HOD Builder's Brief: Viking is a well-established name in luxury household appliances, but it would greatly benefit consumers to check out the up-and-coming brand, FORNO, which also offers high-quality appliances with luxury features and similar specs to its competitor at a fraction of the price.
In our rapidly changing world, technology has vastly changed all aspects of our lives, from how we get our information to how we cook our food. Luxury kitchen appliances have held onto the tried and true hallmarks of craftsmanship and dependability but now also offer features never before available to those aside from the rich and famous. High-end features are as exciting and beautiful as they are functional.
But for decades, luxury kitchen appliances have been too pricey for most to afford. But now, prices are becoming more competitive. Today, high-end appliances are coming out at more affordable, budget-friendly prices, and people are ecstatic to replace their existing appliances with beautiful, high quality, and durable upgrades that will last for years to come.
You probably know that picking the first appliance you see isn’t the best way to find kitchen equipment. But it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to compare so many brands and models. We know you want to invest your hard-earned money in the best way possible. That’s why here we’re comparing two popular luxury appliance brands, Viking and FORNO so you can easily see how their features, specs, and prices stack up, side-by-side. With this information, you’ll be ready to make the best decision for you and your family. Now, let’s check out a bit more about Viking and FORNO.
An Overview of Viking and FORNO
Viking is a kitchen appliance company that has been in business for almost 40 years. They have been leaders in bringing forward the modern luxury kitchen, by combining performance and design into appliances they are proud to put their name on. They get inspiration from the Mississippi Delta, where the business originated. Viking is committed to quality, innovation, and customer service, but their products often carry premium price tags.
FORNO is a Canadian company that focuses on style, functionality, and quality in their products. FORNO means “open stone oven” in Italian, so you can probably guess that they are deeply inspired by the tradition of Italian cooking. The art of preparing great meals in an open stone oven is a tradition of European cooking that has become a reason to gather family together, creating meals and memories with one another and enjoying delicious food.
FORNO has a goal to provide state-of-the-art cooking technology at affordable prices so you can continue time-honored traditions of cooking wonderful meals for your loved ones. They deliver durable and reliable products that have quickly gained them a reputation for revolutionizing the market of affordable luxury.
Now that you know more about these two appliance companies, let’s explore and compare some kitchen appliances by category to see which of Viking’s and FORNO’s top-selling products prevail in performance and value.
Comparing Viking Ranges to FORNO Ranges
What was once only a dream for most home cooks and chefs, luxury ranges are now making it into more family kitchens than ever before. When you are shopping for your own luxury range, you will most likely be looking for an appliance that has a “power” burner for fast cooking, has even and consistent oven baking, and offers extra features, like easy-to-clean parts and user-friendly controls. Ranges are typically divided into the following categories:
- Electric
- Gas
- Dual Fuel (Gas cooktop and electric oven)
Electric Ranges
For quality and dependability you can trust, the Viking 30” self-cleaning electric range and the FORNO 36” electric range with convection oven are great examples of luxury kitchen electric ranges with consistent, even results. Both ranges feature five elements for cooking and a glass ceramic surface for easy cleaning and even heating. The Viking elements range from 1,200 watts to 3,200 watts, while the FORNO model ranges from 100 watts to 3,000 watts.
The Viking model has a 4.7 cu.ft. oven, but FORNO passes up Viking here with 5.36 cu.ft. It’s clear there are many similarities between these two electric ranges, but the most substantial difference is the price. You will save close to $3,000 by choosing FORNO this time. With little to separate these two appliances aside from the price, choosing FORNO is a sure bet.
Gas Ranges
What should you look for in a new gas range? High performance with added features. The Viking 5 Series gas range and the FORNO 36” Gas Range deliver the goods. Both models offer six burners, with Viking’s “power” burner having 18,500 BTUs. FORNO comes in higher with a 20,000 BTU burner, perfect for searing a steak. Not only that, the other burners allow you to cook food at a lower temperature and even simmer.
The FORNO range is very similar to the Viking, with its deep, recessed enamel to prevent spills and continuous cast iron grates for easy cleaning. When it comes to oven size, FORNO wins this category with an oven capacity of 5.36 cu.ft., a bit larger than the Viking’s 5.1 cu.ft.
With so many similarities, it may come as a surprise that choosing FORNO will save you nearly $8,000 compared to their competitor.
Dual Fuel
If you want the quick heat of a gas range but the even and consistent baking of an electric oven, then a dual fuel range is the perfect solution for you! The Viking 48" Dual Fuel Range and FORNO 48″ Galiano Dual Fuel Gas Range & Electric Oven both offer the best of both worlds, offering similar models for chefs and home cooks alike.
The Viking features 6 burners with an electric griddle, while the FORNO model offers 8 dual sealed brass burners, perfect for keeping dishes simmering before dinner or a party, or for cooking several foods at once.
The total oven capacity is nearly identical between the two models. The Viking range is split into two ovens, with 4.1 cu.ft. capacity and 2.5 cu.ft. capacity equaling 6.6 cu.ft. total capacity. The FORNO has a double oven capacity of 6.58, a fabulous size to fit your holiday meal. The FORNO range also has a 20,000 BTU “power” burner compared to the Viking’s 18,500 BTU power burner.
With two ranges so similar in model, but having the FORNO with a slight advantage over the Viking, it is astounding to see the $17,000+ savings you will get if you choose FORNO over its competition.
