In an exciting first, this year Bluestar has introduced dual fuel ranges to their appliance
lineup, already winning a "best of cooking award" from the kitchen and bath association.
But what sets Bluestar's new dual fuel ranges
apart from the competition? And what exactly IS a dual fuel range?
In this video, I'll delve into why Bluestar remains relatively unknown in the luxury
appliance industry and discuss how their latest dual fuel range might be the defining product to
bring them into the limelight. I'll also tackle all key aspects of their new dual fuel lineup
including performance, design, and build quality and I'll compare them with Bluestar's existing
open burner all gas ranges. By the end, you'll have a clear idea if Bluestar's right for you.
Let's get started!
Hi, I’m John with Designer Appliances, NJ and NY's premier appliance showroom.
Purchasing appliances is a big undertaking, and I’m here to help make it easier. You can
expect that same level of expertise when you visit one of our showrooms.
As an industry insider I've been a big fan of Bluestar for years,
but most people who visit our showrooms are unfamiliar with the brand.
As a smaller company compared to industry giants, Bluestar focuses on innovation and
quality rather than extensive marketing, resulting in limited awareness. So if you
are looking for a flashy brand name to show off, Bluestar might not be for you.
However, if you're looking for restaurant grade performance or a one-of-a-kind,
custom-colored appliance, we highly recommend them.
Bluestar, an independent US company since 1880, manufactures all their kitchen
appliances in Blandon, PA. From ranges, ovens, and cooktops to refrigeration,
they offer a full suite of appliances. I recently had the chance to visit their
factory and witnessed an impressive blend of cutting-edge machinery, meticulous handcrafting,
and rigorous testing. But what really sets them apart is their expertise in paint powder coating,
which allows them to offer an impressive range of colors and finishes with quick turnaround times.
Bluestar's restaurant-inspired heritage guarantees exceptional performance,
yet its open burner cooking style can be intimidating to
some, potentially limiting its appeal. The recent introduction of the new dual
fuel range aims to bridge that gap and make Bluestar more accessible to a wider audience.
First let's clarify exactly what IS a dual fuel range
Dual fuel ranges, as the name implies, offer the best of both worlds by combining two fuel
sources. Gas for the cooktop, electric for the oven. Gas burners are highly favored among home
cooks due to their responsiveness, precise flame adjustment, and the visual indicator of the flame,
which allows for better control and a more intuitive way to monitor heat.
Gas ovens on the other hand can be unpredictable with temperature fluctuations,
which can affect baked goods. Electric ovens offer more reliable temperature
control for consistent cooking and baking. While some argue that gas ovens create a
moister roasting environment and offer a better broiling experience, we still believe electric
ovens are generally superior. What's your preference? Let us know in the comments below!
Keep in a mind, a dual fuel range requires both a gas line and high amperage 240v
electrical line. If you are upgrading to a dual fuel range you'll need to consider
the potential costs of hiring an electrician or plumber. However, if you're undertaking
a new build or renovating your kitchen, the associated costs should be minimal.
Bluestar's unveiling of their dual fuel range isn't merely about incorporating an electric oven.
i've witnessed it firsthand in our showrooms. If a customer expresses they love to cook,
we always make sure to show them Bluestar. Some people however are quick to dismiss it when they
encounter the open burner design. Unlike the conventional sealed cooktop surface,
the burner in Bluestar ranges floats within the cooktop, with an open space underneath. Any
water or grease that drips down is collected in a removable drip tray. This unique design
enhances airflow and heat distribution to your pans, but it may feel unfamiliar and some just
aren’t willing to make that big of a change when investing in a luxury range like this.
Furthermore, Bluestar's existing open burner ranges lack several modern conveniences,
such as a timer or even a screen displaying the current oven temperature.
For accomplished home chefs, this might not phase you. The open burner range is a valuable tool to
push culinary boundaries. However, for the rest of us, having additional features can greatly
enhance comfort in the kitchen and provide the space to develop our cooking skills further.
Bluestar has achieved a remarkable feat with their dual fuel range,
successfully blending the performance of their renowned open burner design with a
more user-friendly sealed burner configuration.
So what set's Bluestar's new dual fuel ranges apart from the competition?
First, let's start by looking at cooking performance.
With the dual fuel range’s cooktop Bluestar’s mission was daunting:
emulate the superb heat distribution of their open burner design but in a less intimidating,
easier to clean sealed burner format.
Let’s take a quick critical look at most cooktops on the market today. You'll notice the flame ports
are hidden beneath a burner cap. This design, while intended to spread heat evenly, still
manages to create an uneven cooking environment. Why? Because the flame that originates underneath
makes inconsistent contact with the pan via the cap, often leading to hot spots. The result?
Food browning faster on one side of the pan than the other. Or even worse, parts of your
meal ending up more cooked than others. This makes cooking frustrating and unpredictable.
This is Bluestar’s X-8 burner, a robust star-shaped design made from durable cast
aluminum. It has 152 individual ports and importantly, no burner cap. The result?
152 individual mini flames beautifully distribute heat across your entire pan - no hotspots,
just the perfect temperature wherever your ingredients lie.
Beyond heat distribution, the other key element in a pro-style range is burner flexibility. You
need the ability to transition from a high-heat sear to a gentle simmer.
