Customer Reviews for GE - Cafe 5.4 Cu. Ft. Self-Cleaning Freestanding Dual Fuel Convection Range - Stainless/Stainless look
Customer Rating
3
Nice, but hard to keep clean & some quality issues
on March 25, 2015
Posted by: TonyV2008
from Detroit, MI, United States
Bought this back in Dec14. I went with the dual fuel only because I had an electric with a 220 before and didn't want to have to run a new 120 outlet for an all gas stove. It actually works pretty well this way as I was able to run the gas line easily and I prefer the electric oven. Have used the 2nd oven once so far and it does work well for small items...but seems to take a while longer (10min more than main for 400) to get to temperature.
As recommended, I ran the self cleaning cycle first. You need to have good ventilation because it does smell and that is expected. But, I have these streaks on my oven window that look like they are between the glass. I can't get them off. Can only see them when I have the oven light on or open the door. Seems like a QA issue maybe. Otherwise, it works fine.
Stove top gas burners work well, but some of them do not adjust much when going from 3-4 and so on. Others have also reported this and seems to be as intended. So, don't expect induction level control...but all the burners beats the pants off my old electric. Cleaning the top is a pain as everything seems to show up on the stainless top. Just have to keep up with it.
Lastly, I also received the back splash attachment and had to install it myself. NOT a fun project as the screws didn't align properly and when the self clean cycle runs, there is an exhaust streak that shows up on the back splash attachment now that I can't see to get clean. So, another QA design detail issue in my opinion.
Overall, a better appliance than my 30yr old electric range, but could use some improvements.
I'm absolutely in love with this oven and all of its features! I have yet to learn how to work it in its entirety, but what I've managed this far...I'm head over heels for! Only disappointment is that my oven light has already burnt out and sometimes when the oven door is open and shut the convection fan is rubbing against the metal casing and making a terrible noise. I should contact them to have it serviced, but haven't had the time.
Overall, I am very pleased with this stove. Would recommend that everyone read the instruction book. It really helped. Two things I would change - Illuminate the digital panel for the oven (hard to read) and make it less sensitive to change. Just leaning across the front can modify the settings. Note: Both of these things were mentioned in the reviews I read before I purchased the stove. Also, it is very easy to scratch the brushed stainless panel that runs across the top in front of the stove burners when you lift and replace the burner racks.
Nice piece of equipment. takes a long time to pre-heat but does a nice job when it is up to temp. Only other wish would be a button to toggle the convect and have different speeds. I guess I will have to go to Viking for that.
We feel like professional chefs working with this stove and our cooking with the ability to change and maintain temperatures exactly how we want is awesome.