mix and match appliances?

[kenmore1978]

Big Box

And give the "little guys" a chance (if you have any in your area) rather than the Big Box Boys. Often they will order something the big guys aren't willing to do.

 

[westytoploader]

Hi Jaune,

The door is actually warped (not off the hinges--easy fix), so I can't really do much about that. The right hand corner isn't square with the right oven's door and the seal doesn't line up. I thought this was bad at first, but foods baked in the left oven actually turn out better than the right oven with the thermostat problem. As for that, I'll look for a GE 40" Range repair manual and try to tackle it.

--Austin

 

[goatfarmer]

If you pull the thermostat knob off,look to see if there's a hole in the center of the shaft.If there is,there's usually an adjustment you can make,using a tiny screwdriver.You have to have an accurate thermometer,to know if you're turning the screw the right way.Shouldn't take more than half a turn or so to get it back.

kennyGF

 

[parunner58]

We also did not buy all one brand when we remodeled our Kitchen. For money reasons we did not do the whole thing in one step. When our house was paid off we did the major re-do. All new hickory cabinets and corian counters and sinks. To match our cabinets and counters we picked the ALmond/bisque appliances. Since I am the cook, I got to pick evertyhing. We did a special order for a GE Side by side fridge becasue we did not want the water on the door. that was a mistake, they are so big. We would like to get rid of it and buy the nice counter depth ones. I wanted two ovens to bake in so I picked the GE Profile Micro/convection for over the Profile Smooth top range, i did not want to give up counter space for wall ovens. I love cleaning the smooth top. Mine has the bisque colored cooktop with two 8" burners with the bridge burner and the warming burner and the dual size 9"/6" one. The convection oven has three procelain racks that you can selfclean with no problems of discoloring. The dishwasher we picked is a Frigidaire Gallery with the ability to wash either the top or bottom rack separately. Since my daughter is away at college this comes in very handy with just two people at home. all the countertop appliances are Kithen Aid.

For Sacto,

I have cooked on gas stoves at home and when I worked in a restaurant until I was about 21. Now married, I have had electric for the last 20 years and I have found I can cook on them the same as a gas stove. I did find that you do need very good cookware for both kinds of electric stoves(coil and smoothtop). I had Farberware for 15years and that was good. I now have Calphalon hard anodized professional, not the nostick. I have found these are the best pots I everused. Then heat evenly and you can simmer sauces without sticking or scorching or fry a sunny side up egg and it slides right off to the plate. I know a lot of people that complained about electric and when I see the range it is usually a builders or very botom of the line models. As they say you get what you pay for.

Mike

 

[appliguy]

here is the skinny on who makes what for Sears

All the 40 inch ranges marketed by Kenmore and Whirlpool are made by Frigidaire (they make them for GE too). The wall ovens, cooktops, and 30 inch ranges are are made by Frigidaire, Amana, GE, or Whirlpool. Kenmore Fridges are made by Frigidaire, Amana, Whirlpool, or GE. Kenmore Dishwashers are made by GE, Whirlpool, or Frigidaire. The full sized 29 inch top loading Kenmore washers and dryers are still made by Whirlpool as are the Hettie front loader and matching dryer. The smalller front loading Kenmore and matching dryer are made by Frigidaire. The 2 regular Kenmore full sized stack units are made by Frigidaire, The Kenmore Elite model is made by Whirlpool as is the portable washer and dryer. They could have changed things but this is how it was when I sold appliances at Best Buy 2 years ago. PAT COFFEY

 

[Designgeek]

Here's my vote for "they don't have to be the same make, but they should at least be the same color."

Also, my strong vote for "deal with the locally-owned stores rather than the big-box outfits."

 

[bethann]

Personal prefrence

It all matters what is important to you! What kind of a cook that you are! For instance. If you bake, roast things a lot I would definitely go for convection. If you cook for a lot of people at once, 40in. stove.
My opinion. Everything should match if it's in the same room Make and color. But that's just my opinion!
As far as stainless goes it is a real pain to deal with! If you have small children around it's a big no no! I can keep up with it but we don't have any kids! One scratch across the grain and you have to rub it out with steelwool and polish. The benefit. You can change the color and style of your kitchen at anytime and it will match! You could also do that with white.
Basically you have to live with it. So do what makes you happy!

 

[retromom]

mixnmatch

Thanks Bethann! My husband is a bigger mess than the kiddos! I'll just tell him "don't touch".

Funny story about black appliances:

A friend of my husband bought a brand new shiny black side by side fridge. Every time he went to get water or ice out the dispenser, he would scare the bejeezus out of himself because he would see his own reflection and thought someone was standing behind him. Needless to say, he exchanged it.

 

[kenmore1978]

ranges

Whirlpool and GE are having ranges made for them by WCI?! Since both WP and GE are or did make their own ranges (with GE going WAY back) why would they go to the "enemy" to make ranges for them?

I know the car companies often bought parts from each other, but never whole cars EXCEPT during the waning years of AMC, just before Chrysler actually bought them, Chrysler wanted to continue selling the RWD M body cars (Aspen/Volare/New Yorker) but wanted to use the plant they were built in to build something else. Since AMC had PLENTY of plant space, they ended up building the last of the M body cars for Chrysler.

