best 60-inch professional ranges for 2022

you will have a tough time shopping for a 60-inch range.

i understand the dilemma. you walk into a store and see one 60-inch range if you are lucky. not to slander our company, but we only have three on display per store.

it's also a confusing product to buy. you do have plenty of choices, yet limited brands. miele, jenn-air, sks (signature kitchen suite), monogram, and fisher & paykel do not produce a 60-inch pro range.

unfortunately, no one company dominates every feature, so choosing by brand reputation is not a promising idea.

what you want to do is pick the best features for using the range. spend some time assessing how you cook and what new features you will use.

if you were shopping at yale, we would ask you the following questions before buying a 60-inch pro range:

• do you like to bake or broil more?
• what is more important, grill, griddle, or burners?
• would you use a french top?
• how important are controls or smart functionality?
• would you use a steam oven a warming drawer?
• do you want max output or a low simmer?
• are you interested in a unique color?

answering these basic questions will help you choose the right range for you.

as always, feel free to leave questions and comments below. you can also download our free pro cooking buying guide for more detailed information on major brands.

let's dive into features and look at the highlights and problems of the best brands.

looking for answers about pro cooking?

short on time? download our free pro cooking buying guide.

key differences of professional ranges

the key differences between professional ranges are:

1. open vs. sealed burners
2. btu output
3. dual fuel vs. all gas
4. having a griddle, grill, or french top
5. single vs. twin convection fans
6. wi-fi and home connectivity
7. steam capabilities
8. warming drawers
9. custom finishes

open burner vs. sealed burner

bluestar open burner

sealed burners are what you have currently where only the cap is removable. it's easier to clean. open burners have a higher output and are more common in a commercial setting.

open burner ranges can be disassembled and cleaned in the sink. bluestar and capital ranges are open. viking, thermador, la cornue, wolf, and most others, are sealed.

burner output

the performance will vary by brand. btus (british thermal units) are used to rate the power output of your burners or oven.

open burners typically offer a higher btu rating and will be the closest match to a commercial or restaurant application. typically, open burners are bigger, with better oxygen flowing around the burner itself.

the drawback to an open burner is the cleaning. any overflow could potentially find its way down below the rangetop surface.

many companies now offer a powerful sealed burner. burners are typically rated from 15,000 to 25,000 btus. 

bluestar has 25,000 btu and 22,000 btu open burners. thermador and wolf in dual-fuel are 22,000 btu and 20,000 btu, respectively, with viking at 18,000 btu.

dual fuel vs. all gas

dual fuel is a gas rangetop and an electric oven. an all-gas range is a gas rangetop and a gas oven. before you automatically buy dual fuel, you should also consider all gas.

dual fuel ranges have more precise heat and are better baking. gas is better for roasting. 

the infrared broiler is also far better than an electric broiler in an all-gas range with direct, intense heat.

dual fuel is usually 10%-25% more expensive than its all-gas counterpart. electric is also self-cleaning. gas professional ovens can be either depending on the brand. dual fuel has added features in some brands like wolf for a 60 inch and sks, thermador pro grande, and miele, so it's not always an exact comparison.

only la cornue offers both electric and gas in their 60-inch ranges. for the others, you must choose the fuel type.

pro tip: buy a dual fuel gas range with a grill if you like to broil. the grill is just an infrared placed on the top, not in the oven.

griddle

thermador pro grand 60-inch pro range with griddle

griddle options are available with all brands. in a 60" range, they would be available in a 12" wide or a 24" double griddle.

there are three different energy sources for a griddle - gas, gas infrared, or electric. for example, in the wolf pro-range, the griddle has an infrared gas burner component beneath it, offering 15,000 btus of power.

the benefit to infrared is its intense direct heat, whereas straight gas spreads the heat more evenly.

on the other hand, thermador's 60-inch pro range will offer an electric griddle. it works off a "6-pass electric element" of 1,630 watts. the electric-pass-element is not as consistent or fast as that of the infrared wolf.

griddles can cook anything well. most diners still use griddles as the only cooking appliance. i remember when the old yale was on canal street in boston. demos, a dinner was across the street. the guy cooked everything from omelets to hot dogs and hamburgers on a 36-inch griddle.

you can always buy a griddle to cover the burners, but it's not thermostatically controlled and as consistent as an integrated type.

grill

bluestar professional range charbroiler

grill options are also available with all the brands that offer a 60" range. wolf offers a powerful infrared 16,000 btu output.

