Introduction

Coming in at the lower end of the price range for, uh, ranges, the stainless steel JGB600SETSS shows that excellent things can come in affordable packages. Though its boiling performance was weak and the burners' temperature range was narrow, a great oven stands ready down below.

Additionally, some of the commendable features we found—such as a center burner, continuous burner grates, and convection fan—aren't usually found on ranges that sell for under $900, and these perks combine to boost the value this 5.0 cubic foot, self-cleaning machine.

Design & Usability

This stainless steel unit isn't a pro range, but it's clean and elegant nonetheless.

GE's JGB600SETSS has a simple, straightforward design that favors function over form. At the end of the day, it gets the job done and is (mostly) easy to use.

Like most gas units, the range controls are located along the front edge, limiting the amount of risky hand travel above the burners. The JGB600SETSS has five gas burners on the range top: varying from the 5,000 BTU back-right burner to the much more powerful 17,000 BTU front-right burner.

The large burner in the center of the range—called a "fish burner," because the shape allows seafood aficionados to cook a fish whole—is rated at 6,000 BTU.

The single oven has a capacity of five cubic feet. That's on the smaller side for ovens, but it's still large enough for several dishes at once. It comes with three racks, and only allows for five total rack positions. That is fewer than average, so don't expect a ton of flexibility if you like to load up your oven.

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Rangetop

This is a weaker rangetop, but it does offer the precision of gas heating.

This GE is burdened by a myriad of cons, yet it still retains the advantage of gas-flame control. Specifically, the issue with this particular model is its temperature range. While we did see some decent simmering temperatures, the highest heat our test pan hit was just 389°F, which is less than ideal for high-temperature searing.

The boiling results weren't particularly great either, but we did find that the 17,000 BTU "PowerBoil" burner was quite satisfactory, and only took 4.5 minutes to reach 212°F.

Oven Broiler & Convection

This is an impressive oven at any price.

Taking under six minutes to preheat to 350°F, GE's stainless steel machine is sure to please bakers and roast lovers. Overall, this oven demonstrated mostly impeccable results.

In almost all of our tests, the oven did a magnificent job of hitting the proper temperature, and staying at that temperature, without large unplanned voyages away from the target. The conventional oven was even reliable enough to get a better score than the convection mode, although we were pleased with the latter's performance, as well.

What we weren't pleased with, however, was the broiler. We hit the on/off button and very little seemed to happen. In fact, it never reached the 600°F temperature we look for in our broiler preheat test.

Conclusion

Even with its below-average burners, this GE is a bargain.

Found on sale for well under $1,000, this range seems like a steal—especially when you consider the oven's excellent performance.

The GE JGB600SETSS is loaded with features, too, and it offers excellent heat control with its gas-burner range. However, if you're partial to broiling, or require more than one powerful burner, keep browsing. Otherwise, while the price is nice, the exterior isn't going to win any design awards.