Human ancestors started cooking food between 1.8 million and 400,000 years ago. Before that, people ate raw food — including uncooked meat!
According to experts, cooked food played a significant role in human evolution. Richard Wrangham, a scientist at Harvard, says cooking food essentially “predigests” it, making it easier for our bodies to process. Energy once used for digestion was put towards early human brain development, and that helped our ancestors get smarter.
Early cooking methods probably relied on rustic campfires, but people eventually made better options. The oldest stove on record comes from 1490 in Europe. Scandinavians developed later versions, then Benjamin Franklin created the Pennsylvania fireplace around 1740. Franklin’s stove design was extremely popular and helped inspire the more modern potbelly stove.
Today, modern stoves are common throughout the world — and they can be pretty expensive.
From commercial kitchen ranges to luxury cooktops, here’s our list of the most expensive stoves in the world!
8. Fulgor Milano Sofia Pro 48-Inch Gas Stove
Cooktop Type: Natural gas
Stove Feature: Dedicated cooking griddle
Range Size: 48 inches
photo source: build.com
Kicking off our list is Fulgor Milano’s Sofia Pro 48-Inch Gas Stove. As a full range, this stove includes an oven setup for every kind of cooking. The design includes a larger oven made for big meals and a smaller one for reheating dishes or baking small recipes.
Back on top of the range, you’ll find six burners and a griddle. The cooktop is heated by natural gas, which many pro chefs prefer over electric heating.
At just under $11,000, this pricey appliance is easily one of the most expensive stoves in the world.
Did you know?
Fulgor Milano is a big name in the world of luxury kitchen appliances. Beyond this stove, the brand also sells thousand-dollar microwaves and pricey refrigerators.
7. Bertazzoni Professional Series Dual Fuel Range
Cooktop Type: Gas
Stove Feature: Built-in convection oven
Range Size: 48 inches wide
photo source: build.com
Up next is this stove by Bertazzoni. The setup features a 48-inch cooktop with six burners, including two high-power burners capable of producing extremely high heat. Bertazzoni says those high-power burners are ideal for boiling water fast. The range also features two ovens, including a smaller one dedicated to reheating foods or cooking smaller dishes.
Overall, this pricey stove costs a whopping $12,199.
Did you know?
This stove includes ovens with a whole range of cooking modes. Chefs can use convection to get crispy baked goods, broil for toasted casseroles, or standard mode for basic cooking. There’s even a warming mode to keep dishes hot before dinner time!
6. ILVE Majestic 60-Inch Natural Gas Stove
Cooktop Type: Gas
Stove Feature: Freestanding range design
Range Size: 60 inches wide
photo source: premierhomesupply.com
Coming in at number six is ILVE’s 60-inch gas stove. Unlike many stoves, ILVE’s design is freestanding — meaning it doesn’t have to be set between your kitchen counters/cabinets. ILVE says the stove is a high-end workhorse, with a sleek touch screen display to control the temperature, set timers, and change cooking modes.
When it comes to the cooktop itself, this stove features brass burners. The unique design is ideal for experienced chefs. Brass is highly durable, and the metal’s nano-tech coating makes it non-stick. That means this stove should last for years.
At over $16,000, this is easily one of the most expensive stoves ever made.
Did you know?
Beyond the stove, this range features a dynamic oven system that’s perfect for everything from baking to broiling. The stove can even be set to a balmy 85 degrees, giving you perfect conditions for leavening bread dough.
5. Miele HR 48-Inch Range
Cooktop Type: Natural gas
Stove Feature: Built-in griddle
Range Size: 48 inches wide
photo source: mieleusa.com
Miele’s 48-inch luxury stove features sleek metal construction and six burners. The cooktop is a classic natural gas setup, but Miele takes things to the next level by adding a built-in griddle for things like pancakes, burgers, and grilled cheese sandwiches. The whole range is WiFi-compatible for easy heat management, letting you preheat and track oven temperature when you’re out of the kitchen.
Beyond the stove, this cooking setup includes two ovens: one for larger meals, another for smaller meals. Miele says the ovens are designed with speed in mind, helping you cook food quickly without compromising quality.
