Viking RDSCD2305BSS Review: D3 Series 30″ Dual Fuel Self Clean Range

Sometimes, we have to make compromises. We have to prioritize our desires and settle for satisfying a just a few of them while turning a blind eye to those left unfulfilled.

However, Viking has not mastered the art of compromise. Instead, the engineers at Viking have worked effortlessly to address all your desires in one unique line of luxury home appliances.

Viking’s newest line, the D3 series, combines stunning outer design with industry-leading functions, and the Viking D3 dual fuel range is no exception.

The Viking RDSCD2305BSS 30” range comes with the largest oven cavity in the industry while still fitting in a standard 30 inch opening. With 4.7 cubic feet of space, you get large capacity without having to rebuild your kitchen to accommodate your new range.

The largest oven comes with the largest convection fan in the industry, and for the most ideal convection cooking conditions, the fan turns in both directions to distribute air evenly throughout the oven. With convection cooking mastered, you’ll be happy to know Viking has also addressed the other end of the spectrum with the 10-pass, high-heat broiler.

Six porcelain-coated rack supports and three full extension oven racks allow you to bake more at the same time, so you’ll be ready for a bake sale or birthday party in no time. Viking also saves you time with its trademarked RapidReady preheating system that boasts one of the fastest preheat times in the industry.

In addition, the Viking RDSCD2305BSS self clean range requires no effort to clean the oven and very little effort to clean the cooktop. The sealed burners prevent crumbs and spills from falling down into the burner, and the knobs, burner grates and burner caps are all easily removed for effortless cleaning.

Of course, the cooktop surface offers more than just easy cleaning. With five burners, including an elongated center burner heating up to 9,000 BTUs and a dual stacked front left burner that heats up to 18,000 BTUs, you’ll be able to cook more at the same time. The Viking dual fuel range also comes with a propane conversion kit so there is no need to order separate parts if you rely on LP gas to power your kitchen.

With all these advanced features making cooking easier and faster, Viking doesn’t ask you to compromise on style. The D3 series was carefully designed to address modern aesthetic and to adapt to any homeowner’s unique preferences. For example, the knobs and handles on the Viking D3 range come standard with chrome inserts or can be customized to match your particular cabinetry. A 6 inch backguard also comes standard with the D3 range.

To accompany the high-capacity range with its striking design, Viking offers a matching over-the-range microwave, the RDMOR200SS, to complete the look and the functionality of your kitchen. The Viking D3 range comes with Viking’s signature 3-year warranty, protecting the entire appliance and all its features.

With Viking, you truly can have it all. No compromise necessary. And right now, you don’t have to compromise on price either. The Viking D3 rebate offers you $400 instant savings on the Viking D3 range.

The Viking RDSCD2305B range has become a popular option for home chefs who are looking to upgrade to professional cooking power.

Viking’s TruGlide oven rack system offers six different rack positions for total versatility in the oven.

Five burners, including a large center burner, allow you to prepare several dishes at once.

While the kitchen is full of appliances and gadgets galore, the piece that’s most central to the kitchen’s function, the piece that’s most integral to the home chef’s craft, is the range. It’s where pasta is boiled, where hearty casseroles are baked, where pan-fried chicken is cooked to crispy perfection, and where those healthy vegetables children cunningly attempt to avoid are prepared.

Therefore, choosing a range for one’s kitchen is one of the most important and perhaps most daunting decisions for the home. Brands such as Viking and American Range have earned quite a reputation for their commercial ranges, but how does one decide between the two?

Two popular choices for 30” professional style ranges are the Viking VGIC5304BSS and the American Range ARROB-430. Both brands boast a presence in the commercial kitchen market, and their residential ranges were designed with many of the same quality and convenient features of commercial ranges.

The Cooktop Surface:

Both the Viking and the American Range models feature high-power open burners. While many home appliance companies manufacture sealed burners for easy cleaning, the Viking VGIC5304BSS and the American Range ARROB-430 feature open burners, standard in commercial kitchens. Open burners get hotter faster and have larger flames. A drip tray below catches any drips or crumbs that fall into the burner.

The Viking open burner range features four burners that heat up to 15,000 BTUs. (One BTU heats about 1 pound of water by 1°F.) All burners can also be turned down to a steady, slow simmer with Viking’s VariSimmer setting. The four burners on the American Range 30” gas range have different heating capabilities. Two heat up to 25,000 BTUs, one heats up to 18,000 BTUs, and another heats up to 12,000 BTUs. This provides a little more variety on the cooktop surface for dishes that require extreamly high or low heat levels.

In addition to their powerful heating options, both cooktops feature commercial-grade cast iron grates. However, the Viking 30” range offers a continuous surface that allows pots and pans to slide from one burner to another.

Additionally, for convenience and thorough cooking, both ranges include re-ignition systems in case a flame goes out while cooking.

The Ovens:

Both the American Range and the Viking range feature powerful, large-capacity ovens with several baking, convection heating and broiling options. The American Range oven is slightly larger, but the Viking beats the American Range in power, by a narrow margin. The American Range oven is 4.3 cubic feet, and the Viking oven is 4 cubic feet.

The American Range bake burner reaches up to 28,000 BTUs, while the Viking oven reaches up to 30,000 BTUs. Similarly, the American Range oven’s infrared broiler reaches up to 17,000 BTUs, while the Viking oven’s infrared broiler reaches up to 18,000 BTUs. So you can opt for a little more oven space in the American Range, or more power with the Viking.

Weighing the Options:

Both the Viking and the American Range residential ranges feature powerful stove-top and baking options, easy cleaning, and reliable convenient features. When it comes to pricing, American Range beats out Viking by about $500 (with rebates). However, Viking offers a few more conveniences such as the continuous grate surface on the cooktop.

If our 30” pro range review still leaves you wondering which range is best for you, give us a call, and we’ll help you review the product features in detail so you can make a well-informed decision for your home.

The ARROB-430 features a pull-out tray for easy cleaning of cooking messes that drip through the open burners.

The Viking VGIC5304BSS features removable cast iron burner grates, making them easy to transport to your sink after a messy dinner preparation.