To review, a professional-style range is a range that has a commercial appearance yet designed for residential use.
Professional-style ranges were popularized by Viking in the mid-1980s and 30 years later are still a top choice for high-end kitchen renovations.
You now have tons of choices from different companies like Viking, Wolf, Thermador, Miele, Dacor and Jenn-Air who all approach the stove from a more residential point of view. Capital, DCS and BlueStar are more commercial in their approach.
So from that perspective Thermador and BlueStar are very different. We will look at the companies, the products and then compare.
Thermador
The Thermador brand was founded in 1916 and began as a manufacturer of portable built-in heaters. In 1948 Thermador manufactured its first professional-style range. In 1952 Thermador introduced the first warming drawer to the industry, and in 1963 Thermador came out with the industry’s first self-cleaning oven.
In 1998 Thermador was acquired by the BSH Corporation of Germany. Bosch instilled the manufacturing discipline allowing Thermador to be one of the most reliable brands. Today Thermador is a high-end appliance brand largely known for manufacturing professional-style ranges. Thermador produces two different 36’’ all-gas ranges, the Harmony Series and the Pro Grand Series. In this blog I will write about the Pro Grand series or deeper of the two.
PRG366JG - $7,299 + Free $1,299 dishwasher after mail-in rebate
- 6 sealed star shaped burners will cover 40% more of your pan than the traditional round burner
- 1 x 22,000 BTU sear burner
- 5 x 18,000 BTU simmer burners
- 4 burners can reach extra low simmer
- Extra low simmer provides the widest variety of temperature of any burner in the industry and can reach a low of 100 degrees
- 7 cubic ft. convection gas oven can accommodate a commercial sheet pan
- 2-hour self cleaning mode
- Full access telescopic racks
- Temperature probe
- Soft close door
- Convection cooking for even temperature on all oven racks
(Learn more about Thermador and other top brands in our free buying guide)
BlueStar
BlueStar ranges originated in Reading, PA in 1880 from Prizer-Painter Stove Works, a manufacturing company of residential and commercial ranges, hot water heaters, furtances, 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.
RNB366BV1NG - $5,139
- Hand crafted in Reading, PA
- 6 open burners for even heat distribution on pan
- 3 x 15,000 BTU
- 2 x 22,000 BTU power burner
- 130 degree simmer burner
- Offered in 190 designer color options
- 5 cubic ft. gas convection oven
- Large oven can fit an 18’’ by 26’’ baking sheet
- Convection cooking for even temperature on all oven racks
- Infared broiler can get up to 1,850 degrees for intense searing heat
- Dishwasher safe cooking grates
Residential Professional Style Ranges versus. Commercial Residential Ranges
On paper these two ranges look similar. They both offer at least one sear burner at 22,000 BTU for high-heat cooking; both ranges also have a low simmer less than 150 degrees. There is a major difference between these ranges that many people unfamiliar to the appliance industry might oversee at first.
Residential vs. Commercial
Thermador makes a residential range to have a commercial appearance. These ranges usually have sealed burners.
BlueStar manufactures commercial ranges, and incorporated some of those features in their residential line. The majority of these ranges have open burners.
Sealed vs. Open Burners
Today, the majority of ranges on the residential market have sealed burners meaning that the burner itself is sealed to the base of the range. This type of burner is preferable by many people buying a range for their home because it relatively easy to clean.
Open burners are common in a commercial setting. The burner is not sealed underneath. This design allows oxygen to flow underneath the burner to get to a higher heat. Sporadically I have customers request a range with an open burner, especially if they have used one in a commercial setting.
Sealed vs. Open Burners
Sealed burners are easier to clean and more popular for the home. I like that the Thermador Pro Grand range can reach 22,000 BTUs without having to move to an open burner design.
Open Burners can get up to a higher heat which is more common in a commercial setting. Open burner ranges must be dissembled and cleaned regularly. This is the lesser popular preference for home owners.
Which Should You Buy?
It really depends on what you are looking for. People looking at these brands are generally looking for a cooking product that can perform. A 22,000 BTU burner will get your water boiling really quickly, or would be ideal for any high heat stir-fry cooking.
If you are unfamiliar with an open burner, it might be in your best interest to visit a showroom that has both open and sealed burner options to see which would be best for your cooking and lifestyle. Cleanability is the big factor. Spills stay on the top of the Thermador, but you have to clean the BlueStar throughout.
Price point is another important thing to consider. Many people doing a full kitchen renovation like Thermador because they generally have really good rebates. Although Thermaor appears to be higher in price than the BlueStar, you can receive a free dishwasher with the Thermador range.
Lastly, reliability, at least for us is crucial. We service what we sell. Other than Miele, Thermador is the most reliable premium brand in the market.
Additional Resources
Get the Yale Professional Cooking Buyers Guide with features, specs and inside tips to all the brands. Over 85,000 people have read a Yale Guide
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A Note About Pricing
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.
