolated to the grates and the stainless sides that surround the infrared plate. Cleaning is instantly more manageable.
The one minor setback to the grill option is the lack of controllability. Its knob control ranges from “off” to “high”, with no in-between. For some types of grilling, that could pose issues.
Rebates
In conjunction with Sub-Zero, Wolf offers promotional countertop Wolf Gourmet items with package purchases and/or $1,000.00 Visa Gift Card.
(Learn more about Wolf pro cooking in our free guide)
Configurations
In their respective rangetop line-up, they offer 9 configurations available for Natural Gas or Liquid
Propane.
Wolf 36" Rangetop SRT364C with Charbroiler Grill
- 30” SRT304 / 4 Burner / $2,999.00
- 36” SRT366 / 6 Burner / $3,599.00
- 36” SRT364G / 4 Burner / Griddle / $4,099.00
- 36” SRT364C / 4 Burner / Infrared Charbroiler Grill / $4,099.00
- 48” SRT486G / 6 Burner / Griddle / $4,699.00
- 48” SRT486C / 6 Burner / Infrared Charbroiler Grill / $4,699.00
- 48” SRT484DG / 4 Burner / Double Griddle / $5,069.00
- 48” SRT484CG / 4 Burner / Infrared Charbroiler Grill / Griddle / $5,069.00
- 48” SRT484F / 4 Burner / French Top / $5,469.00
Thermador
Based in Germany, Thermador is part of BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a fully-owned subsidiary of Bosch Home Appliance Group, the third largest appliance manufacturer in the world.
The Thermador brand specializes in cooking appliance equipment such as ovens, ranges, cooktops, refrigerators and dishwashers.
They have great rebates cooktops and rangetops as part of their free dishwasher and hood promotions with other qualifying purchases
Thermador Rangetop PCG366G - $3,099
Features:
- 6 Pedestal Star Burners / even heating, unsurpassed flame coverage
- Every burner 18,000 BTU (Natural Gas)
- Restaurant-style Metal Knobs
- Precision Simmering / Widest range of simmer options from 375 BTU to 3,000 BTU
- Island Trim
- Continuous porcelain, easy to clean cooking surface
- Professional style, continuous cast iron grates
Benefits of Thermador Rangetops
Star Burners
Thermador provides a bit more elegance in their aesthetic with softer lines and star shaped burners to provide more surface coverage. All burners are 18,000 BTU’s each.
Their precision simmer is intermittent, which means it will cycle on and off, to maintain a very low temperature of 100°F (375 BTU).
Griddle
The Thermador griddle is made up of a titanium surfaced non-stick cast-aluminum which is great in preventing rust, however, it’s a must that oil is applied to the surface before cooking. The griddle works off a “6-pass electric element” that is 1,630 watts.
The electric-pass-element is not as consistent in comparison to that of the infrared Wolf, but will still perform very well. The Thermador griddle also offers up a lot of flexibility in what it can cook and it can also be used as a warming zone, to keep food warm in trays if need be.
Grill
Thermador’s rangetop grill option is very new to their line-up, as it was only recently introduced within the past 6-9 months. Like the aforementioned griddle, the grill works off a similar 6-pass electric element, but it's split into two parts with dedicated knobs that offer a better range of temperature control with a variable dial that ranges from low to high.
The electric elements sit below cast iron grates. Directly below the electric elements is where they use “lava” stones to aid in the heat distribution. The lava stones are also ideal for flavoring. As drippings fall into the lava rocks and cook-off / sizzle, the flavor will be reintroduced as it burns itself back up and into whatever it is that you may be grilling.
The downside to the Thermador grill is that it’s not as easy to keep clean, and you would need to periodically replace the lava stones.
Electric also does not heat as fast as the instant on gas.
Configurations
In the Thermador rangetop line-up they offer 6 configurations available for Natural Gas or Liquid Propane.
Thermador 36" Rangetop PCG366G with 6 burners
- 30” PCG305P / 5 Burner / $2,899.99
- 36” PCG366G / 6 Burner / $3,099.99
- 36” PCG364GD / 4 Burner / Griddle / $3,349.99
- 36” PCG364NL / 4 Burner / Grill / $3,599.99
- 48” PCG486GD / 6 Burner / Griddle / $3,849.99
- 48” PCG486NL / 6 Burner / Grill / $4,199.99
Which is Better?
This could be your toughest call when choosing premium appliances, so following are reasons for both.
Thermador
Price would be a consideration especially when combining with a Thermador wall oven, because you receive a free $1,200 dishwasher. The burners are all high at 18,000 whereas you have 15,000 and 9,000s with a Wolf. The simmer is also lower at 375 BTU.
Wolf
The grill and griddle are better with infrared gas versus electric. The total output on a Thermador is better, but Wolf has the hottest burner at 20,000. You can simmer on every Wolf burner, not just two on Thermador. However, Thermador is lower simmer at 200 BTU versus 500 on the Wolf
So how do you cook? Do you grill? Griddle? I would choose the Wolf. Infrared is quite simply faster and easier to clean the electric Thermador grill and griddle
How much power and simmer would depend as Wolf offers more simmer and one hotter burner vs. Thermador has more power burners and less simmer.
Additional Resources
For more information, read our Yale Pro Range Buying Guide with information on every major professional range in the industry as well as insider buying tips. Over 210,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 3, 2014 and has been updated for accuracy, freshness, and comprehensiveness.
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Pricing on this blog is for reference only and may include time sensitive rebates. We make every attempt to provide accurate pricing at time of publishing. Please call the stores for most accurate price.
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