An industry first, Thermador’s Dual Fuel Steam Range, the PRD48JDSU, is quite the show-stopper. Thermador is marketing this range as the “Ultimate Culinary Center”, with built in electric convection oven, a steam oven, and a warming drawer. In fact, about the only thing you can’t do with it is wash the dishes.
It currently only comes in one configuration: the 48 inch variant with 6 burners and a Griddle. All the usual: Star burners, one 22,000 BTU power burner, a griddle/grill, commercial depth, and the usual giant temperature clock. Overall, the new design of the Thermador ranges is sleeker and more modern. Wide windows and shallow rails, along with some chunky legs make it stand apart from its competitors in design. Gone are the default ugly-as-sin blue knobs, Thermador’s sad, gimmicky attempt to stand out after Wolf’s trademark red knobs took off. The steam oven is convection (yay!) and features 3 cooking modes: steam only, convection only, or steam and convection.
Pros
The Thermador Dual Fuel Steam Range has many things to write home about. It is, sincerely, a solid built machine that cooks very well. Thermador’s engineers can be proud of the product they’ve designed. It is an industry first and a show-stopper. The oven cavity is ludicrously big, the steam oven is as state of the art as anything Miele or Wolf has out, and the warming drawer is the real deal. It looks fantastic on the floor and will look fantastic in anyones kitchen. All the oven racks are gliding, something we’ve been asking every top-tier brand for, and at least somebody’s listening. The unit comes with a 2 year parts and labor warranty that is greatly appreciated at this price level.
Cons
Speaking of price level… you’re about to be floored. The cost of one of these bad-boys, before taxes or shipping, is $14,000. I’m pretty sure this is the most expensive appliance BSH has ever manufactured and a far cry from the price of some of Thermadors other offerings. There are a few annoyances that we find hard to shake as well. Starting with Thermadors incessant need to make bulky ranges. They want their ranges to look more “professional”, we just want a range that doesn’t bulge way out into the walkway. It is a whopping 28 inches deep to the door, 30 inches to the handle, which makes it stick out past your cabinetry much further than you’d realize (and further than their marketing pictures suggest). This becomes especially troublesome in modern kitchens where every other appliance is usually neatly integrated.
A few other annoyances that aren’t limited to this unit in particular, but all Thermador ranges, is a simmer that must click on and off continually. This is simply due to the way their burners are designed. So if simmering is a big deal to you, look at some better options.
Service, as always, is Thermador’s Achilles Heel. Parts are expensive and decent servicers are few and far between.