May 2008
Samsung FTQ386LU SteamQuick range: First Look
This big-capacity range performs well, but one feature is lackluster
TRIPLE PLAY The Samsung FTQ386LU SteamQuick electric range, which has a three-fan convection oven, has done well in our performance tests.
Price we paid: $1,300
Date of Consumer Reports full report: August 2008
What it is. This 30-inch-wide, stainless-steel electric smoothtop range from Samsung features a three-fan convection system (most convection ovens have one), an oven with a claimed capacity of 5.7 cubic feet, and a warming drawer. The five-element ceramic-glass cooktop serves up a triple-wattage and a double-wattage high-powered element; two low-powered elements; and a single warming element. Along with its traditional self-cleaning cycle, this range also provides what Samsung calls “SteamQuick,” a light-duty cycle that gets the oven ready for you to wipe clean in 20 minutes.
What we liked. The range provides a large oven, ideal if you often cook large roasts or entertain frequently and want the extra capacity. The cooktop has done well in our speed-of-heating test and like most electric ranges has excelled in our low-heat tests (melting chocolate and simmering sauce).
What we didn’t like. The SteamQuick feature has not been impressive. To run the cycle through its paces, we bake about 2 tablespoons of our “monster mash” mess onto the bottom of the oven. (That messy mash contains, among other items, cherry-pie filling, tomato purée, egg yolk, mozzarella and Velveeta cheeses, and lard.) Following the manufacturer’s instructions, we add 10 ounces of water to the bottom of the oven and then run the 20-minute steam-cleaning cycle. After the cycle has ended, we’ve seen a substantial amount of stain in some spots—only the area where we poured the water got mostly clean.
Our initial take. The SteamQuick option on the Samsung FTQ386LU range might leave you, well, steamed—our preliminary testing indicates that it might not be able to eliminate most of a baked-on stain. But the range has shown promise in our other performance tests, primarily heating and simmering.
More information: Look for our full report on ranges in the August 2008 issue of Consumer Reports. For more details, see our ranges landing page and watch our range-vs.-microwave cook-off.
Date of Consumer Reports full report: August 2008
What it is. This 30-inch-wide, stainless-steel electric smoothtop range from Samsung features a three-fan convection system (most convection ovens have one), an oven with a claimed capacity of 5.7 cubic feet, and a warming drawer. The five-element ceramic-glass cooktop serves up a triple-wattage and a double-wattage high-powered element; two low-powered elements; and a single warming element. Along with its traditional self-cleaning cycle, this range also provides what Samsung calls “SteamQuick,” a light-duty cycle that gets the oven ready for you to wipe clean in 20 minutes.
What we liked. The range provides a large oven, ideal if you often cook large roasts or entertain frequently and want the extra capacity. The cooktop has done well in our speed-of-heating test and like most electric ranges has excelled in our low-heat tests (melting chocolate and simmering sauce).
What we didn’t like. The SteamQuick feature has not been impressive. To run the cycle through its paces, we bake about 2 tablespoons of our “monster mash” mess onto the bottom of the oven. (That messy mash contains, among other items, cherry-pie filling, tomato purée, egg yolk, mozzarella and Velveeta cheeses, and lard.) Following the manufacturer’s instructions, we add 10 ounces of water to the bottom of the oven and then run the 20-minute steam-cleaning cycle. After the cycle has ended, we’ve seen a substantial amount of stain in some spots—only the area where we poured the water got mostly clean.
Our initial take. The SteamQuick option on the Samsung FTQ386LU range might leave you, well, steamed—our preliminary testing indicates that it might not be able to eliminate most of a baked-on stain. But the range has shown promise in our other performance tests, primarily heating and simmering.
More information: Look for our full report on ranges in the August 2008 issue of Consumer Reports. For more details, see our ranges landing page and watch our range-vs.-microwave cook-off.