Bluestar's X8 burners embody this concept. They go from a commercial grade high output
25,000 BTU, which is perfect for quickly searing, down to a delicate 500 BTU simmer.
To offer some perspective, most high-end pro-style ranges max out at 20,000 BTU. Bluestar's 25,000
BTU is a whopping 25% higher than that! And thanks to their unique burner design, this heat
doesn't escape around the sides of the pan as with other burners. The result? Faster boiling, enough
firepower for high heat wok cooking, and quicker heat-up AND RECOREVERY times for your pans.
In my experience, with many brands, this kind of versatility is often limited to just one
or two burners. You might have a go-to burner for boiling, another for searing,
and yet another for those low simmers. What Bluestar does differently is that every burner
could be your go-to, regardless of its position. All front burners can power up to a substantial
25,000 BTU and scale back to a subtle 500 BTU.
And they haven't neglected the rear burners either. These offer an 18,000 BTU high down to
the same 500 BTU low, maintaining the range's overall flexibility. With such a low simmer,
it's easy to forget a burner is on. That's why Bluestar has cleverly equipped each burner with
an LED light - a smart safety feature that indicates when a burner is active.
Now let's dive into the oven performance on this range.
One of the first things I notice on any Bluestar oven is the build quality of the
racks. Extremely heavy, thick stainless steel that glides smoother than any oven I’ve used.
These ranges come with two full extension racks as well as one standard rack. Even the
standard rack pulls out smoothly. And unlike other brands, these racks are specifically
engineered to withstand the self-clean cycle, eliminating the hassle of having to remove them.
The oven cavity itself is huge, spacious enough to accommodate a full-sized commercial baking
sheet which is a rarity in residential ovens. This means you can bake up to 20 cookies on one sheet,
or 60 at a time if you’re using all three racks, basically and entire cookie recipe
in one batch. It’s also great for large sheet pan meals. And this is all usable capacity.
Unlike other ovens that may yield different outcomes based on placement, Bluestar delivers
exceptional and consistent performance on all three racks. We’ve tested baking on this and
have gotten perfect results front to back and top to bottom while cooking on all 3 racks.
Bluestar's dual fuel range introduces a modern control panel, departing from the basic knob
controls of their open burner range. With an articulating user-friendly touch screen, you
have convenient control over eight cooking modes as well as access to cooking and kitchen timers.
What sets this interface apart is its simplicity. It's designed to get you cooking with minimal
effort. Instead of scrolling through menus, you can be cooking in as few as 3 touches.
Alongside standard cooking modes, Bluestar adds special features like dehydrating and
proofing for added cooking possibilities, as well as a sabbath mode. I for one am not a
huge fan of touchscreen in the kitchen, but this interface is refreshingly simple. For
those like me who sometimes forget what each cooking mode does, the solid lines in the
icons on this range's interface cleverly indicate where the heat is coming from,
making it easier to understand and select the correct cooking mode. For models with dual ovens,
a split screen mode displays the status of each oven simultaneously. And here's a fun
touch – you can even customize the screen clock color to match your range or your kitchen decor.
The oven performance on this Bluestar range is nothing short of extraordinary,
offering ample space, precise control, and a range of cooking modes to elevate your culinary skills.
These ranges not only perform exceptionally well but also look great.
The standard stainless steel finish is appealing, but the real excitement
comes from the wide variety of colors and trims available for customization.
You can choose from over 1,000 colors. I know that sounds intimidating but the options truly
are endless. To inspire your decision, Bluestar periodically introduces curated color collections,
like their current summer collection. But if that still isn’t enough you can even opt for
a custom color match. We had a realtor friend in Montclair who custom color matched her beloved
pistachio-colored KitchenAid stand mixer. We’ve even had people custom match their
favorite lipstick shades. These custom options only add about 10 weeks to the lead time,
while other brands can take six months or more for custom colors.
In addition to colors you can customize from 10 different trims,
from the standard stainless to different variations of brass, copper and bronze.
With Bluestar, it's all about impressive performance, robust build quality,
and unique customization. If you're interested in Bluestar for your home, what's next?
I would advise against purchasing Bluestar
appliances without the help of a trained sales associate.
Since each option on a Bluestar range is custom made for you, it’s a bit like signing your life
away so you want to make sure you get the details right. Also, keep in mind that
color and trim options may appear differently online compared to in person. To be certain,
it's highly recommended to see them in person before finalizing your choice.
There’s two options:
If you are in the NJ/NY/PA area, visit one of our showrooms and our team will be happy to walk you
through the Bluestar product line and work on a package of appliances to fully meet your needs.
Walk-ins are welcome but appointments help us create an even more tailored experience just for
you, so I’ll include a link in the description below. If you already know what you want you
can also give us a call and we can help you place and order.
If you're located outside of our area, don’t worry! As avid supporters of local appliance
businesses, we've formed valuable relationships with our competitors across the country. Simply
click on the link below, submit the form, and we'll provide you with a carefully
curated list of places where you can shop and enjoy the best possible experience.
Thanks for watching! If you have any questions or thoughts about Bluestar's dual fuel ranges,
we'd love to hear from you. Please don't hesitate to drop a comment
below. Your engagement truly helps make this channel a more informative space.