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At a Glance
You can now buy a 48-inch dual fuel professional (pro) range with a steam oven and a warming drawer. You can operate it from your phone and download recipes directly from a Gourmet app.
Just not from a BlueStar professional range.
In the modern world of cleanability functionality and connectivity, BlueStar is a throwback to a more basic era.
That's not to say basic performs poorly. It can be the reason you may want to buy a BlueStar professional range.
In this article, you will learn about the best features of a BlueStar range and then a few problems to look out for. We will also compare BlueStar to some other brands like Wolf, Thermador, and Miele.
There is no single “best” brand.
After reading this article, you will know whether BlueStar is right for the way you cook.
Let’s get started.
BlueStar Professional Ranges
BlueStar Display - Yale Hanover
First, there are five series of BlueStar Ranges:
- Platinum
- Nova (RNB)
- Precious Metals
- Culinary Series - Open Burners
- Culinary Series - Sealed Burners
Let’s look at the primary differences between each series.
1. BlueStar Platinum Series
The Platinum is their best range, with 25,000 BTU “Ultra Nova” max output per burner. It also features their PowR convection oven.
PowR is the only professional European convection oven, so the burner is on the oven’s back rather than the bottom.
BlueStar claims 40% faster preheat times and more even baking due to the heat source being on the back.
The Platinum is an all burner range. You do not have a choice of the grill, griddle, and French top.
They do have a reversible grill and griddle equipped with the range.
However, it is not integrated like most other pro ranges. The Platinum is available in 24-60 inch sizes.
2. BlueStar Nova (RNB) Series
The RNB (Residential Nova Burner) offers the grill, griddle, and French Top with a slightly less than 22,000 BTU max output. The RNB has regular convection as well, not the European PowR of the Platinum.
Like the Platinum, the RNB is offered in sizes from 24-60 inches.
3. BlueStar Precious Metals Series
Precious Metals is available only in 30 and 36 inches width with the RNB 22,000 BTU burner.
The doors are split French style like many restaurant ranges in a regular convection oven.
You may like French doors because you don’t have to lift a heavy bird over the door.
4. BlueStar Culinary Series with Open or Sealed Burners
Culinary is their lower-priced range with only 15,000 BTU burners. It is available in a sealed burner from 24-48 inches with 20, 18,000, and 15,000 BTU burners.
The open burner is available in 30 and 36 inches only.
BlueStar's Best Pro Range Features
Customization
In a world with mostly stainless steel appliances, you have 1000 different color choices and ten other trim and knob styles.
If that is not enough, then they will customize a color for you.
Burners
The average Pro range burner is 18-20,000 BTU. BlueStar has a 25,000 or 22,000 BTU output on their two best series.
Other than the sealed Culinary series, BlueStar features an open burner, not a sealed burner.
Open is both good and bad.
You have to clean underneath the top of the range, but the top is removable to clean at your sink. The open burner allows more oxygen to flow to the flame for higher output.
PowR Pure Convection
It may have a faster preheat, but pure convection is more even. The heat is blown across rather than radiating from the bottom and blown from the fan in the back.
Stovetop Configurations
1. All Burner
You can have an all burner range up to 60 inches for ten burners.
Most brands do not have all burner ranges in 48 and 60-inch sizes. Wolf and Viking have a 48-inch range all burner range.
BlueStar has two all burner ranges as well as the only 60 inches all burner range as well.
2. French Top Option
French tops look like griddles but are the opposite. It's made of rolled steel and has one large burner in the middle.
So you have a hot center and varying temperatures away from it to cook multiple items.
Griddles have a consistent temperature. You also cook directly on a griddle while with a Frenchtop, your food cooks in pans.
Read More: Should You Buy a Griddle for a Professional Range?
Unique BlueStar Ranges
The French door is a cool concept. BlueStar is the only range offering a French door in a range. Other brands offer the door in wall ovens.
24-inch Ovens
You are probably not looking for a 24-inch range. However, BlueStar offers 24-inch ranges in every configuration like all griddle, grill, burner, and even French top.
You can add this as a companion piece or place it somewhere else in your kitchen.
Problems with BlueStar Ranges
No Dual Fuel Models
BlueStar is all gas only. Electric heat has a drier, more consistent heat better suited for baking. All gas, however, is moister and better for roasting and especially broiling.
No Self-Cleaning
BlueStar does not offer self-cleaning. How many times do you actually self clean an oven? You shouldn’t use a self-cleaning mode more than twice a year.
No Clock or Timer
JennAir and Thermador can be operated through an app on your phone. BlueStar does not have a clock and a timer.
No Steam Functionality
Thermador has a steam oven for cooking meals. Miele has a steam assist to bake bread or caramelize and harden tops of food like lasagna.
Poor Reliability
Pro ranges need more service than your average appliance, especially because of the ignitors. It’s not a huge problem because you will have the other working burners.
Most pro ranges are larger at 36, 48, and 60 inches, so more burners, and ovens need repair.
Read More: Most Reliable Professional Ranges
Most Popular BlueStar Pro Ranges
With two years of data, the following are the most popular BlueStar ranges. It’s pretty interesting. BlueStar skews to all burners more than any other brands.
Seventy-five percent of BlueStar’s sold (at Yale) are custom colors.
If you are looking for a finish other than stainless, then BlueStar is your best option.