some may perceive a grill as a challenge to keep clean, but the benefit to infrared will burn any residue off.

straight gas spreads the heat more is not as hot, but you can control the temperature better than infrared. the cleaning is more manageable and isolated to the grates, and the stainless sides surround the gas-fed infrared plate.

both the viking and bluestar professional ranges offer gas-fed grill options. because they are not infrared, they are harder to clean. thermador has an electric grill with briquettes at the bottom to increase heat.

twin, single, blower, and pure convection systems

you want a range to deliver consistent heat, so you have more evenly cooked food. the terms can be confusing. let's eliminate the twin or two fan convection because it doesn't exist in a 60-inch range.

wolf offers their "verticross" convection system. wolf's convection system uses blowers instead of fans in their dual-fuel range. blowers can deliver more air faster and evenly than fans for more even baking.

that's why high cfm (cubic feet per minute) hoods always have blowers, not fans. this will help ensure true, even baking results.

viking's dual-fuel will offer a vari-speed dual flow convection system, which happens to be the largest convection fan in the industry. the 8-1/2" fan works bi-directionally.

bluestar offers the only third convection element behind the fan in their platinum all gas models. third, convection elements are often referred to as "pure" or "european."

you have more even heat circulation when blown from the back instead of heating from the bottom and picked up by a fan. electric is all pure convection. in gas-only, bluestar has this type of convection.

(small note: our chef had a decided advantage in winning chopped last year because she knew bluestar's pure convection system).

the best convection system is la cornue. the air is blown in from the bottom and provides "natural convection" with the arched top of the oven.

unlike other convection types, la cornue does not use a fan and keeps a naturally even heat throughout the oven without using a fan. this system also does not dry out the food like fan-blown heat.

special features of professional ranges 

steam

thermador 60-inch pro range with steam

steam is an amazing feature. steam adds moisture rather than baking out nutrients and flavor like any traditional range. you can cook anything in a steam oven, from brownies to proteins and of course rice and vegetables.

thermador will have a steam oven in its 60-inch range instead of a single oven.

warming drawer

thermador will have a warming drawer. you can keep food warm for up to three hours in a warming drawer without dehydrating the texture like a microwave.

food can be prepared, kept warm in a drawer, and then served to friends and family later. it's great if you cook at one time and your family eats later. 

wi-fi

thermador home connect

smart functionality has been improved but only marginally since its inception around 2015-2016. you will be able to turn your stove on or off remotely and change the cycle.

thermador has their homeconnect app, also allowing you access to recipes. wolf has their smart functionality but also adds its "gourmet" settings. you input the food and how you want it cooked, and the range calculates time, temperature, and even proper rack position.

smart is a convenience with basic features. it doesn't have the next-level functionality of taking that recipe and cooking with a voice prompt.

learn more: smart appliance buying guide

french top

la cornue château french top

french tops are the opposite of a consistent, thermostatically controlled griddle. the burner is located inside with the eat radiating out, so you can cook effectively at different temperatures rather than at the same temperature of a griddle.

you place your food directly on a griddle but leave them in the pans on a french top. bluestar, la cornue, and wolf offer a french top.

salamander broiler

bluestar professional range with a salamander broiler (left)

a salamander broiler is a four-position grilling rack, and adjustable burners allow you to cook with heat. you will get perfect results in half the time, from rare steaks to crispy chicken to delicately broiled crab cakes. 

currently, only bluestar offers a salamander broiler.

custom finishes

la cornue château range in pink

viking has 17 colors with a few trim options. la cornue has 50 colors and eight trims. bluestar has 1000 color options and ten trim options. you can also customize bluestar and la cornue with your own colors. soon, you will be able to upload a gif to be your bluestar range front.

now, let's look at the best 60-inch professional ranges.

best 60-inch professional ranges for 2022

la cornue château 150 - starting at $60,000

in the beginning, you learned about companies specializing in unique features and buying based on what you use. la cornue is the exception.

the château is completely customizable and still hand-made in their french factory. you have a choice of 9 different cooktops encompassing french top, griddle, grill, wok burner, teppanyaki, induction module, or all induction cooktops. 

you will have to choose between gas or electric ovens in every other range except la cornue. you will have both electric and gas in a château range.

as described earlier, la cornue's natural convection oven with an arched top is the best for baking or roasting while leaving moisture in your food.

in terms of finishes and trims, the château is the most elegant range available. you are buying a piece of furniture as well as a stove.

la cornue range problems

there are two problems with a château range. first, the price is three times the price of other ranges on the list. second, availability has been poor.

