If you want high output, then Hestan and BlueStar are your two best choices.
When professional (pro) ranges became popular in the early 1990s, the highest output burners were 15,000 BTU.
BlueStar has 25,000 BTU burners, while Hestan now tops out at 30,000 BTU.
Wow.
Choosing between either brand is not easy.
Depending on how you cook, you could spend $15,000 and buy the wrong range.
In this article, you will learn about both companies, their strengths, and their weaknesses.
You will also see some references to other brands like Wolf, Thermador, JennAir, and Miele for a complete picture of how to buy a pro range.
BlueStar states its heritage back to the 19th century. However, they are a family-owned company based in Pennsylvania.
Their ranges are interesting.
On the other hand, they emulate a restaurant range with open burners.
You have to clean under the cooktop with a BlueStar, but you can easily take it apart and clean it at the sink.
BlueStar's ranges have basic features with no Wi-Fi, steam functionality, or even a clock and timer.
Evidently, restaurants don't use clocks or timers on their stoves.
On the other hand, BlueStar is available in 1000 designer colors and ten trim packages. You can even add a high-quality photo for the front of your range.
I am pretty sure you won't see a maroon and copper range in a restaurant either.
Yet, 75% of BlueStar ranges were ordered in a custom color other than stainless steel at Yale.
So if you are looking for a unique or distinctive look, then BlueStar is certainly a consideration.
BlueStar is a complete line manufacturing every range size available at 24, 30, 36, 48, and 60 inches.
BlueStar markets five different series.
Platinum and RNB are their most popular ranges and will be used in our comparison.
Hestan will have their 30,000 BTU burner, but a BlueStar Platinum will have two 25,000 BTU burners and a combination of 22,000, 18,000, and 15,000 BTU burners for the most overall burner output.
In terms of other manufacturers, Wolf and JennAir have a 20,000 BTU power burner.
Thermador has one burner at 22,000 in their Pro Grand series, while their Harmony line is 18,000.
Miele's highest output is 19,500 BTU. Signature Kitchen Suite's pro ranges will have multiple 23,000 BTU burners.
Overall, BlueStar is considerably more powerful.
You have eight stovetop choices for 48-inch ranges. As an example, you can have a grill, griddle, and French top.
If you want a larger 24-inch grill, French top, or griddle, or smaller, BlueStar has that option as well.
BlueStar is the only manufacturer with True convection or an element behind the fan for more even heat.
Anyway, true convection is an advantage, especially for a gas range.
BlueStar can accommodate 18 by 26-inch chef's pans even in a 30-inch size.
BlueStar offers the most colors out of any manufacturer. You have a chance for a unique look with BlueStar and many customization options.
Read More: Best BlueStar Professional Ranges for 2021
BlueStar does not manufacture a dual fuel range. Dual fuel is a gas stovetop over an electric oven.
The advantage of an electric oven is a drier, more even heat for baking.
Gas is a moist heat and better for roasting and broiling.
But if you like to bake, then dual fuel is the better option.
BlueStar talks about an 1850 degree broiler, but the actual BTU output is 15,000 BTU. Most are 18,000-20,000 BTU, with Miele being the best at 23,000 BTU.
BlueStar uses gas, not infrared, for its grill on the RNB series. The gas spreads the flame, whereas the more directed infrared is better for searing with less clean-up.
Thermador and SKS will have steam ovens.
Miele will have steam assist.
JennAir, Miele, and Wolf have their pre-programmed settings with Culinary Centre, Miele MasterChef, or Wolf Gourmet guided cooking modes.
Almost every company has Wi-Fi compatibility except Miele, Hestan, and BlueStar.
Every company has a clock and timer except BlueStar, Wolf in all gas, and Thermador Harmony series pro ranges.
BlueStar does not have a self-cleaning cycle. Hestan does not either for their all-gas pro ranges only.
Overall, BlueStar is a powerful range with basic features.
Hestan has an interesting origin based in California and is the brainchild of Stanley Cheng.
Hestan started as a winery manufacturing commercial ranges. They manufacture all types of commercial ranges as well as cookware.
The selection is endless on the website. They also have a pretty big following in the customer base in high-end restaurants.
In 2016, they started producing grills for your home featuring high output burners and solid grates.
In 2019, they started manufacturing ranges with some interesting features.
Hestan manufactures ranges in the 30, 36, and 48-inch sizes. The configurations are limited to all burners or a griddle.
Hestan is available in dual fuel or all gas.
Their "CircuFlame" delivers 30,000 BTUs. Their other burners rate at 23,000 and 15,000 BTU for an incredibly powerful range.
You could probably stir fry for a party of people at 30,000 BTU.
Burners are sealed like every other manufacturer except BlueStar. Hestan uses a more durable brass under the burners and for the ignitors.
You can cook by temperature on your griddle versus the one or two settings by most manufacturers.
The griddle is also powered by infrared heat, not regular gas like BlueStar.
Some brands have twin convection like JennAir and Miele. Wolf has their Verticross blower system in their new pro ranges.
BlueStar has its True convection.