BlueStar Nove (RNB) Series Pro Range:
RNB366BPMV2 - $8,795
Features:
- 22,000 BTU UltraNova ? open burners
- Precise 130° simmer burner
- Unique French Door for easy loading and unloading
- Contemporary, urban aesthetic
- Extra-large convection oven with 1850° infrared broiler that accommodates a full size 18" x 26" commercial baking sheet
- 1850° infrared broiler
- Five unique colors: Statuary Bronze, Ginger Spice, Enchanted Silver, Enchanted Sand and Matte Black
- Handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880
BlueStar Platinum Series Pro Ranges:
BSP366BSS-NG - $8,995
Features:
- 25,000 BTU PrimaNova
- True European Convection oven
- Open Burners
- Handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880
- Available in 750+ colors and finishes
BSP304B-NG – $6,495
Features:
- Restaurant-style 25,000 BTU PrimaNova open burners
- All burners, plus Interchangeable Griddle and Charbroiler
- The PowR Oven provides 40% faster preheating and 30% increase in oven efficiency
- Gentle 130° simmer burner
- Integrated wok cooking
- Extra-large oven with True European Convection and 1850° infrared broiler
- Accommodates a full-size commercial 18" x 26" baking sheet
- Available in Natural or LP gas
- Handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880
BSP488BSS-NG – $12,695
Features:
- Restaurant-style 25,000 BTU PrimaNova open burners
- All burners, plus Interchangeable Griddle and Charbroiler
- The PowR Oven provides 40% faster preheating and 30% increase in oven efficiency
- Extra-large oven with True European Convection and 1850° infrared broiler
- Accommodates a full-size commercial 18" x 26" baking sheet
- Available in Natural or LP gas
- Handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880
BlueStar Culinary Series Pro Range:
RCS366BV2 – $4495
Features:
- Restaurant style 15,000 BTU Nova ? open burners
- Precise 130° simmer burner
- Integrated wok cooking - no wok ring needed
- Extra-large convection oven with 1850° infrared broiler that accommodates a full size 18" x 26" commercial baking sheet
- Available in stainless steel only
- Includes standard island trim backguard
- Available in Natural or LP gas
- Handcrafted in Pennsylvania since 1880
How Does BlueStar Compare to Similar Ranges From Wolf, Thermador, and Miele?
The following are brief comparisons. Most of these other brands have two series, with one being gas and the other being dual-fuel versus five series of BlueStar.
BlueStar’s standout competitive advantages are output, the ability to be customized, and the PowR oven on the Platinum series.
If you are interested in a French top, then only Wolf and La Cornue, along with BlueStar, offer that feature.
For an eight-burner range, Wolf and BlueStar are your only choices.
The following is a more detailed comparison.
BlueStar Vs. Wolf Gas Pro Ranges
BlueStar will be more powerful in every series except the Culinary at 22,000 and 25,000 BTU output versus the 15,000 for the Wolf G series gas pro ranges.
However, it uses infrared grills and griddles on their tops versus regular gas for the BlueStar. Infrared is a more direct heat and easier to clean than straight gas.
Read More: BlueStar RNB Series Vs. Wolf 36-Inch All Gas Pro Ranges
BlueStar Gas vs. Wolf Dual Fuel Pro Ranges
BlueStar is still more powerful than the Wolf dual fuel series at 22,000 or 25,000 BTU output versus a 20,000 max output for the Wolf.
Wolf adds a clock time, self-cleaning, and twin convection in their dual fuel. Wolf’s twin has two thermostats operating independently to ensure a consistent temperature.
BlueStar is gas only. They offer straight convection and European convection in their PowR oven.
BlueStar vs. Miele Pro Ranges
Miele’s oven is self-cleaning with twin convection in their gas models along with a clock and timer. Like Wolf, their grill and griddle are infrared.
In electric, Miele offers its MasterChef controls. You input the type of food and how you want it cooked, and Miele automatically sets time and temperature.
You also have steam assist functionality for baking bread and caramelizing the tops of food like lasagna.
Their 48 inch includes a speed oven and warming drawer.
BlueStar is significantly more powerful than Miele at 22-25,000 BTU versus 19,000 for Miele. As I have written, BlueStar has European convection as well.
Read More: Miele vs. BlueStar 48 Inch Professional Ranges
BlueStar Vs. Thermador Pro Ranges
Thermador has two series, the Pro Grand and Pro Harmony, offered in both gas and electric.
Thermador’s main feature is their Star burner and their Ultra-Low simmer at just 100 degrees on two burners.
The Pro Grand has a clock and timer along with one higher output burner at 22,000 BTU. It is slightly deeper, as well.
The Pro Grand also has the steam oven and warming drawer offered on their bigger 48 and 60-inch sizes.
That said, the Thermador Pro Harmony pro gas range is far more popular. It’s a combination of 18,000 and 15,000 BTU burners.
Thermador is electric on the grill and griddle, not gas or infrared gas. The oven is straight convection with no self-cleaning in all gas.
BlueStar is again more powerful, and their gas grill and griddle will be better than the Thermador electric. Thermador will have a better simmer.
Read More: Thermador Pro Steam vs. BlueStar 48-Inch Ranges
Should You Buy a BlueStar Professional Range?
That depends.
Unlike most of the other brands, BlueStar is truly different.
Of course, if you are looking for self-cleaning, sealed burners, and a clock and timer, then BlueStar is not the right range for you.
If special features like Wi-Fi, steam ovens, warming drawers, and more intuitive interfaces are important, then BlueStar is again not a good choice.
If you enjoy baking in an electric oven, then BlueStar can’t be for you. It’s only offered in all gas.
However, this range is unique.
If your desired color is anything but stainless, BlueStar is the only range that allows you to customize with 1000 colors and eight trim packages.
Also, BlueStar is the most powerful gas range on the market, so if you use your burners, then BlueStar could be the right range for you.
However, in a sea of stainless, sealed burner ranges, BlueStar does stand out.
Whether it is right for you depends on how you cook.
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 800,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
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