Every once in a while you actually get more than you pay for. Ranges are a great example: There are many expensive ranges on the market, but when it comes to great cooking, it often pays to pay less.

There are many good choices not matter what your budget is. You can buy a freestanding range or a built in range. The oven may have convection or other quick-cooking features. You can choose from gas, electric, or a combination of both. Those are just the basic decisions you need to make before buying. There are many extra features that help with the convenience of the range.

Even though they are widely available on cooktops, induction is just now making it’s way to ranges. Induction uses powerful electrical elements that produce magnetic fields, which will heat the magnetic pots and cook the food in them. Induction ranges are very good, but still very expensive. Several high scoring ranges can do many things at once with a second oven that can cook a side dish while the main oven is cooking the entree. Smooth-top models are the best selling electric ranges.

“Pro” Ranges are shown to be of poor value. Viking, claims that its dual-fuel VDSC530, has the largest oven available. While it is still a sizable oven, others can be found that are larger for less money. DCS says its gas RGTC305SS, delivers cooking to restaurant standards, but you’re likely to be disappointed when even broiling. Dual-duel ranges are also found to have no performance increase, and only a higher cost.

Unless you are stuck on quick fix meals (convection feature can add 250 to the price tag), you can find good cooking with a stainless-steel trim for under $1000.

Buy at the Right Time

At the end of the year, many retailers flip their inventory of cooking appliances making huge discounts on that year’s models. You will also want to look at the manufacturers website for holiday sales and rebates.

Be a little Skepticle

Manufacturers claim the dual fuel ranges offer the best quality gas and electric, but its been proven that many were beat out by less expensive all electric or all gas ranges.

Look for Features that Add Value

Look for a range that has at least one high powered burner or cook top element that will be great for faster boiling and hotter stir-fries. Check out slide in models if you want a built-in look for less money. Its controls allow for custom backlash. In the oven, convection settings can speed roasting times. Many ranges today offer a separate cooking drawer that allows you to prepare separate dishes at the same time at different temperatures. This is a great feature if you enjoy having company and entertaining.

Reconsider pro-style Ranges

In a recent Consumer Reports survey, subscribers shooed that owning a pro style range is a mixed bag. While most of them liked their high heat burners and fast broiling of the pro style ranges, more reported pricier repairs. Almost half of the models were repaired within an 8 year period. Compared to only 17 percent of repairs for regular ranges.

Don’t Forget the Hood

If you’re a avid cook, you will want a hood that can handle all of the heat and steam. Make sure the hood is at least as wide as the cooking surface it’s over.

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New ovens have added insulation and tightly sealed doors to cut down on energy. Self-cleaning models use much less energy because of higher insulation levels. However, I wouldn’t recommend using the self-cleaning option more than once per month or else you will be using more energy than you would be saving from the added insulation.

There are many new types of burners on the market for electric cook tops. These include: solid disk elements, halogen, radiant elements under glass, and induction elements.

Radiant and solid disk elements under glass are easier to clean, but they use more energy by taking longer to heat. It can seem rather long to boil a pot of water if you’re not the patient type. Induction and halogen elements are more energy efficient than conventional electric coil elements. Just know that aluminum cookware does not work with induction elements and they require only iron or steel pots and pans.

Unlike most electric cookers, halogen elements offer the power and speed of gas cookers with all the convenience that electric cookers offer. They generate heat with a bright burst of red light. The heat travels out of the lamp at the speed of light and instantly warms the specially designed glass cooktop above it (designed to withstand instant bursts of heat). Halogen and other electric cook tops are also better for safety over gas cook tops. Any gas leak in a home can be very dangerous. They are great for cooking, but safety is something to think about as well.

So whether you are going for convenience, style, efficiency, you have to decide which type of stove cook top to buy. So weigh the pros and cons of each and happy hunting!