More gas stove questions.....

Gold Member Joined: Apr 06 2006 Posts: 1492

We got possession of the new house late yesterday. They've already started the gutting process. Dh and I were looking at appliances on Sunday, and will likely buy something Thurs. evening when the local appliance place is due to have a big sale.

I had thought that we'd get a Maytag Gemini range with ceran (smooth) stove, but some of you advised against it. I searched some more, and found a place selling a Jenn-Air double oven range with gas stove, and the price wasn't so outrageous. My FIL doesn't think that running a gas line to the kitchen will be too difficult.

So, I need info to make a final decision:

What are the advantages/disadvantages of gas vs. ceran stove? We're only recently keeping a kosher kitchen and we'll be shomer Shabbos with this move, so I'm still learning a lot. How does each option work with kashruth, cooking for Yom Tov, heating up stuff on Shabbos, safety (I'm scared of fire or gas explosions), etc.? Please assume that I know next to nothing.

Thanks for any help!

Moderator Joined: Dec 26 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 11430

I think it's best for you to speak to a Rabbi that you're affiliated with and have him answer your questions.

Everyone has different standards in their kitchen. For example: most people I know will use the stove top for both meat and milk, however, my mother and most of her friends will use two of the burners for milk and two for meat.

I just feel that it's best to find someone that's knowledgable in kashrus so you don't end up doing extra things out of ignorance. Many people are afraid to ask Kashrus questions and will end up being too stringent for no reason.

Silver Member Joined: Aug 30 2006 Posts: 766

I agree with Defy. Also, please remember that many ovens now have a 12-hour safety shut off which means that with two-day yomtovs you would be w/o a stove on the second day. That feature has to be dismantled. Don't forget to ask the salespeople about that issue.

I have used both gas and electric and I'm fine with both for the most part.

I always make sure to get a self-cleaning oven.

Moderator Joined: Dec 26 2005 Age: 33 Posts: 11430

Oh yes, definitely find an oven that allows you to disable automatic shut-off and also has Shabbat Mode (which allows you to open your oven during Yom Tov without having to wait). Self-cleaning is also very important.

There is a kashrus issue with an upper oven that I've read about in the Pesach Digest by Rabbi Blumenkrantz obm, and have also encountered when selecting my own stove and speaking to my own Rav.

There is an issue with milchigs and fleishigs when there's an oven on top of the stove. Rabbi B. writes that since the steam from the post rises, and hits the upper oven, and leaves an actual residual film on it's bottom surface, one shouldn't cook both milchigs and fleishigs on the back burners (which are directly under the top oven), because there will be actual bosor b'chalav, but reserve one set (back) for one category, and front burner (s) for other category.

Another issue with some makes of ovens is that of the bottom oven venting through the top one, so if the bottom oven is designated for fleishig, and vents through the top one, it could (potentiallly?) make the top one fleishig too. Some models have separate vents for the two ovens, one would have to check. If the bottom oven is parve, then it wouldn't pose a problem by venting through a top one designated for fleishig, say.

Yes, clarify what the issues are with Your Rav, ask if there's anything you should look out for, or make sure about, before purchasing your range.

Also, glass tops don't take well to blechs. Also have in mind Pesach, if you kasher your stove for Pesach, find out whether or how this can be done with the type you purchase.

On a final note, keep in mind YomTov requirements, if you like to leave the oven on for Yom Tov, some can be and some can't be opened because it will cause a change in the electronic display. Some models were being manufactured with a YomTov mode, with various ways of overiding the problems with the electronic readouts, and automatic shutoffs. Ask your Rav, if you can use those models( if they still exist), there may be different opinions.
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Platinum Member Joined: Jan 01 2006 Posts: 48153

I can tell you that our rabbis says it's not nec. to have 2 sep stoves for milk/meat, but when we took this apt they had them already . . and when I asked for one to be removed, dh remided me that when I make a big soup or some such, he has no place to make eggs or anything else!

so, that's a thought.

Posted: Fri, May 11 2007, 4:20 pm Post subject:

if you get a gas stove make sure that the burners are sealed I think its called that food can't leakm into the stove because its a pain to clean.

Gold Member Joined: Apr 06 2006 Posts: 1492

I was persuaded on the gas issue.

We've ordered the Jenn-Air double oven (electric) range with gas stovetop. It has enough safety features to make me relax.