Upgrading your kitchen appliances is a significant decision, and the right gas range can transform your cooking experience. For many home chefs seeking a blend of professional aesthetics, powerful performance, and budget-friendly pricing, the Cosmo COS-965AGFC 36-Inch Gas Range often stands out as an intriguing option. This review delves into its core features, examines user experiences, and provides a balanced perspective to help you determine if this professional-style gas range is the perfect fit for your culinary aspirations.
What is the Cosmo COS-965AGFC 36-Inch Gas Range? An Overview
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC is a 36-inch freestanding gas range designed to bring a high-end, commercial kitchen look and feel into the residential setting without the exorbitant price tag often associated with luxury brands. As a prominent offering from Cosmo Appliances, it aims to deliver robust cooking capabilities for everyday meals and ambitious culinary projects alike. This model features a comprehensive cooktop and a spacious oven, all housed within a sleek stainless steel exterior.
It caters to a wide range of home cooks, from those who regularly entertain and require multiple burners and a large oven capacity, to individuals simply looking to enhance their kitchen’s aesthetic and functionality. Its design is particularly appealing to those undertaking kitchen remodels who want a professional-grade appliance look.
Unpacking the Features: A Closer Look at Design and Performance
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC is packed with features designed for versatility and control in the kitchen. Understanding each component is key to appreciating its potential.
Powerful Cooktop
At the heart of any gas range is its cooktop, and the COS-965AGFC doesn’t disappoint with its five sealed burners, each offering distinct BTU outputs for diverse cooking needs. The sealed burners are a practical design choice, making cleanup easier by preventing spills from seeping into the range’s interior. The heavy-duty cast iron grates provide a stable surface for all types of cookware and are durable for daily use.
The burner configuration includes:
- One 17,400 BTU Triple Ring Burner: This powerful burner is perfect for rapid boiling, high-heat searing, and stir-frying with a wok, providing intense and concentrated heat.
- One 8,200 BTU Rapid Burner: Ideal for general-purpose cooking, such as boiling pasta or heating larger pots efficiently.
- Two 6,900 BTU Semi-Rapid Burners: These versatile burners handle everyday cooking tasks with ease, offering steady heat for sautéing and simmering.
- One 5,000 BTU Auxiliary Burner: Designed for delicate tasks like melting butter, simmering sauces, or keeping food warm without scorching.
This variety ensures that you have the right amount of heat for any dish, from a gentle simmer to a roaring boil, allowing for precise control over your cooking.
Spacious Convection Oven
Complementing the robust cooktop is a generous 3.8 cubic foot convection oven, providing ample space for cooking large meals. Whether you’re roasting a holiday turkey or baking multiple trays of cookies, the oven’s capacity is a significant advantage.
The rapid convection technology is a standout feature, circulating hot air throughout the oven cavity to ensure even heat distribution. This process helps to eliminate cold spots, resulting in more consistently cooked and perfectly browned dishes. The oven offers five versatile cooking modes:
- Bake: Standard heating from the bottom element.
- Roast: Combines heat from the bake burner for effective roasting.
- Broil: Intense top-down heat from a 5,800 BTU broil burner, ideal for grilling or browning.
- Fan Convection: Actively circulates hot air for faster and more even cooking.
- Light: Illuminates the oven interior for easy monitoring.
The oven comes with two adjustable racks, offering five possible positions, which allows for flexibility in arranging dishes to suit various cooking needs. A digital display and electronic controls for the oven add a layer of modern convenience, allowing you to set the clock and timer with precision.
Cosmo COS-965AGFC 36-Inch Gas Range cooktop with five burners and cast iron grates.
Design & Build Quality
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC boasts a professional-style design that instantly elevates the look of any kitchen. Its premium brushed stainless steel finish is both attractive and durable, making it a focal point in contemporary kitchen designs. The front-mounted metal control knobs are not only stylish but also provide tactile feedback and an ignition safety feature, requiring a push-and-turn action to light the burners.
For installation flexibility, the range features a removable backsplash, allowing for either freestanding or slide-in configurations, adapting to different kitchen layouts and preferences. The inclusion of adjustable legs also makes it easy to level the range and match counter heights, ensuring a seamless integration into your kitchen space.
Pros and Cons: A Balanced Perspective
While the Cosmo COS-965AGFC offers many appealing features, it’s essential to consider both its strengths and potential weaknesses to make an informed decision.
Advantages:
- Aesthetic Appeal: The professional brushed stainless steel design and robust appearance are frequently praised, giving kitchens a high-end look.
- Powerful Burners: The variety and high BTU output of the five sealed burners, especially the 17,400 BTU triple ring burner, provide excellent cooking flexibility and performance for various culinary tasks.
- Convection Oven: The 3.8 cu. ft. convection oven ensures even cooking and roasting, which is a valuable feature for baking and larger meals.
- Value for Money: Compared to professional ranges from more established brands, the Cosmo offers a similar aesthetic and feature set at a more accessible price point.
- LP Convertibility: The option to convert from natural gas to liquid propane (with a separately purchased kit) adds versatility for different home setups.
- Adjustable Height: The range’s adjustable legs allow for precise leveling and alignment with countertops.
Disadvantages:
- Inconsistent Oven Heating: A significant concern raised by some users is the oven’s inability to reach and maintain desired high temperatures, often behaving more like a slow cooker. This can be a major drawback for baking and roasting.
- Potential Durability/Reliability Issues: While some users report long-term satisfaction, others have experienced issues such as bent knobs upon arrival, glass oven doors detaching, or igniter failures after a few years.
- Customer Service and Warranty Challenges: There are reports of difficulties with Cosmo’s customer service regarding repairs and warranty claims, with long wait times for parts or service. This suggests that while the initial purchase may be cost-effective, potential repair costs and hassle could offset the savings.
