The Overrated Kitchen Appliance Reviewers Say To Avoid

Buying kitchen appliances requires a considerable amount of research and can lead to a lot of uncertainty. For instance, you'll want to avoid wasting hundreds or even thousands of dollars on subpar cooking appliances with unforgiving warranty terms, so there's a lot you need to know before your next oven purchase. Many homeowners end up frustrated after purchasing malfunctioning kitchen appliances — particularly those who chose the Samsung Flex Duo oven range.

According to customers who purchased this oven range, they were left with a short-lived cooker on their hands, filled with frustrating quirks and limitations. Marketed as a handy, multi-functional cooking appliance that can function as a single, large oven or two separate, smaller ovens, the Samsung Flex Duo range is reportedly plagued by inconsistent temperatures and cooking speeds, as well as an overall lack of longevity. We gathered some of the downsides of the range below, adding to the reasons why many consider Samsung one of the major oven brands to avoid.

The issues customers encounter with the Samsung Flex Duo range begin with its design as a dual cooking appliance; even if you've determined that a double oven is right for your kitchen, this one is not a "true" double oven. To open the bottom oven door, the top door has to be opened alongside it, as they are essentially one single door with a hinge divider. If both oven compartments are cooking separate dishes, opening up the bottom compartment releases heat from the top oven in the process. Certain cooking modes, such as air frying and steam assist, are only available when the appliance is used as a single oven without the divider in place.

Beyond these shortcomings, the temperature settings of the oven range appear unreliable. One review states that the oven doesn't hold above 350 degrees Fahrenheit, a complaint echoed by others who report that the temperature tends to fluctuate significantly from the one initially set. The settings appear to be particularly unreliable when both oven compartments are active simultaneously; in addition, there is a limit to the possible temperature difference between the two compartments.

Heat appears to seep from one compartment to the other regardless of the setting, affecting the overall cooking performance. Homeowners report that food often comes out cold, despite high temperatures and extended cooking times; various dishes, from pizza to cake, are cooked unevenly.

The stovetop built into the Samsung Flex Duo range comes with its own set of issues. Some users share having to turn the heat up much higher on the burners than on previous stoves, yet cooking still takes longer. The stove controls additionally tend to fail a few months into use, perpetually setting the burners to high heat regardless of adjustments. Even after receiving a replacement appliance, one customer reported that they started experiencing issues again shortly after installation.

Another concern worth noting is that repairs and replacements are not always satisfactory. Some reviewers report that they called in to repair or replace parts on the oven, yet did not receive the service they required or found that the work made little to no difference. One customer shares that a technician replaced a part, yet the same issue persisted after the visit.

When attempting an exchange or return, homeowners have found that the warranty on the range is not applicable if a Samsung technician determines the appliance to be functional, which is often the case despite the appliance's issues. Obtaining an external opinion can be tricky as well; the problems with this range seem to go beyond the usual reasons why your oven isn't heating up, and many external technicians refuse to work on Samsung appliances altogether due to the complexity of the repairs.