Hestan has "PureVection," or a system to change fan speed and temperature to maintain an even temperature.
It seems like a new way to say single convection, yet Hestan uses the same system in their commercial ranges.
Hestan has controls on the towel bar for different modes in dual fuel only. It works like your SmartPhone by swiping through the different settings and modes.
Hestan has 12, which is 11 more than Miele, Thermador, Wolf, and JennAir, yet 988 less than BlueStar.
Read More: Are Hestan Professional Ranges Any Good?
BlueStar has 24 and 60-inch ranges available, unlike Hestan.
Hestan offers both gas and dual fuel pro ranges. Pay close attention if you like to bake. Dual fuel will be better with its drier air and more consistent temperature.
BlueStar offers a grill option for your stovetop called a charbroiler.
A French top is the opposite of a griddle. The heat is in the middle and radiates outward. You can boil in the middle and simmer on the outside.
It's a great option if you like to cook many different foods at different temperatures.
Only BlueStar, Wolf, and La Cornue offer a French Top.
In this next section, we'll cover how BlueStar and Hestan both performed during a cooking demo performed by our Chef Saba Wahid. Saba recently won the TV show "Chopped," making her Grand Champion.
The contestants all used BlueStar ranges. So, she had a small advantage.
Both ovens fit a chef's pan easily.
The oven performance was interesting because we compared the BlueStar gas PowR versus the Hestan PureVection.
Many companies have added twin convection and even blower convection in the new Wolf.
However, the Hestan did a great job with single convection. The cake was evenly cooked in color and texture.
What's surprising is the BlueStar. Their single convection gas oven cooked almost as well as Hestan's. There was slight discoloration where the cake was next to the fan.
Gas can cook your cake. It's not as even or well-calibrated as electric. Still, BlueStar was pretty good.
BlueStar and Hestan are the two hottest ranges. Hestan's 30,000 BTU vs. BlueStar's 25.000 BTU.
To test the burner output of both ranges, Chef Saba began her cooking test on the highest BTU burners while caramelizing onions on the lower BTU burners as well.
Below is her experience.
Both pans were set to medium heat to melt the ghee, then around the 4-minute mark, I added in the ginger, garlic, and onion for both.
Around the 6 minute mark, I added the lentils, followed by the water and coconut milk, then turned the heat up to high on both.
From this point, it took Hestan's pro range around 1 minute and thirty seconds to come to a boil, and the BlueStar took around 2 minutes and fifteen seconds to come to a boil.
The difference was 45 seconds this time around. After 10 minutes, I added in the rice and a little more water, lowered the temperature to a simmer, and covered the pots partially with a lid.
At this point, I noticed the BlueStar was easier to set because I was able to turn the burner all the way to the lowest setting on the 25K BTU burner.
It simmered at the right temperature and pace.
If I lowered the Hestan 30K BTU burner all the way to the lowest setting, there wasn't much reaction in the pan since this was considered more of a holding temperature.
I had to play around with the settings a little more to find the perfect simmering temperature.
It was either too high, with both inner and outer ring ignited, causing all the liquid to boil and evaporate before the rice and lentils were cooked.
Then when turned, it was too low, not allowing the pan to get hot enough to cook the food.
This could certainly be a case of getting used to this style of the burner, and with a little practice, plus the frequency of use, this problem can be solved.
Because the moderate to low temperature stayed consistent on the BlueStar, the rice and lentil dish finished cooking around 3 minutes faster than the Hestan.
Hestan's two front burners are 23,000 BTU on the high end (with both inner and outer ring ignited) but can get as low as 500 BTU on the extra low simmer function (inner ring only).
BlueStar calls their lowest BTU burner a Simmer burner at 9,000 BTU.
When set at the lowest setting, the Bluestar was able to hold a moderate temperature, enough to slowly caramelize the onions without scorching or burning them.
I came across the same scenario as above with the Hestan.
The lowest setting here was still utilizing both inner and outer burners, which was too high for caramelizing the onions, and the lowest low was too low.
It's more of a holding temperature
I ended up going between the highest simmer temperature setting and the lowest regular setting; it was difficult to find something in between.
The BlueStar was simpler and more straightforward and didn't require any back and forth to determine the exact required temperature.
I found the burners easier to control on the BlueStar for both the high and low BTU burners. But this could also be due to the fact that I'm familiar with the BlueStar and have used this range many times.
The Hestan pro ranges are new, which will have a slight learning curve to use.
For a simmer, Hestan was a bit harder. It's a two-stage burner, so you have to turn the knob a certain way to simmer.
BlueStar was easier to control.
In terms of low burner simmering, Thermador's intermittent XLO and Wolf's three-stage simmer are a bit better.
Other than output, BlueStar and Hestan have little else in common.
Both are high-powered and made in the US, but they look completely different. Both have different feature sets.
BlueStar may be a better all-gas option with its PowR oven and ability to customize. You can opt for a French top, grill as well as a griddle.
Hestan is an excellent dual fuel option. The PureVection works well, so you can bake in addition to the high output sealed burner.
The best range for you will be the one with the combination of features matching the way you cook.
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