BlueStar and Wolf are two family-owned American appliance companies. That's about all they have in common.
Their products and marketing approach to you are almost completely different.
In this article, you will learn about both companies and their professional (pro) ranges. Then we'll compare them based on features like output, simmering, grilling, broiling, and cooktop accessories.
Then you will look at both brands' overall reliability based on real service numbers. Our service team logged 35,256 service calls just last year and over 100,000 in less than three years.
Even if you are interested in other brands, this article will help answer a lot of questions.
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Wolf's history goes way back to the 1930s in Los Angeles, CA. The Wolf range was originally developed for the restaurant industry by two brothers, Hyman Wolf and Al Wolf.
Sub-Zero purchased the Wolf Gourmet line from Wolf in 2000.
We will be comparing all gas ranges because BlueStar does not sell anything but gas ranges.
Most of Wolf's pro ranges are dual fuel - a gas cooktop over an electric convection oven. We cover gas vs. electric ovens extensively in other posts, but electric is a dry, precise heat and better for baking.
Gas is a moist heat and better for roasting. The broiling is far better in gas, especially with an infrared broiler.
Both BlueStar and Wolf have the best-infrared broilers.
The Wolf Dual Fuel has better features than an all-gas range as well.
BlueStar ranges originated in Reading, PA in 1880 from Prizer-Painter Stove Works. They manufacture residential and commercial ranges, hot water heaters, furnaces, and heating stoves.
Prizer-Painter Stove Works continued to manufacture high-end cooking products for over a century.
In 2002, Prizer introduced the BlueStar line, restaurant-quality ranges designed for the residential market.
The hallmark to a BlueStar range is extremely high output at a max of 25,000 BTU, an 1850 degree broiler, and custom color options - lots of color options.
How many? It's now 1000, and you can customize their ten knobs and trim packages.
BlueStar is a bit different because their burners are open on their most popular ranges.
They have five series of ranges:
BlueStar Precious Metals Range
The BlueStar Platinum and the dual fuel Wolf are the most popular ranges, but are so dissimilar based on how you cook whether baking or broiling.
Plus Wolf has a grill and griddle while the BlueStar Platinum does not.
Now that we've learned about both brands, let's dive into their ranges and compare them.
Let's look at their specifications first.
Features:
Features:
| BlueStar Pro Ranges | Wolf Pro Ranges | |
| Power Burner | 22K BTU | 15K BTU |
| Simmer Burner | 130 degrees | 9K BTU |
| Oven Capacity | 18'' x 26'' baking sheet | 4.4 cubic ft. |
| Self-Cleaning | No | No. Only in Dual Fuel |
| Grill / Griddle | Regular | Infrared |
| Broiler | Infrared gas | Infrared gas |
| Open or Sealed Burners | Open | Sealed |
| Promotions | Up to $1,000 for BlueStar appliance package | Up to $1,000 after mail-in with select Sub-Zero product(s) |
Wolf only offers sealed burners, which are easier to clean and more popular. However, their Dual-Stack Burner System offers great flexibility.
The upper-tier burner deliver maximum heat for rapid boils and sears, while the lower tier can go down to a low flame for delicate simmering or melting.
The Wolf has five 15,000 BTU burners and one 9,200 burner. Their max burner is still only 15,000 BTU, which is a bit underpowered compared to other pro ranges.
Thermador has the lowest simmer on two of their burners, but in order to maintain a lower temperature, the burners turns on and off constantly. Wolf has a consistent simmer on all their burners of 500 BTU. Their simmer is considered the best in the industry.
BlueStar has an open burner. In one sense, it's harder to clean major spills. You have to clean underneath. However, every part lifts off and can be cleaned at the sink rather than at the stove.
BlueStar is about power. An advantage to an open burner is typically higher BTUs. The BlueStar RNB Series has two UltraNova burners with 22,000 BTU max output, one Nova burner with 15,000 BTU max output, and one with 9,000 BTU max output.
They publish their simmer in degrees. It's 130 degrees, which is 443 BTU.
For output, BlueStar is the obvious choice, but Wolf is easier to clean.
Wolf has a 16,000 BTU infrared grill versus a 15,000 BTU gas grill on the BlueStar. Sounds similar?
Infrared is a more direct, intense heat, so its faster than BlueStar. Gas burners diffuse heat and aren’t as effective for grilling. You also clean less because infrared burns off the drippings.
If having an indoor grill is important, then Wolf is a better choice.
It's the same outcome for infrared vs. regular gas. Infrared will be faster, but they both have controls to set temperature.
For griddles, Wolf infrared will be better.
Both are similar in a good way.
They both employ the infrared broiler. Wolf is the best at 18,000 versus 15,000 BTU for the BlueStar.
Both also are convection. The fan blows the heat distributed from the bottom.
BlueStar's Platinum adds the third element behind the fan, whereas the Wolf is dual or two fan convection in their dual fuel.
For this comparison, Wolf is better.
Wolf is known for their red knobs - that is their signature. They also offer knob colors of stainless steel and black.
BlueStar offers now offers over 1000 color options plus ten different knob and trim packages.
For colors, BlueStar is the best.
Most Reliable Professional Ranges for 2020
| Service Qty | Shipped Qty | Service Ratio | |
| Miele | 15 | 21 | 71.4% |
| BlueStar | 30 | 42 | 71.4% |
| Wolf | 50 | 307 | 16.3% |
| Jenn-Air | 15 | 103 | 14.6% |
| Thermador | 53 | 430 | 12.3% |
| Grand Total | 163 | 903 | 18.1% |
Wolf is one of the most reliable, whereas BlueStar does not seem to be. Most of BlueStar's issues are minor burner issues, not major oven issues.
The problems are easily fixable, but Wolf is the more reliable range.
These are two different ranges.
BlueStar will allow you to cook faster. Its output is unmatched for residential pro gas ranges. You can also customize with BlueStar.
If you are sick of stainless, there are 1000 different color options. Your range can be unique.
Wolf is a bit underpowered versus BlueStar, with a max output of just 15,000. However, the griddle and grill are better than BlueStar's, as is the broiler.
For reliability, Wolf is one of your best choices for luxury appliances.
Ultimately, your choice comes down to burner output and customization versus cleanability with a better grill, griddle, and broiler.
Additional Resources
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