I got the appliance gene from my mother.
Nothing makes either one of us happier than a high end stove.
She loves stoves so much it took her a couple of months, 5 different stores, 3 sleepless nights and an astrology appointment to finally pick out a new one.
Me? I've known for years what new stove I'd pick.
A Blue Star.
But a 30" Blue Star range is $4,899.
So I figured I'd get the closest thing to a Blue Star. Maybe an actual used professional range from a restaurant supply store. Or an NXR. Or a bunsen burner.
Then one night, as I lay on the couch in a drunken potato chip stupor I was browsing the Costco website and my whole world changed.
They carried the Blue Star range. For $2,399.
That's $2,500 LESS than buying it from Blue Star.
It was such a great deal it immediately made me suspicious. So I did some digging around the great vast Internet and came up with a couple of reasons why the Costco version of the Blue Star was so much cheaper.
The burners are 15,000 BTUs each, as opposed to the standard version, which has 22,000 BTU burners. BTUs are "British Thermal Units" by the way. A standardized way of measuring heat output. The higher the BTUS the more heat from that burner, the faster you can boil a pot of water. Or scorch a pan.
To me, 22,000 BTUS is best left in a restaurant. I can't imagine any situation where I'd need more than 15,000 BTUs. Nothing legal anyway.
I have no idea what my current 16 year old stove is, but I can guarantee it isn't 15,000 BTUs per burner so I don't care. It'll be better than what I have and more than I probably need.
The other difference in the Costco version is the slide out oven racks. The fancy version's racks are on ball bearings. The Costco version doesn't have that. For a savings of $2,500 I'm pretty sure I can muddle through without the ball bearings.
And finally, the interior of the oven. The fancy version has a double glazed stipple commercial grade enamelled oven interior. Sounds good! Almost makes me want to spend another $2,500 on the oven. Wait. No it doesn't.
So the Costco version wins! By a long shot I might add.
I don't have the stove yet, but these are shots of it from the Costco website.
I bet you're wondering why I was so hopped up on the Blue Star. It's the burner.
Most gas burners are a single circle that runs around the outside of your pot. The Blue Star burner is in the shape of a star. A blue star as a matter of fact. This ensures the middle of your pot is heated just as much as the outside of your pot. So when you're simmering sauces in a pan the whole pan will simmer ... not just the outside.
I actually spotted this stove over a year ago. WAY before I had any inclination of redoing my kitchen. It's entirely possible the thought of this stove being out in the world, available for purchase ... may have subconsciously prompted me to redo my kitchen.
I wonder if Costco would take issue with me billing them for my kitchen renovation. Since technically they're responsible for it. Luckily for them my to-do list is quite long and by the time I get around to billing them the statute of limitations on that sort of thing may have run out.
So if you're in need of a good highish end stove ... I've done the research, and this Blue Star from Costco is a good buy for a really good range.
In Canada and need a Costco membership? I've struck a deal with Costco and they'll send you $10 back when you join up. Just use the code ILOVECOSTCO1 for a regular membership, or ILOVECOSTCO2 for the executive membership. The Costco button on the righthand side of my sidebar will stay there for the next month or so if you want to partake in the offer. Once the button is gone, so is the offer.
Although I can't imagine there are still people out there who aren't Costco members. You people clearly don't know the joy of knowing you'll never run out of batteries.
I honestly don't buy a ton from Costco, but it's worth it just for the few things I do buy there. Starbucks French Roast coffee, most of my meat, books and cleaning supplies. Those are my staples.
And pillow case sized bags of potato chips.
More kitchen updates soon.
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Ruth Moffatt
But it doesn't have red knobs...
Meg
You'll love a new range so much! We just upgraded and went with the GE Cafe series, not as commercial as the Bluestar, but it's pretty darn amazing. Now I need to finish stocking on making cookie dough so I can bake away this December.
Su
I have appliance envy now.... sigh
Jody
I had no idea oven racks could even slide on ball bearings. I now have stove envy--blue star shaped flame envy. Cannot wait to see the final reveal.
Darin
Oddly enough we are in the market for a new gas stove and really hoped you would do the research for me....and you DID!! BUT- when I go to the costco website here in states--- they don't have Bluestar! Is it only available in Canada??