- Limited Self-Cleaning Options: The oven typically features a standard clean interior, requiring manual cleaning rather than advanced self-cleaning cycles.
Installation and Safety Considerations
Proper installation and adherence to safety guidelines are paramount for any gas appliance, and the Cosmo COS-965AGFC is no exception.
The range is designed for either freestanding or slide-in installation, offering flexibility for kitchen remodels. It requires a 120V/15A electrical supply with a 3-prong plug and proper gas supply connections. It is strongly recommended that installation be performed by a qualified installer or service agency to ensure compliance with local codes and ordinances, as well as safe and efficient operation.
Safety features are built into the COS-965AGFC, including an oven cavity cooling ventilation system that ensures safe heat dissipation. The push-and-turn ignition knobs also incorporate a safety mechanism to prevent accidental ignition. The appliance is CSA certified, indicating it meets rigorous safety standards.
It is crucial to ensure adequate ventilation in the kitchen when using a gas cooking appliance, as it produces heat and moisture. Keeping natural ventilation open or installing a mechanical extractor hood is advisable. Never use water on grease fires, and ensure all flammable materials are kept away from the appliance.
Interior view of the Cosmo COS-965AGFC 36-Inch Gas Range convection oven with racks.
User Experience and Expert Insights
User feedback for the Cosmo COS-965AGFC often highlights the “wow” factor of its professional appearance and the impressive performance of its cooktop burners. Many homeowners appreciate its ability to distribute heat effectively across various pans and quickly bring liquids to a boil. The wok ring, in particular, receives praise for its intense heat, making stir-frying a breeze. Users often describe it as a significant upgrade to their kitchen, performing better than previous ranges they’ve owned.
However, the user experience is not universally glowing. A recurring issue centers around the oven’s performance, with several reports indicating it struggles to reach and maintain high temperatures, effectively limiting its use to “slow cooking” or requiring significantly extended cooking times. This inconsistency can be frustrating for those who rely on precise oven temperatures for baking or roasting.
“While the Cosmo COS-965AGFC offers an undeniable visual appeal and powerful cooktop for its price point, potential buyers should carefully weigh these benefits against the reported inconsistencies in oven heating and the brand’s customer service reputation,” says a seasoned appliance technician from ReviewHix.com. “It’s a balance between achieving a professional look on a budget and ensuring all functionalities meet your specific cooking demands.”
Maintenance and Longevity Tips
Regular maintenance is essential to keep your Cosmo COS-965AGFC performing optimally and looking its best for years to come.
- Cooktop Cleaning: Allow cast iron grates and burner caps to cool completely before cleaning. They can be washed with warm soapy water and dried thoroughly to prevent rust. The stainless steel cooktop should be cleaned with a soft cloth and a non-abrasive stainless steel cleaner, wiping in the direction of the grain.
- Oven Cleaning: For light spills, wipe with a damp cloth and mild detergent when the oven is cool. For heavier soil, use an oven cleaner specifically designed for gas ovens, following product instructions carefully. Remove oven racks for easier cleaning with soapy water.
- General Maintenance: Periodically check gas connections for any leaks using soapy water (never a flame). Ensure that the oven cooling ventilation openings are not obstructed. If a burner does not ignite, check the gas supply, clean burner ports, and ensure the igniter is dry. For uneven cooking in the oven, ensure it’s fully preheated and racks are positioned correctly. If you smell gas, immediately evacuate and contact your gas company.
Addressing minor issues promptly and performing routine cleaning can significantly extend the lifespan of your appliance and prevent more serious problems. For complex issues like persistent oven temperature problems or gas leaks, always call a qualified technician.
Conclusion
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC 36-Inch Gas Range presents an attractive proposition for those seeking a professional aesthetic and powerful cooktop performance at a competitive price. Its five high-performance burners, especially the versatile triple ring burner, deliver excellent control for various cooking styles. The convection oven also offers ample capacity for large meals, contributing to its overall appeal. However, potential buyers should be mindful of the reported inconsistencies in oven heating and some concerns regarding durability and customer service.
Ultimately, the Cosmo COS-965AGFC shines for home cooks who prioritize a powerful and versatile cooktop, a stylish kitchen upgrade, and are comfortable with the possibility of a less-than-perfect oven performance or are prepared for potential service challenges. Is the professional look and high-powered cooktop enough to win you over, or do you require flawless oven performance above all else?
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of burners does the Cosmo COS-965AGFC have?
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC features five sealed gas burners, including one 17,400 BTU triple ring burner for high heat, one 8,200 BTU rapid burner, two 6,900 BTU semi-rapid burners, and one 5,000 BTU auxiliary burner. This configuration provides a wide range of heat outputs for diverse cooking tasks.
Is the Cosmo COS-965AGFC oven convection?
Yes, the Cosmo COS-965AGFC is equipped with a 3.8 cubic foot convection oven. Its rapid convection technology circulates hot air to ensure more even cooking and faster results, making it ideal for baking and roasting.
Can the Cosmo COS-965AGFC be converted to LP gas?
Yes, the Cosmo COS-965AGFC can be converted from natural gas to liquid propane (LP). An optional Liquid Propane Conversion Kit is sold separately for this purpose, offering flexibility for homes without natural gas hookups.
What are common issues reported with the Cosmo COS-965AGFC oven?
Some users have reported that the oven struggles to reach and maintain high temperatures consistently, often performing more like a slow cooker. This can affect baking and roasting results, requiring longer cooking times or adjustments.
What are the dimensions of the Cosmo COS-965AGFC?
The Cosmo COS-965AGFC measures 35.5 inches in width. Its depth is approximately 23.63 inches (or 24.94 inches with the backsplash), and its height is adjustable between 35 and 37 inches, allowing it to fit various kitchen setups.