wolf dual fuel pro range df60650cg - $20,860

wolf all gas pro range gr606cg - $15,920

wolf is an american-made brand with over 80 years of experience in manufacturing high-end cooking products. sub-zero purchased the brand about 20 years ago and moved to wisconsin.

wolf is well known for its professional look, cooking precision, and a consistent 500 btu simmer with its dual-stacked burners.

you have a total of eight 60" range choices in their line-up, five in dual-fuel and three in all gas. wolf has good power and is the only blower convection in their dual fuel 60" range.

the griddle, grill, and french top are all infrared gas, not electric, for better response and easier cleaning.

differences between all gas and dual fuel wolf professional ranges

the cooking surface will be the same in the griddle and grill. however, the burners are more powerful in dual fuel at 20,000 max versus 15,000 in all gas.

• dual fuel: 9,200 btu (1) / 15,000 btu’s (2) / 18,000 btu’s (2) and a 20,000 btu power burner.
• all gas: 60-inch all 15,000 btu burners with (1) 9,100 btu burner
• if you choose a grill or griddle:
  • the grill is 16,000 btu
  • the griddle is 15,000 btu

the oven and controls are different. you have light-up oven knobs plus an lcd screen in dual fuel for controls. wolf's dual fuel range also offers self-cleaning and blower convection.

the broiler in the all-gas model is better with infrared versus electric in the dual fuel. you also have smart functionality in wolf's dual fuel ranges.

their dual fuel range may be the most versatile oven on this list with good output, options like french tops, and a better convection system.

wolf range problems

their gas professional range is a bit underpowered and only offers single convection.

thermador pro grand dual fuel pro range prd606wcsg - $21,849

thermador is a germany-based company and is part of bsh home appliances corporation, the third-largest appliance manufacturer globally.

thermador will offer four 60" ranges in their line-up, all of which are dual fuel.

thermador provides more elegance in their aesthetic, with softer lines and star-shaped burners. their star burners are raised, so they are the easiest to clean on this list.

their precision simmer is intermittent, which means it will cycle on and off to maintain an exceptionally low temperature of 100°f (375 btu) on 2 of their burners.

these ranges will provide decent output, listing with the following btu outputs on their burners: 12,500 btu's (2) / 15,000 btu (1) / 18,000 btu's (2) and (1) 22,000 btu power burner.

induction is a great option as it's the fastest to boil and simmer and requires less venting. you have a two-burner induction option.

two of their models have steam. you have a full steam oven instead of a second oven so that you can cook a meal in steam. steam adds moisture and doesn't bake out nutrients.

the warming drawer below will keep food warm for up to 3 hours. it's a good feature if you cook and your family eats at another time.

differences between the thermador 60-inch pro ranges

thermador is only offers dual-fuel 60-inch ranges. usually, thermador has two series, their pro harmony or pro grand. their 60-inch range is in the pro grand series only.

like the others, they have different grill and griddle configurations. the biggest difference is if you want a steam oven with a warming drawer below or straight double ovens.

thermador range problems

the grill and griddle are electric, so they are slower than gas. the ovens are single convection as well. the steam oven is a decent consideration, but you lose capacity from the regular four cubic foot oven. you do not have a gas option in a thermador 60-inch range.

bluestar platinum bsp6010b ($17,495) and rnb series rnb606gv2 ($17,595) all gas pro ranges

bluestar ranges originated in reading, pa, in 1880 from prizer-painter stove works, a manufacturing company of residential and commercial ranges, water heaters, furnaces, and heating stoves.

prizer-painter stove works continued to manufacture high-end cooking products for over a century. in 2002, prizer introduced the bluestar line, restaurant-quality ranges designed for the residential market.

you can customize all 60" bluestar ranges with 1000 colors for knob and range finishes plus (10) different trim options. seventy-five percent of bluestar ranges sold at yale are in color. bluestar is a good option if you want a unique look other than stainless.

bluestar offers tremendous variety within their 60" range line-up, offering (9) different 60" range options in two different series, the platinum and rnb series.

bluestar has double grills, double griddles, and french tops as well. they are also flexible with the open burner configurations as you can customize them to suit your cooking needs with various griddle, grill, and french top sizes.

bluestar has the only third element convection gas range for even baking. they also feature a salamander restaurant broiler on the top for caramelizing and searing.