Karen
I'm not actually sure now that you mention it, Darin. The odd time if Costco is out of something it'll be gone from their website and then return a couple of weeks later. I'll see if I can find out who you contact to find out whether they carry them. ~ karen!
Linda
Darin,
If you search for "Professional Range" on the USA Costco site you'll find 3 NXR ranges. That's another brand I hadn't heard of until this post, but seems to be somewhat Karen-approved.
FlagirlinTN
That might be a handy thing to have, if I cooked. Stove's are decorations at my house.
Lisa
I've been wavering between Yes and No about joining Costco - your deal tips the scales. As I read just yesterday (I'll paraphrase) "You don't have a crack in your butt to make it easier to sit on the fence" - so thanks for pushing me over the edge to the Yes side.
The Advicist
Karen you do make me laugh! I could live till I'm 150 and, thanks to Costco, I will never run out of batteries. Seriously. I must have thought Armageddon was nigh the day I purchased those.
Gini Lawson
We owned a BlueStar when we remodeled our kitchen in 2007 - we adored it - it was every single thing we wanted in a stove. It WAS difficult to keep clean, but if you want a restaurant-style range, well, that's what you get.
We moved out of that house (SOB) and ended up in a home with no gas line, so we bought a GE Profile Induction range, which we also adored - actually, my husband (the cook) loved it more than the Bluestar (which he had chosen) but then we moved again and now have a 1970's foreign model electric stove (24") BUT, we moved to Maui so who's complaining? Enjoy your new range - it rocks!
Shel
Love my GE Induction range too...works great, looks WAY cool, and easy to clean. Not sure it would have kept me away from Maui, either ... :-)
SeaDee
I want one too!! Never heard of it.
Oh the power you wield Karen!
And I love me some Costco.
Molly
Jealous. Again. My rental's awful stove just got worse because now I know that Blue Stars exist in this universe. Even the grate-thingy where the pot sits is spirit-crushingly superior. 4 struts only just suck, letting pots & pans tip & slosh, exactly like yours won't. Will I even be able to follow your recipes now?
Cathy Reeves
I lost my Costco virginity last March; it was the flank steak.
Debbie
Thank you for the smile I needed. I loved reading about your new stove. Now I can go to sleep a happy person.
Julie C
Until now - I never knew how much I wanted a Blue Star stove! Until now, I'd never heard of a Blue Star stove!
Bre
Gorgeous! The Blue Star's blue star is dazzling!!
Dana
Crap, now I want one. And I already have a 6-burner Ultraline professional (same as Viking). But the star-shaped gas rings are way better, especially if you're prone to burning your pots while out gardening.
Karen
I SO badly wanted a 6 burner. :( But it was a 6 burner or a cupboard to store my smaller appliances like toaster, etc. Toaster won. ~ karen!
Grammy
I love those burners. Seriously. I'm swooning over those burners. OK, Karen, I've fed you the straight line...
Linda J Howes
Nice!
wisconsingal
I agree with Nicole. Great choice. But I'm sad that us Yankees aren't in on the Costco deal. Boo hoo. Anything you can do to change that?
Karen
I tried, but they're two separate entities. :( I can ask again but I'm pretty sure it won't get us (you) anywhere. ~ karen!
Nicole
It IS lovely.
Marti
Lovely? It's AMAZING!
Congrats! I can hardly wait to see it slipped into position. W
Will it be in place by Christmas?
Karen
Yeah, um. That was the hope. It does not however, seem to be the reality. Delay on the cabinets which means delay on everything. :( ~ karen
Marti
Perhaps this might keep you entertained until you can have your Slice of Heaven installed?
Karen
If I could be bothered I'm pretty sure I could make that into a pretty fantastic (albeit illegal) candelabra. ~ k
Marti
See! That's the magic creative spark that draws us all here at midnight EST, Karen! Just exactly those kinds of great ideas!
Karen
I figured you came at midnight because you had a sleeping disorder. ~ k
Marti
It comes and it goes, just like me.
Really nice stove, though. You could almost start that home pizzeria… and with 15K BTU, you might get close to the temps of a wood-fired stove… particularly if you added a bunsen burner to toast the edges.