Based on a glowing review in Fine Cooking magazine, I bought a Bosch range for my new kitchen three years ago. I loved the oven, but was frustrated by the varying sizes of the burners. Personally, I find a simmer burner to be a waste of time, and a 9,100 BTU burner isn't much better. I was constantly moving my food around on the burners to get the higher flames, not the safest thing in the world. I have to admit that I am a professional cook, so I am used to high BTUs, and wish more midrange stoves had this feature.

After a year of jockeying food on the stovetop, I decided to sell the Bosch to a friend and get a Viking. The sale fell through, so the Bosch was stored in my garage. This was a blessing, as the Viking was a total lemon (the oven temperature sensor kept burning out), and the appliance dealer took it back. To use up the credit, I got a Dacor, and had the same problem. (Yes, that is two "pro" ranges with broken oven sensors. See my Dacor review for details.) Dacor, out, Bosch back in.

Especially considering the fact that the Bosch is about half the cost of a Viking or Dacor, it is a wonderful value. The 5.1 cu ft. oven is huge, and the racks easy to adjust. The convection really works, and foods brown beautifully (as opposed to my Dacor, which had hot spots, even with the hot air blowing in the convection mode.) You will find it difficult to go back to a smaller oven. I have gotten used to the burners, although I wish someone would develop a midrange stove with four equal burners (say 12,000 BTUs) and convection. (Any engineers from Kenmore or GE reading this site?)

For those of you who are looking for color options, I bought a white stove three years ago, as my very small kitchen is white. Looking online now, I couldn't find white easily, so it may be discontinued, with only stainless and titanium available.

The backsplash unit (which holds the oven controls) is in a convenient place, but it does cut down on a few inches of space on the stovetop. When I have all four burners occupied, this can be a problem, as my pots barely fit. If this is a concern to you, too, just buy the unit with the backsplash-free unit with the controls in the front.

If you want to upgrade from the typical midrange stove, the increased oven size alone make the extra cost of the Bosch a great choice. You will really get something for your money--not a common statement these days.

Amount Paid (US$): 2000