 

[retromom]

amc

Had to laugh. I had a 1981 AMC Concord. It was silver with a copper-coloured vinyl top and interior. Very spacious and stylish, except it got absolutely no respect. My co-workers used to call it the "Company Concord" when we took it to lunch.
Never had a single problem with it until....a bottle of bleach had rolled out of my grocery bag and managed to hide itself in the trunk. It began to leak, and for some reason my husband poked a hole in the trunk to let the bleach out. I think he poked a hole in the gas tank and everything went downhill from there. What a bunch of dopes we were! Got a nice new Volvo out of it though

 

[kenmore1978]

AMC Concord

Poor little AMC had to be commended for taking what was basically a car designed in 1968 and jazzing it up in the luxo-mobile it was in 1981. If you didn't worry about what other people thought of what you drove, and kept your cars so long that resale value didn't matter, AMC cars were the way to go. That 6 cylinder was a STRONG engine with 7 main bearings unlike the usual 3 that other companies 6 cylinders had.

 

[appnut]

Dave, I am not too thrilled with smooth tops either. And what is worse, full features are only on smooth top ranges now. Coil ones aer pretty basic now except for self-cleaning. Gas isn't an option for me. And I grew up with gas in our houses. What kills me is that I have a ton of pots & pans that probably won't work on flat surface, Revereware as well as Visions. I have duplicate and triplicate of some pot sizes. Would cost me a fortune to duplicate. :-(

I don't think the same brands have to be in the kitchen, just the color. And I've even got beyond my almond washer & white dryer. They work and right now it's all that matters.

 

[kenmore1978]

flat cookware

most any cookware that isn't that cheap stamped stuff that warps has a bottom flat enough to use on an electric range

 

[david]

venus, I grew up with those bugaboos too

MY mom was afraid of pressure cookers and seemed to prefer electric over gas. Not I! I love the way gas can be controlled and the great roasting from the moist heat. Electrics are really better for baking cakes, pies, cookies, you know anything that needs dry heat. One big difference in me and my mom. She liked to speed cook due to her busy schedule. When I cook, I am slow and methodical, but I can cook things mom never did-such as chicken and dumplings, old fashioned cornbread, homemade pie. It's relaxing to me and no reason to hurry. Thats what I like about my gas GE slide in. And the oven is gas with an electronic thermostat-ok, digital, and it cooks like a dream. In my last house I had a whirlpool electric slide in and never really thought it was a great stove. Always meant to have the oven checked for accuracy-it took 2 hours to cook a meatloaf!

 

[david]

continued from above

Oh and I forgot to mention pressure cookers are wonderful. Recently purchased a 4 qt aluminum Presto that I really love. I cooked a swiss steak for the biggest challenge and the meat came out so tender it would melt in your mouth. You know what a tough cut of meat roundsteak is. Wished I had bought one a long time ago.

 

[appliguy]

hey kenmore1978

Frigidaire only makes 40 inch ranges for Whirlpool and GE just like Whirpool and GE's bottom mount freezers are made by Amana and GE's standard dryers are made by Frigidaire (if you don't believe me compare the inside of a GE standard size dryer with a Frigiaire and you will see they are kissing cousins). As for the AMC Concord, which was introduced for the 1978 model year, it was a slightly restyled and luxurized 1977 Hornet which was introduced for the 1970 model year to replace the long running Rambler line. For the 1980 model year the Concord wagon, coupe, and sedan were given four wheel drive and called the Eagle snd was produced until December 1987. Meanwhile the regular Concord line was discontinued after the 1983 model year. The 1979 AMC Spirit and Spirit AMX followed the Concord concept in the fact that all the sedan version amounted to was a restyled 1978 Gremlin and the AMX just had a fastback body on the old Gremlin chassis. These two models were also offered as 4x4 Eagles as well for a short time, starting in 1980, but weren't very popular.

 

[kenmore1978]

AMC

The Gremlin version of the Eagle (Eagle SX/4) is REALLY rare, I've only seen 1 ever. And in the early days of the regular Eagle, 2 and 4 door body styles were available in addition to the wagon, and I've seen darn few of those. And like I said, it's amazing how AMC "jazzed up" the old 1970 Hornet design into the luxurious Concord in 1978. Prior to 1978, even a TOL Hornet dressed out in all the options available was sort of "plain"

As for the appliance "farming out", I believe you, it's just sort of amazing that these large companies would to to each other to make things. Seems like it would be a matter of "pride" to make your all own stuff, or maybe contract with a smaller independent company like D & M or a formerly independent Roper. This almost like GM going to Ford to build Camaros

 

[kenmore1978]

pressure cookers

I bought a brand new digital "Princess" electric pressure cooker I've yet to use, but looking forward, have several cookbooks for pressure cookers.

 

[appliguy]

Unfortunately its not a matter of pride but $$$$$$$$$

Kenmore1978 I agree with your last post 100 percent, but unfortunately its an economical issue. PAT COFFEY

 

[chachp]

Pressure Cooker

I bought an electric model from QVC about a year ago. I think it's made by Farberware. I love it. I have made, chicken soup (really good and really fast), many roasts, rice, ribs and even risotto. It's a great appliance. I've even made spaghetti sauce in it and am pleased with the results. Coming from an Italian who is accustomed to cooking his sauce for 24 hours, that's pretty high praise.

My only complaint is that it is too small. Mine is a 6qt. model and since I purchased it, they have come out with larger ones.