Pros
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7 cu. ft. combined oven capacity
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Has a steam rack
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AquaLift self-clean technology
Cons
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Some baking performance may be uneven
This KitchenAid has that sleek, sturdy, pro-style look—all knobs and shiny stainless steel. It bakes and boils well too. But more impressive is its clever array of features, including a steam rack, a wireless temperature probe, and a dedicated baking drawer. None of those extras get in the way of cooking. On the contrary, they should help you make more delicious meals.
The KSDB900ESS is cheaper than most duel-fuel ranges, but at around $3,000, it’s still not what we would consider a budget appliance. Still, if you’re willing to shell out for some sweet extras, we doubt you'll regret the purchase.
About the KitchenAid KSDB900ESS Dual Fuel Range
Basic knobs and that pro-style handle combine for a professional look.
Dimensions: 29 7/8” x 36” x 28 7/8” (W x H x D) Capacity: 7.1 cubic feet Finishes: Stainless steel Number of burners: 5 Number of oven racks: 3 Number of oven rack positions: 7 Oven features: Bake, Steam Bake, Broil, Proof, Keep Warm, Easy Convect Bake, Easy Convect Broil, Easy Convect Roast, Conv Bake, Slow Cook, AquaLift Self Clean User manual: KitchenAid KSDB900ESS
What we like
The range is feature-packed and versatile
Just two of the five burners can cook at low temperatures, two can cook on high, and two can boil quickly.
KitchenAid packed in a ton of extra features, which include a steam rack, baking drawer, and AquaLift self-clean. There’s also a wireless temperature probe, which allows you to set temperature alerts to keep track of a roast, even when you step away from the kitchen.
Combined with the baking drawer down below the oven, the KSDB900ESS offers a whopping 7.1 cubic feet of baking space.
If you want to perform multiple baking functions at once, or if you’re just looking to use a smaller cavity, there’s also a baking drawer that can bake, slow cook, and keep warm. Sometimes that extra space just comes in handy, whether you’re keeping dinner warm or baking a pie while your Thanksgiving turkey occupies the oven.
The range puts steam to good use
Pour water into the reservoir beneath the steam rack to cook with steam.
Cooking with steam has been gaining popularity over the past few years for its efficiency and ability to keep food moist. It's great for baking bread with a fluffy interior and crispy crust. But if you’d like to try steam without springing for a specialized steam oven, the KSDB900ESS counts a steam rack among its 3 oven racks. Pour water into a reservoir attached to the underside of the rack and join the revolution.
Sure, you won't have the same level of control as a dedicated steam oven would offer, but you will get the chance to experiment with your baked goods.
The KSDB900ESS doesn't just cook with steam it also harnesses it for cleaning. This range does away with the smelly, time-consuming, and prevalent pyrolytic self clean cycle in favor of AquaLift technology. It’s not as rigorous as a traditional pyrolytic self-clean, but it does mean you’ll be able to run a self clean cycle in under an hour without stinking up your kitchen.
What we don’t like
The rangetop burners are hit or miss
As a whole, the rangetop is quite versatile, able to reach high and low temperatures alike and boil water reasonably fast. But no single burner is the complete package. For example, the two left burners are the only ones that can simmer, but the two front burners are the only ones that can quickly boil water. If you're stir-frying or searing, stick with the center or rear right burners.
It's a lot to remember, and we wished for at least one burner that could do it all. That said, it's nice to be spoiled for choice, and the included griddle is a nice touch. Looks-wise, sturdy control knobs combine with continuous cast iron grates to give the rangetop a professional aesthetic.
The oven struggled with even baking
The cavity contains a gliding rack, offset rack, and steam rack.
But, how does it bake (and roast)? As it turns out, pretty unevenly. Some of the food we cooked turned out absolutely perfect, while other results were just fine.
Bake tests showed the KSDB900ESS does its most even baking with its true convection enabled, although you can give standard bake a try without too many adverse effects. Controls are straightforward and set in front of the rangetop.
We were a bit confused by the results of our standard and multi-rack convection cookie bake tests. Unlike the good results we got from nearly all other tests, all cookies we baked turned out unevenly browned.
We did test after test and still got the same result—brown in the left-rear corner, underdone towards the front. Even on multi-rack convection, both racks of cookies showed the same issues.
This isn't a deal breaker—but it's a surprise in such an expensive range that hits nearly every other test out of the park. We test with dark baking sheets, so if you buy this KitchenAid, consider a light-colored sheet to help keep thin items from burning on the bottom.
The oven took ages to preheat
The broiler heated up in under 5 minutes—not bad at all.
If you’re looking for a fast preheat, be forewarned: the KSDB900ESS will keep you waiting. We measured 16 minutes 38 seconds with standard bake and 14 minutes 47 seconds with convection. The broiler, however, takes less than five minutes to reach scorching temps.
Warranty
For one year from the date of purchase, KitchenAid will pay for repair work and replacement parts to address any defects in material or workmanship. This is a fairly standard home appliance warranty. For more information, please see the manual.
What owners are saying
The KitchenAid KSDB900ESS has an average 4-star user rating out of 3 across three major retailers. Users love the range's bevy of features, the warming drawer, and the overall appearance. The majority of reviews are positive, but the few negative reviews take issue with the very slow preheat.
Should you buy the KitchenAid KSDB900ESS Dual Fuel Range?
Yes, It’s a good duel-fuel range for the price.
KitchenAid clearly put a lot of thought into the features that come with the KSDB900ESS, and it shows.
A pro-style slide-in range should be sturdy and straightforward—and at a glance, the KSDB900ESS is both of these things. It’s only when you look more closely that you notice neat extras like the steam rack and baking drawer. Useful extras like these make the $2,600 sale price more palatable, and won't get in the way of your cooking.
The combination of gas burners and an electric oven make for a versatile range that we recommend for those who love to bake—but also sauté and sear. In other words, this KitchenAid has it all.
Meet the tester
Kori began her journalism career as a teenage fashion blogger and has enjoyed covering a wide variety of topics ever since. In her spare time, she’s an amateur poet, avid reader, and gluten-free cake baker extraordinaire.
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