Overall, this pricey stove costs a whopping $16,799. Would you cook with it?
Did you know?
This stove has a safety switch that automatically turns off the range in case you forget.
4. Thermador Pro Grand Stove
Cooktop Type: Gas
Stove Feature: Unique star-shaped burners
Range Size: 60 inches wide
photo source: queenappliance.com
Gas stoves were developed in the early 1800s, but the technology hasn’t changed much over the years. Gas and oxygen mix to form a highly flammable substance that is ignited underneath a set of metal grates. Chefs place pots and pans on the grates while the stove’s constant source of gas keeps the flame burning.
Thermador decided to update the gas stove with its unique star-shaped burners. The design uses the same basic principles of all gas stoves, but it improves the technology by channeling the flames into a star shape that distributes the heat more efficiently.
Thermador says the design enables “superior flame spread for even heating.”
The Thermador Pro Grand Stove features star-shaped burners — and it’s very expensive. The range usually costs about $19,299, but some sell for over 20 grand.
Did you know?
This stove connects to WiFi so you can control it from your phone!
3. Wolf 60-Inch Dual Fuel Range French Top
Cooktop Type: Dual-stacked gas range
Stove Feature: Easy-slide French cooktop
Range Size: 60 inches wide
photo source: subzero-wolf.com
Wolf makes a lot of pricey kitchen appliances. The brand is behind products like a $20,000 fridge, so an expensive stove is a no-brainer.
The Wolf 60-Inch Dual Fuel Range French Top features an easy-slide cooktop, letting chefs easily push pots and pans across the stove. The cooktop also offers Wolf’s “dual-stacked, sealed burner design” that provides fine-tuned temperature control. Overall, the stove includes six burners and high-end LED control knobs.
Beyond the cooktop, this range offers top-of-the-line oven options. Convection, dehydration, and classic baking modes make it easy to cook any food, while the oven’s slick touch screen control panel makes preheating a breeze. The setup also features WiFi compatibility, letting you manage the oven from anywhere!
In total, this stove costs $21,935. Would you buy it?
Did you know?
This stove includes a temperature probe that alerts chefs when a dish reaches a certain temperature.
2. The Viking Tuscany Range
Cooktop Type: Natural gas
Stove Feature: Built-in convection oven
Range Size: 66 inches wide
photo source: appliancesconnection.com
Coming in at number two is the Viking Tuscany Range, a natural gas cooktop with a built-in convection oven. The setup includes a 66-inch footprint with additional storage options, including two lower-drawer storage bins set below the oven doors.
Viking says this stove features cast iron grates and TruGlide oven racks, making it easy to cook quickly and smoothly. The whole setup costs just under $30,000, making this the second most expensive stove in the world!
Did you know?
This stove has eight burners. The range can be purchased in blue, gray, green, red, and many other unique colors.
1. La Cornue Custom Stoves
Cooktop Type: Varies by design
Stove Feature: Custom additions like extra storage
Range Size: Varies by design
photo source: architecturaldigest.com
La Cornue Custom Stoves are the most expensive stoves in the world.
La Cornue is known for making the world’s most expensive custom stoves. Each design is unique, but common features include luxury storage options and top-of-the-line cooktops. The stoves can include a blend of cooking options, including high-end gas and induction.
Many La Cornue stoves come with solid walnut details alongside brass and copper finishes.
Prices depend on the design, but you could easily spend over $500,000 on a La Cornue custom stove. Non-custom ranges are cheaper, but they’re still very pricey.
The brand’s Château stove costs more than $100,000, and the Grand Palais 180 costs over $60,000.
So what’s the point of a stove that costs more than some houses? Antoine Bassoul, president of La Cornue, says it’s all about luxury: “…with a kitchen range, there’s an intangible element [of luxury]. People see the kitchen as the heart of the home, and, in a sense, the range can become a part of your family.”
Did you know?
La Cornue’s Château model produces over 30,000 BTUs (a measurement of how hot the stove can be). For perspective, most standard home stoves only offer about 7,000 BTUs.
