In the process of renovating my kitchen, I’ve researched … I don’t know … at least a hundred ranges. I’ve had more than fifty people eating and drinking in my tiny 800-square-foot apartment. I’m through with cheap, crappy ranges. I can finally afford a really good range, and it will be the heart and soul of my new kitchen.

There are a million kitchen ranges out there. Everyone makes one. They all look good and can do anything—for a price. If there are good reasons for an additional expense, and if those reasons are important to you, the extra cost might be worth it.

I’ve narrowed down my final selection to three ranges. The Kenmore Pro dual-fuel range is one of these. And I’ll go in this direction, because you know what? That range costs considerably less than the other two ranges. All else being equal, price does matter.

Just to reassure myself that I’m not settling, let me tell you why I like the Kenmore Pro 30" dual-fuel range:

1. Dual-fuel: after investigating the whole issue of gas vs. electric ranges online, I personally want gas burners (for control) and an electric oven (for consistent, even heat). This seems to be what most pro chefs recommend.

2. The size is right: my apartment is small and 30 inches is plenty big enough for me (but not too small).

3. Stovetop:

• Bridge burner: a long, rectangular burner with 27,000 BTU (a lot of heat) extends the length of two regular burners. A griddle and a grill (available as accessories) fit right over the top of the bridge burner. Cool! That means you don’t have to have a separate griddle or grill area (which would make the range much bigger and more expensive), but you can still make dishes requiring both.
• A 5000 BTU simmer burner and a 17,200 BTU power burner. This means a range of very low heat and very high heat, with everything in between. These BTUs compare favorably to those of other high-end ranges.
• Easy to clean: the metal covers for the stovetop can be placed in the dishwasher (!) and the surface below is smooth and sealed.
• The stovetop is designed so that heavy pots and pans can be slid across the stove, with no lifting.

4. Oven:

• The oven has three heavy-duty racks (no worries about heavy dishes collapsing) that can be placed in thirteen different positions (flexibility!).
• The oven space is maximized: a 4.2 cubic foot capacity (compares favorably to other high-end ranges). You can stick a ginormous turkey in there.
• Features: a broiling element and a variable-speed 2500W convection oven. Broiling is an important element in many recipes, and most chefs recommend getting a convection oven: you can cook multiple entrées quickly and evenly.

5. I admit, looks are important. I really want my range to be stainless steel and to look pro. This range looks hot (sorry). Nice knobs.