Review: GE Radiant Self-Cleaning Range Model JB968SL-SS
We chose this particular model one, because it matched the refrigerator and because it had all the features my husband, the chef in the family, was looking for. He loves to cook and had a mental list of specifics he wanted. All of these were met in this GE range.
This model has a self cleaning upper oven and a lower oven drawer that will hold cooked foods on it’s warm setting. A very nice feature. Right now it’s being used as storage. This is also meant to be a cooking area. It’s great for baked goods, pizzas, casseroles, biscuits and desserts. This drawer will hold foods up to 3 Ã?½” high. There is a rack included in this drawer that must be used when using the drawer. The racks are porcelain coated, a great material for easy cleaning. The lower drawer will use less energy that the upper oven. The area you cook on is a glass surface that has radiant surface with four burners and a warming area. Two of the burners are bridged for larger pans. This makes it perfect for pancake griddles. One burner gives you a 6″, 9″ or 12″ option this is referred to as a Tri Ring Burner. This way you can accommodate different size pots and pans.
There is a hot surface indicator light that will glow when you’re elements are heated. These lights will remain on even after the surface units are turned off and will stay on until the surface is safe to touch, cool below 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is a warming zone in the back of the glass surface on the cook top in the center. This area does not glow red like the cooking elements.
The oven offers bake, broil and convection roast. There is a cooking time pad that will shut the oven off when the time entered is reached. You can use the timer to do a delay start and automatic stop also.
The convection oven is particularly useful when making tender cuts of meat. It circulates air around the food. This will brown your foods as though they were being cooked on a rotisserie. The heated air helps seal in the juices quickly keeping your foods moist and tender while still allowing them to brown. You must use a broiler pan with the convection oven as well as a grid designed for convection roasting. You also have to be sure your cookware leaves room for air circulation. Metal pans are usually recommended for convection ovens. Glass or ceramic will cook more slowly.
An interesting feature in this model is the shut down feature. If you forget and leave the oven on it will automatically turn off after 12 hours during bake and three hours during broil if you’re in a timed cycle. Another warning feature are the tones at the end of a cycle. You get three short beeps followed by one beep every six seconds until you touch the clear/off key. For someone like me this is terrific. I tend to multitask and forget that I’m cooking anything.
This range even has a Sabbath feature I know you cannot cook during this time but I guess if you start the cooking before the Sabbath using your timer you circumvent this issue. This works on the baking/roasting feature only so this is a terrific stove religious Orthodox Jews.
There is a probe that comes with this range as well, to help control and inform you bout the doneness of your food. The probe is terrific for using on roasts an poultry. It takes any guess work out of whether or not your food is done and ready to serve. The settings help you control the probe. There is a probe button you hit and then you just pick out your desired temperature.
When you get your new range its suggested you do a few test runs to make sure the oven thermostat is set correctly. You can do this with your key word.
The range is very attractive with rounded long handles, the black surface and the easy to reach control panels above. Most pots will not block this panel.Be sure you use Cerama Bryte or a glass specific cleaner for your galss surface to avoid scratrching the surface or scartching the circles off.
GE offers a Service Protection Plus plan that gives you unlimited service calls with all parts and labor included, no hidden deductibles and no out of pocket expenses. We did sign up for this plan. There is also a clock feature. They will cover any appliance, anywhere, anytime. You can schedule service on line and the GE website is available 24 hours a day.
We’re very happy with our new GE appliances and will be buying the microwave and dishwasher next.
