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Appliance Glossary: Ranges
Look up the definition of terms and phrases related to ranges.

A - C \| D - G \| H - P \| R - Z

Appliance Glossaries

   Cooktops
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A - C

BTU
British Thermal Unit--a means of measuring the power of a gas burner. The higher the BTU number, the quicker food heats.

Bridge element
An extra element positioned between two main elements on a smoothtop that can be turned on to create a large surface area for long pans such as a griddle or fish poacher.

Broiler
The gas burner or electric heating element on the ceiling of the oven cavity or in a separate compartment underneath the oven cavity that is used to cook foods.

Built-in range
A range designed to be installed in cabinets as opposed to freestanding. Such units have unfinished sides.

Burner
The devices on a gas cooktop that produce flame or heat. A burner has a grate over it to keep pots and pans elevated above the flame.

Cast-iron element
A solid electric heating element made of cast iron. This element is also known as a hob, which is popular in Europe.

Coil
A type of heating element found on electric cooktops that delivers heat through a piece of metal wound in a spiral and set in a recessed area.

Controls
The knobs, buttons or electronic touchpads that regulate cooking functions. The most common types of controls are: rotary, which offer control by turning a dial; pushbutton, which are controls that invert at the press of a finger; electronic, which are low-profile press pads; or a combination of the three options.

Convection
A cooking method in which a fan continuously circulates heated air in the oven cavity while foods are cooking. May have a third heating element around the fan. Convection cooking can reduce cooking time by approximately 25 percent.

Cooktop
A cooking surface with burners (gas) or elements (electric) that is built into a cabinet or kitchen island. Cooktops are designed to be installed separately from an oven.

D - G

Door latch or lock
A lever, usually positioned above the oven handle, that locks the oven during the self-cleaning process to protect the user from the extreme heat generated during the cycle.

Double oven
A cooking appliance that features two separate ovens to let you cook or warm at different temperatures. Typically double ovens are built-in and feature two conventional ovens, although they may also be available in various combinations including conventional, convection and microwave ovens. Ranges may also feature double ovens.

Downdraft venting
An option on cooktops and some ranges that allows smoke and food odors to vent down through the unit as opposed to being pulled out by a range hood fan. The location of the intake for the vent varies.

Drip pan
On a gas burner or electric element, this pan is designed to catch cooking spills.

Drop-in
A range without side panels or a backsplash designed to sit on a base and between cabinetry.

Dual radiant element
A small element on a smoothtop surrounded by a larger ring element. The user can turn on just the center portion when using a small pot or turn on both portions to create a larger element for larger pots.

Elements
The way in which electric cooktops deliver heat. The two most common varieties are coil elements and radiant ribbon elements featured in smoothtop units. Another type of heating element for smoothtops is halogen bulbs. Located under the cooktop, halogen bulbs produce instant heat.

Freestanding range
A gas or electric cooking unit designed to stand alone instead of being built into the cabinetry. Freestanding units have finished sides.

Grill
A heating element with a rack on top of it for grilling foods.

H - P

High burner
A burner that provides more cooking power than a standard burner so foods will quickly heat up. Typically, a high burner will have 10,000 BTUs or more.

High/low
A range with a second oven above the cooktop.

Oven
The cooking cavity of a gas or electric range or a cooking unit designed to be installed separately from a cooktop.

Oven capacity
The volume of the inside of the oven measured in cubic feet. An oven has an average capacity of 4 cubic feet.

Pilot light
A small flame in gas units that burns constantly and is used to automatically light the burners and oven. Most cooking appliances today feature pilotless ignition systems.

Pilotless ignition system
Employs an electric spark to light the burners or oven, dispensing with a pilot light of constantly burning flame. Gas units with this feature must be fueled by both electricity and gas.

R - Z

Range
A gas or electric cooking appliance that combines a cooktop and oven (or ovens) into one unit. Ranges can be freestanding or built-in.

Range hood fan
A unit featuring an exhaust fan and light designed to be installed above a cooktop or range. Most hoods must be purchased separately from cooking units--unless they are built in as part of a high/low range.

Removable elements
Electric coil elements that can be unplugged or tilted up for easier cleaning underneath.

Safety
Safety features are designed for both children and adults. On a smoothtop, look for control lockout options, so touchpads can’t be activated when pressed; surface-on indicator lights that tell you which burners are on or still hot. On any type of cooking appliance, shop for knobs designed to be pushed in and then turned, making it difficult to start accidentally.

Sealed burner
On gas ranges or cooktops, a burner that is sealed to the cooktop preventing spills from flowing underneath.

Self-adjusting rear leveling legs
A feature that automatically levels a range when one side of the unit is installed and balanced.

Self-cleaning oven
Allows a user to lock the oven and set it to clean automatically using very high heat to burn off food soil.

Simmer burner
A burner that provides less cooking power than a standard burner to prevent foods from overheating. Typically, simmer burners have 5,000 BTUs or less.

Slide-in
A range without side panels or a backsplash that is intended to be installed by sliding it between cabinets.

Smoothtop
A cooktop or cooktop unit of a range in which the elements are placed under a glass-ceramic surface. Also called a ceramic cooktop. Smoothtops may feature one of three cooking elements: ribbon radiant (similar to a coil but set under the glass or ceramic top); halogen (halogen elements produce instant heat from a halogen bulb located under the cooktop); or induction (an element that uses a magnetic field for cooking and requires cookware made of magnetic materials).

Storage drawer
A drawer, usually placed below the oven of a range, designed for cookware storage.

Surface on indicator
A light often found on smoothtops that indicates a cooking element is on or is still hot, sometimes called a hot surface indicator.

Touchpads
A smooth electronic control panel that replaces knobs and dials and is frequently featured on ovens or smoothtop cooktops.

Warming drawer
A bottom drawer in a range designed to keep cooked food at serving temperature.

Warming zone
An area on a smoothtop range designed to keep cooked food warm for serving.