differences between the platinum and rnb 60-inch pro ranges

bluestar has two series of pro ranges. their platinum is their most powerful, with two 25,000 btu burners, three 22,000 btu burners, two 18,000 btu burners, and two 15,000 btu burners. it also has the third element, convection, for the only pure convection gas range.

the rnb is less powerful, maxing at two 22,000 btu burners and several 15,000 btu burners. the rnb has an integrated grill and griddle for a more consistent temperature. the platinum is an all-burner range available with an enhanced portable, reversible grill/griddle.

the rnb is also straight convection versus the third element, "pure" convection of the bluestar.

bluestar range problems

it's not available in dual fuel and will never have a self-cleaning clock and timer, much less smart functionality. the grill and griddle of the rnb are not infrared, so the grill will not evaporate the drippings.

viking dual fuel pro range vdr5606gqss - $25,229

viking has experienced many recent changes. they are credited for developing the first pro ranges but now are a subsidiary of middleby company.

it's tough to talk about viking without mentioning past service issues. i think they are past that, but you may want to check locally. to be transparent, we like viking, but we do not carry the line.

viking is another brand with the option of selecting custom color finishes. viking will offer two 60" ranges in their line-up, one in dual-fuel and one in all gas. they're also specific to either natural gas or liquid propane.

viking's btu outputs on the burners are five at 15,000 btus and one burner at 18,500 btus. viking does offer a total of 17 finishes (colors and stainless).

differences between viking 60-inch pro ranges

viking has two 60-inch pro range series in dual fuel and all gas. unlike wolf, they have the same general specs. you would just choose which type is better.

are professional ranges reliable?

sixty-inch professional ranges require more maintenance than any other appliance. then again, a 60-inch range is two regular ranges with more power and more combinations on the top.

pro ranges in gas require service 16.6% of the time, while dual fuel requires service at 19.9% just in the first year.

as you are reading this, just know you will need service statistically twice while you own your range. along with looking at features, figure out the best repair agents in your area. unfortunately, it will differ by brand and by region.

our most repaired item is an ignitor. the good news is this is an easy repair on one burner. it should not be an issue with 6-10 burners available unless it's thanksgiving or another holiday.

which 60-inch professional range should you buy?

i still don't know what the best range is after three thousand and five hundred words into this article. it depends on how you use it. you must pick the features important to you.

first, you should ask whether you bake or broil more because the answer determines whether you buy gas or dual fuel. after that, pick the features you use the most.

the conclusion mirrors the beginning. you should buy what's right for you. often, we are "sold" by a store or website only to find out later it wasn't the best purchase. figuring out what is important to you is the only way to choose a range aside from reliability and service. 

you are buying highly technical products. make sure they can be fixed in your area. do some research. buying a malfunctioning range is a problem around the holidays.

below is a synopsis of the best features for you to review.

best professional range for btu output

bluestar offers 25,000, 20,000, and 18,000 btu burners in their platinum series of ranges in terms of sheer output. wolf has 20,000, and thermador does have a max of 22,000.

for simmering, thermador has the lowest at 100°f on a few burners with an on/off simmer, while bluestar offers a 130°f precise simmer. wolf's dual-stacked burners offer 500 btu with a consistent simmer on all burners.

however, the all induction la cornue 150 will have the fastest boil and lowest simmer, as will the thermador two-burner module.

best professional range with a grill 

wolf has the best grill because infrared is hot and simple to clean. their griddle is better, but thermador is easier to clean.

bluestar and viking offer gas grills and griddles. it's not as powerful as infrared, but you can control the temperature.

best controls on a professional range

like true commercial ranges, bluestar, la cornue, and viking do not have any controls.

wolf has some with light-up knobs and an lcd screen. their new smart, along with the gourmet series, is the easiest.

thermador has a tft digital display with wi-fi homeconnect to help you cook. you can also turn your oven on/off or change the temperature remotely.

best oven with a professional range

la cornue has its temperature-consistent oven and gas (roasting) and electric (baking) in the same range.

wolf has their blower convection in electric while bluestar is pure convection in their platinum series in all gas.

best professional range for special features

thermador has steam in its side oven with a drawer. cooking with steam is the best if you learn. they also offer induction. it's a great option for power and simmer.

best professional range for custom finishes

bluestar, la cornue, and viking allow for customization so your range can look different from your neighbors.

additional resources

get our free pro cooking buying guide with tips, trends, and reviews of all the best brands. over 900,000 people have already found answers in a yale guide.

related articles 

• best 48-inch pro ranges
• are wolf pro ranges worth it?
• how to buy a professional range