July 14th, 2023 | 9 min. read
Learn how to find the perfect cooking products with our Pro Cooking Buying Guide
BlueStar has just dropped the prices of their RCS series 30-inch pro range to $3,995 and their 36-inch range to $4,995.
Those prices seem low to me, especially since BlueStar recently introduced their 36-inch dual fuel range at over $12,000.
Should you buy a BlueStar RCS 30 and 36-inch pro range, or will it not have the features you need?
The answer is complicated and entirely based on how you cook.
In this article, you will learn about the pros and cons of these ranges. Then we will compare them to other BlueStar pro range series like Precious Metals, Nova (RNB), Platinum, and Dual Fuel.
Then you will see a brief comparison to other ranges from Wolf, Thermador Pro Harmony, Monogram, and even Café appliances and LG.
By the end of this article, you will understand if the RCS or another brand might be right for you.
Let’s get started.
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Who Is BlueStar?
BlueStar is a 140-year-old family-owned American manufacturer based in Pennsylvania. They primarily manufactured heritage ranges.
In 2002, they started the BlueStar brand.
They are the fastest-growing premium appliance producer and have since expanded into hoods, refrigerators, wall ovens, and cooktops.
BlueStar is run by an elite management team headed by CEO Eliza Sheffield and Director of Sales Noelle Skurchak, who recently joined from La Cornue.
They are a smart and formidable group, no doubt behind this growth.
The BlueStar 30-Inch RCS Series Ranges
First, you have a choice of two RCS ranges, with the difference being one has an open burner and the other has a sealed burner.
You want to ensure your appliance store orders the right one because they have different features.
BlueStar RCS Open Burners
BlueStar's open burner ranges feature a main burner with a low output of 15,000 BTU (British Thermal Unit), while the simmer burner operates at 5,000 BTU, making it comparable to Wolf all-gas ranges.
However, the open burner includes a wok attachment, unlike the sealed burner.
BlueStar RCS Sealed Burners
The sealed burner has a more powerful burner profile with two 21,000 BTU burners, a 15,000 BTU burner, and a 5,000 BTU simmer burner.
It provides good power, especially in the two front burners that you will most likely use the most often. This range is similar to the Thermador Pro Harmony in output at 21,000 BTU and two 15,000 BTU burners.
Cleanability
You would immediately think that sealed burners are better.
In one sense, they are. If you spill anything, you must clean under the cooktop in the open burner.
However, open burners are better with baked-on food because you can remove the cooktop grates to clean them in your sink.
For sealed burners, you have to clean them at the range.
So, it depends on how you cook.
Infrared Broiler
BlueStar features an infrared broiler that uses infrared technology for direct heat and a better broil than a conventional range.
Gas broilers diffuse heat, while infrared broilers direct it. In restaurants, you see infrared broilers used to finish the sear on steaks or harden the tops of crème brulée.
At 15,000 BTU, the BlueStar infrared broiler is good but underpowered compared to Thermador, Wolf, and Miele, which have outputs of 18,000-21,000 BTU.
Oven
Their oven is designed, like all BlueStar appliances, to fit chef's pans. The oven capacity is average at 5.1 cubic feet.
It's bigger than the Thermador at 4.6 cubic feet.
Customization
You have 1,000 color options plus 10 trim and knob options to customize your BlueStar range.
You can even customize your own range, which would incur a cost increase of $200-$500 to add color and trim to any BlueStar range.
So, if you want a Mandarin Orange range with brass trim, you can do it. Go Volunteers and Longhorns!
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RCS vs. BlueStar's Other Series: Precious Metals, Nova (RNB), and Platinum
Among other BlueStar ranges, there are three additional series available: the Precious Metals Series, the Nova (RNB) Series, and the Platinum Series.
Precious Metals
BlueStar's Precious Metals series ranges are offer French Door wall ovens and feature high-output burners with a power of 22,000 BTU. French doors are great for tighter spaces like islands, so you don't have to avoid a drop-down door.
French door ovens and wall ovens are often found in restaurants known for their cramped spaces.
Nova (RNB)
The Nova (RNB) series ranges, like Precious Metals ranges, have two 22,000 BTU power burners.
The Precious Metals series costs over $9,000 with those French door ovens, while the RNB series starts at just under $6,000.
Platinum
BlueStar’s best pro range series with the highest output is the Platinum series with a 25,000 BTU burner, a 22,000 BTU burner, an 18,000 BTU burner, and a 5,000 BTU simmer burner.
It also has their PowR oven or pure convection system, which is blown in from the rear for an even temperature.
Regular convection uses the heating elements at the bottom with the fan distributing the heat.
Technically, the heat will be more evenly distributed, and your cookies will be more uniform from front to back.
BlueStar is one of two companies to offer pure convection in gas. You will learn about the other company shortly.
BlueStar 30-Inch RCS vs. Thermador Pro Harmony Ranges
The most popular inexpensive pro range is the Thermador Pro Harmony at $4,949. With this range and other qualifying purchases, you have the option of having a free dishwasher with Thermador’s One-Two-Free program.
Thermador has an extra low simmer in two burners, unlike the BlueStar simmer burner. Thermador reaches a lower temperature by turning the burner on and off.
The Star burner is the easiest sealed burner to clean because it is raised off the stovetop.
