Whirlpool GS460 Gas Kitchen Range
Written: Oct 29 '05
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Pros: Easy to use, durable, has a broiler.
Cons: Won’t last a lifetime.
The Bottom Line: Just a good oven.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Whirlpool GS460 Gas Range |
This is your typical whirlpool gas stove. This was a house-warming gift from my in-laws when we moved in, and it was a gift we greatly appreciated. While not the highest end appliance, it is still a good appliance that has gotten a lot of usage.
How it works and your main features.
There are 4 burners on the stove. The front 2 and back left are regular burners. They are not especially hot but work just fine. But since they are not that hot it can be a little difficult to sauté in which means you need a nice conductive pan and a small batch of food when you do sauté. And if you like stir-fry then pass on this model. The burners just are not hot enough.
The back burner is used mainly to cook small batches of food, boil water in a small container, or slowly cook food for hours on end. I have cooked my spicy shredded beef, BBQ beef, rice, personal servings of pasta, and when I do my chicken stock on the small burner. For regular meals or larger portions, I am forced to use the other burners.
There is also a broiler option. At first I didn’t think it had a broiler because the broiler of my mother’s stove was where the warming tray is. After about a year I actually check it out more thoroughly (and noticed the button, dua) and started to use the broiler. The broiler also shuts off automatically so I recommend that you leave the door open so that does not happen.
On the bottom is a warming tray. We use it as a pan/tray storage container so we put our trays and smaller cutting boards in this drawer. In my mother’s old stove this was the broiler. I actually find it more convenient to have the broiler located there because it is so easy to slide the food in and out. With this stove it is not as easy to use the broiler. Mittens, tongs, or burn proof hands are required.
There are several buttons on the back that control the oven functions.
Bake- Turns on the baking function.
Custom Broil- Turns on the broiler on top of the oven.
Auto Clean- Starts the self-cleaning cycle.
Temperature up and down- Changes the temperature from 170-500 degrees.
Start/Lock- After you press on of the first 3 buttons, you hit this to start the oven. Hold for 5 seconds to lock the oven.
Off- Turns the oven off.
Steadyness and flame shape of the four burners.
The overall steadiness of the flame is fine, but the shape of the flame is not. This is not a problem if you are boiling water but if you are cooking food that requires an even surface temperature then you may have a little bit more trouble. On the 3 normal burners the flame can be 10-20 percent higher on one side. This forces me to move a thin pan or the food around more. With my Kirkland pans this is not that big of an issue.
Oven temperature accuracy and range
The accuracy of the temperature gage is very close to what it should be. I did a couple of tests. When set at 350 I got a reading of 357. When set at 250 I got a reading of 257.
The temperature range that I can set it at is 170-500 degrees.
Racks.
There are two racks the can be placed in 6 different spots. The are spaced approximately 2 3/16 inches apart.
Ergonomics and ease of use.
Ease of use is average. There are no special features that make it easier to use. Just a normal oven & range.
What is lacking.
There is no oven see through door.
There is no clock.
High BTU flamage.
Cleaning
The self-cleaning option mentioned is the best way to clean it internally. It takes about 4 hours to run and after wards you just wipe out the ash.
The outside needs a wipe down with a damp cloth frequently. For hardened substances you will need a heavy duty cleaner and a strong arm. My steam cleaner also works well for some stains, but not all.
The grates and burner plates can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher but can also be cleaned in the sink with a strong oven cleaner.
Durability
It has had better years and due for a replacement in a couple of years. But we have owned it for 7 years. The first problem is with the lock and door. First the lock sometimes does not lock so the self-cleaning option will not turn on. And just the opposite is true in that the lock will not unlock at times. I tried to get the door to open one time and I actually broke the oven door handle. We have it secured with a clip right now and it is covered over with a towel.
The starters have also started to deteriorate. Some times I have to waft the gas around to get it to light. It is a bit annoying. Thankfully I haven’t had to revert to using a lighter yet.
Maybe I have low expectations since I grew up in a disposable society, but I feel the stove has held up fairly well considering everything I have put it through.
What I do not like.
-The burners are not as easily controlled as I would like.
-The broiler shuts off automatically.
-Plastic door handle not strong enough.
-Locking mechanism can be touchy.
-No griddle.
-No high output flames.
-Burners do not always ignite immediately.
But that is all of the problems I have had for an 8-year-old appliance, which I think is pretty good.
Weight and dimensions
Just incase Scott wanted to take this backpacking, here is some basic measurements.
Length: 24 7/8 inches
Width: 29 7/8 inches
Height in front: 36 inches
Height in back: 47 3/4 inches
Weight: A lot more than I can carry.
Approximate oven volume: 7560 cubic inches
Summary
I have used this oven for years. It has served us well but it certainly is nothing special. It is gas and cooks food well. The controls are easy to use, even though they are digital, and the self-cleaning feature is nice. I have had no major complaints with this oven, just a few minor one. The plastic handle is flimsy and the oven door lock can get stuck. The burners are also not perfect. But overall I am very happy to have received it as a gift.
Other kitchen tools I like.
Kirkland pot & pan set.
Villaware Meat Grinder.
Maytag dishwasher.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): gift
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