Gas
Gas cooktops allow for fine control of heat, but they take longer to warm pans and have to be properly vented to avoid trapping combustion gases.

GE JGP637WEJWW ($779; www.geappliances.com)

Maytag MGC6536BD ($719; www.maytag.com)

Wall Ovens

Considerably more expensive than ranges, wall ovens can be placed for maximum user-friendliness at waist level or eye level during a kitchen renovation. Look for models with convection modes, which circulate heated air around food and cut energy use by approximately 20 percent.

The electric Frigidaire Gallery GLEB30S9F ($1,399; www.frigidaire.com) and GE Profile JT915WFWW ($1,799; www.geappliances.com) both come with convection modes.

Ranges

All-in-one ranges are more affordable than cooktops and wall ovens, and many at the lower end of the price range function very well. Choose one with a self-cleaning feature, which provides added insulation that cuts energy consumption. However, if you use the self-cleaning feature more than once a month, you lose any extra savings the added insulation provides.

Hotpoint RB757WHWW self-cleaning electric range without convection ($429; www.geappliances.com)

GE JBP84TKWW self-cleaning electric range with convection ($1,199; www.geappliances.com)