I still like the open burner of the BlueStar because everything detaches and can be cleaned at the sink, but the output isn't as good as the Thermador Pro Harmony range.
BlueStar still has a larger oven and is unrivaled for customization with 1,000 colors and 10 trim options.
Ready for something completely different? How about a regular gas slide-in range?
BlueStar 30-Inch RCS vs. LG Studio Ranges
You would think BlueStar is way more powerful than a conventional gas slide-in.
However, the LG Studio range has a better output with a 22,000 BTU burner, a 20,000 BTU burner, a 10,000 BTU griddle burner, and 9,100 and 5,000 BTU burners, all priced at $2,499.
LG’s oven uses a pure convection system and has a larger capacity at 6.3 cubic feet. It even has a storage drawer below.
BlueStar 30-Inch RCS vs. Café Appliances Ranges
How about a double oven?
The Café gas range, priced around $4,000, will offer two independent ovens with capacities of 2.4 and 4.3 cubic feet.
This range has some customization with three finishes and six hardware colors as well.
Regular slide-in ranges typically have clocks, timers, and self-cleaning modes, unlike the BlueStar, Thermador Pro Harmony, and Wolf all gas ranges.
However, those regular slide-ins have less powerful gas broilers instead of infrared.
BlueStar is also unrivaled for colors and customization.
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BlueStar 36-Inch RCS Series Ranges
BlueStar's 36-inch ranges share similarities in terms of output and customization with their 30-inch range, but other BlueStar ranges and their competitors differ in various aspects.
Burners
There are two types of RCS 36-inch ranges, one with an open burner and one with sealed burners.
The open burner has five 15,000 BTU burners and a simmer burner at 5,000 BTU, while the sealed burner has two 21,000 BTU burners, three 15,000 BTU burners, and one 5,000 BTU burner. BlueStar’s burner output is decent.
For comparison, Wolf, in all gas, has five 15,000 BTU burners and a 9,000 BTU burner, and the Thermador Pro Harmony has three 18,000 BTU burners and three 15,000 BTU burners.
Monogram has two 23,000 BTU burners, two 18,000 BTU burners, and two 15,000 BTU burners.
Oven
The BlueStar 36-inch RCS pro range has a convection oven designed to fit sheet pans, and an infrared broiler.
They advertise an 1,850-degree infrared broiler, but don't make that claim for the 30-inch range.
It's the same 15,000 BTU, whereas most other brands are 18,000-21,000 BTU. Still, you will like broiling with 15,000 BTU of power.
Customization
BlueStar is still your best option at 36 inches if you want a unique color or custom trim with over 1,000 colors and 10 trims.
So,if you want that Emerald Green range (Go Celtics) or that gold range with black trim (Go Bruins, and yes it still hurts), then BlueStar can get it done.
Viking has the second most finishes with 17 colors, just for perspective. The extremely expensive customizable La Cornue range has 52 finishes to choose from.
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BlueStar RCS 36-Inch Range vs. Other BlueStar Ranges
The RCS is less expensive than the other series.
Precious Metals
It lacks the French doors of the Precious Metal series, so you have better access to the oven without the drop-down door and higher output burners.
Platinum Series
Their Platinum series is the industry's best for total output with 25,000, 22,000, 18,000, and 15,000 BTU burners and their pure convection oven, blowing air from the back of the oven mentioned in the 30-inch section.
The Platinum and Precious Metals series ranges are a little more expensive than the RCS at $11,995 and $10,495 respectively.
What Features Are Missing from the BlueStar RCS Series Ranges?
Every other company will also manufacture a grill or griddle and four burners. That is not available in the RCS range.
Grill and Griddle Stovetop Options
For BlueStar, you must buy the Nova (RNB) or Platinum series ranges for a grill or griddle.
The Nova (RNB) series ranges have two 22,000 BTU burners, a 15,000 BTU burner, a 1,300 BTU simmer, along with a grill or griddle.
However, the Nova (RNB) costs about $9,000 – $4,000 more than the RCS series.
Clock and Timer
You would think every range has a clock and timer, but many ranges like the Thermador Pro Harmony, Wolf, and even the premium La Cornue, do not feature clocks and timers.
But Miele, JennAir, and Monogram do. They even offer W-Fi technology.
BlueStar does offer Wi-Fi, a clock, and a timer in their new dual fuel range with a touch screen, but it will cost about $12,000 or $7,000 more than the RCS range.
How Much Will You Save Compared to Buying a Pro Range from Other Competitive Brands?
Thirty-six-inch pro ranges cost anywhere from $6,499 to $12,000 on average, depending on the feature set.
One Problem with BlueStar Ranges
BlueStar is another company without its own service department. Then again, they are too niche to operate service nationwide, unlike much larger competition.
But still, check service availability in your area before you buy a BlueStar range or shop with any other competitive brand.
Should You Buy a BlueStar RCS Series Range?
BlueStar is a solid company with some of the best people in the industry.
The RCS series pro range is exactly what's advertised: a low-cost but still powerful pro range with the ability to customize.
However, if you are looking for better features, then you have plenty of options both within BlueStar and other brands.
Additional Resources
Looking for more information on pro ranges? Get the Yale Pro Cooking Buying Guide with features, specs, BTU Outputs, and detailed profiles of the major brands. Well over 1.5 million people have read a Yale Guide.
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