Viking Dual Fuel Range Review – VDSC548T-4GQ

Starting in November/December of 2010, Viking began shipping there new Touch-Control Dual Fuel Ranges. In many ways it is a welcome addition to the current family of Viking Ranges. Curiously, the older and knob control only Viking Dual Fuel Range is still being produced. Not exactly sure why. The VDSC548T is in our minds what the knob control only VDSC548 should have always been.

Viking’s arch rival, Wolf, has had a computer controlled Dual Fuel Range for years and many customers would assume Viking’s lack of touch control technology meant an older, inferior design. Of course, there was never any real truth to that line of thought, but it was still a stumbling block for many when making their choice.

Couple of new things arrive with this range: Viking now has a true full-featured convection oven – like a temperature probe, convection roasting, and even a digital timer! One thing it seems Viking didn’t want to do is copy how Wolf implemented their controls into the range, and what they’ve come up with, I think, is equally as elegant. The new range features two mirrored panels to the left and right of the center knob. It is within these panels that LCD panels indicate settings, temperature, and times. From the front, the range still looks very much “professional”, and making the screens mirrored helps them to blend into the stainless when not in use.

Browsing the settings is as simple as turning the knob, and selections are made by pushing the knob in. Within the range, there are some improvements as well. Like a glass enclosed infrared broiler in the oven, a cold rolled steel griddle which now features a removable grease trough, cooking grids have been added to the as well grill. On larger range models, the left companion oven is now a full-feature convection oven – great for when you’re only cooking for a few people as the oven will pre-heat extremely quick.

Pros: New Stainless Steel knobs show well, glass enclosed infrared broiler, 24 colors

Cons: Chargrill still lacking infrared technology, bright blue LCD might clash with some color choices.