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Stove Top
Range in Your Vacation Rental?
by Robin
Fowler
If you are
renovating your vacation rental kitchen, or it just
needs a new stove/oven, you might be considering a
smooth top electric range. Before you make the choice,
consider the downsides.
Smooth top electric ranges are very popular in today’s
kitchens. They look sleek, and are relatively easy to
cook on and keep clean. But they require special care,
and might not be the right choice for your vacation
rental.
Think about the following if you are considering
installing a smooth top range in the kitchen of your
vacation rental:
• While ceramic electric ranges can be quite attractive
and modern looking in any kitchen, they really do
require special care in cleaning. You can’t use abrasive
sponges or cloths of any type; otherwise the smooth
surface will be left with unsightly scratches. Special
polishes are available to clean the top of a ceramic
stove properly. You can purchase some of that to keep in
the kitchen, along with detailed care instructions, if
you choose. However, some of your guests just might not
be that diligent in reading instructions or cleaning the
stovetop properly. And, a guest might cause damage to
the stovetop trying to clean it in the wrong manner,
though having the best of intentions.
• The ceramic top of the stove is just that – ceramic.
That means that it is potentially breakable. Something
falling out of an overhead cabinet, dropping a heavy
bottomed pot or pan, or any other heavy object falling
on it could crack or shatter the stovetop. Those parts
can be costly (and inconvenient) to replace time and
again!
• The risk of fire or accident is just too great. The
cooking surfaces of a smooth top range usually glow
orange when the heat is turned up for cooking. But, when
the heat is turned off, the stovetop looks normal, but
usually takes several minutes to cool off. If you place
plastic, fabric, or paper towels on the stovetop, a
mishap in inevitable, in the form of damage to the
stovetop, a fire, or a severe burn to one of your
guests! (Many models do have an indicator light to warn
that a burner is still hot)
Traditional electric ranges are recommended for vacation
rentals, mostly for your peace of mind. You can have
your cleaning person wrap the drip pans with aluminum
foil, so they can be changed and cleaned regularly. Or,
for a few extra dollars, you can purchase Teflon
(non-stick) drip pans, which makes clean up a snap!
If you really like the look of a smooth top electric
range, you might also consider putting an induction cook
top in your vacation rental. It has the same sleek and
modern look of a smooth top range, and with its magnetic
eye, the stovetop only gets hot when a pot is in contact
with the heating element. Thus, the risk of fire or
injury is GREATLY decreased.
Though they look great, you will likely find that smooth
top electric ranges will me more trouble than they are
worth for your vacation rental’s kitchen.
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Need
help? Call toll-free 1-800-929-VLBO