Viking |
FORNO |
|
Gas Range |
$9,889.00 |
$2,099.00 |
Electric Range |
$5,609.00 |
$2,799.00 |
Dual Fuel Range |
$20,699.00 |
$2,999.00 |
Viking vs. FORNO: Rangetops
Rangetops are a convenient way to add some flexibility into your kitchen. Perhaps you want an extra place to cook for dinner parties, or maybe you prefer to have your rangetop separate from your oven. Rangetops provide the power to cook conveniently fast and have a sharp, modern appeal.
Rangetops offer you the flexibility of placing your stove wherever in your kitchen is most convenient for you and saves you space. The Viking 36-in sealed burner gas range and the FORNO 36 inch gas range top are similar in most aspects. The Viking Model offers six sealed burners with an 18,500 BTU “power” burner, all of which are easy to clean. Likewise, the FORNO offers easy-to-clean self-sealed burners, a 20,000 BTU power burner and also offers a concave wok ring and a griddle as included accessories.
The most notable difference between the two is the price. Choosing FORNO for your rangetop will save you over $5,000, which is a pretty massive bargain.
Viking and FORNO Refrigerators
As far as free-standing refrigerator freezers go, the Viking 36” French-Door Bottom Freezer is strikingly similar to the FORNO 36” Moena French Door Refrigerator Freezer. Both models feature french doors with a bottom freezer, ice maker, LED lights, and are Energy Star appliances. Their capacity is nearly identical as well. The Viking refrigerator has a 13.3 cu.ft. capacity and its freezer is 6.56 cu.ft. Likewise, the FORNO model has a 12.1 cu.ft refrigerator and a 7.1 cu.ft. freezer.
FORNO offers two freezers drawers instead of Viking’s single one. Having two drawers keeps the freezer better organized. Aside from the freezer drawers, there isn’t much to differentiate between these two appliances except for the price. Going with the FORNO refrigerator will save you over $2800.
Built-In Refrigerators
The high-quality, streamlined look that a built-in refrigerator gives a kitchen is second to none. The Viking Built-In Refrigerator Freezer consists of a 30-inch refrigerator against a 30-inch freezer, matched with a 60-inch wide grill kit. Similarly, the FORNO 60 inch Rizzuto Prostyle Built-In Refrigerator Freezer is comprised of a 28-inch refrigerator set against a 28-inch freezer with an included trim kit, making the two units appear as one. Each Viking refrigerator is 18.4 cu.ft. and the freezer is 15.9 cu.ft., while the FORNO units are 13.8 cu.ft. each.
The Viking built-in and the FORNO each have bright LED lights and door alarms, but the FORNO model is also an Energy Star appliance. Besides this great extra benefit that will save you money throughout the year, the most notable difference between these two products is the extraordinary price gap. You will save yourself nearly $18,000 by choosing the FORNO! This looks like a sure bet considering the products are nearly identical and the significantly cheaper product is also Energy Star.
Comparing Range Hoods: Viking vs. FORNO
No one wants their kitchen to smell like what they ate for dinner last night. A range hood is an essential kitchen appliance designed to eliminate smoke, steam, grease, and food aromas during and after you cook. Viking and FORNO have two similar looking range hoods with vastly different performance power. The FORNO 36-inch Wall Mount Range Hood will vent air at a massive 1,200 CFM, while the Viking Wall Mount Range Hood is lacking in this category, coming in at 460 CFM.
Not only is the FORNO model powerful, it has a decorative stainless steel crown molding and has four surface lights for superior illumination and energy efficiency as opposed to Viking’s two. It also has noise reduction technology. At the lowest setting, the sound registers at 25 DB and at the max setting, it still comes in at a quiet 68 decibels. The Viking model doesn’t even include mention of noise reduction in its specs. The FORNO range hood is the winner across the board when it comes to performance and features, and that doesn't even take into account the price. Choosing FORNO over its competitor is a win-win situation because it will also save you $900.
Comparing Viking vs. FORNO Dishwashers
The convenience of a dishwasher cannot be overstated. Most families today rely on dishwashers to help them get their daily responsibilities finished. Having a dishwasher that can fit a lot of dishes and runs quietly is important to most of us. Let’s compare the Viking 24 inch dishwasher to the FORNO 24” Dishwasher and see which is the better choice.
Both the Viking dishwasher and the FORNO have multiple wash cycles- the Viking with 8 and FORNO with 6. They each have adjustable racks to fit more dishes. The Viking model can hold up to 16 international place settings, and the FORNO model can hold 14. The FORNO dishwasher runs at a super quiet 49 dB. The Viking dishwasher doesn’t offer this spec but it has three layers of insulation to make the machine run quietly.
As you can see, these two dishwashers are similar in size and performance. The real difference between these appliances is the cost. You will save almost $1,400 by choosing FORNO rather than the Viking.
Microwave Drawer Comparison: Viking vs. FORNO
The microwave drawer is a modern take on the microwave. It allows you to access your food more easily without spilling it, and it enables you to sit your food down into the drawer from the top rather than front loading. The microwave drawer has more flexibility for placement. It's a great space saving appliance that will make your life easier. Viking and FORNO have microwave drawers here that are nearly identical in many ways. Let’s compare them to see which performs better and is a better purchase.
Both the Viking 24-inch Microwave Drawer and the FORNO 24-inch Microwave Drawer have a capacity of 1.2 cubic feet and include multiple microwave modes, touch controls, as well as 11 power levels. Each microwave drawer offers sensor cooking, like defrost and reheat, giving you full microwave functionality. They also both have a 1,000 watt cooking power and will open and close with the touch of a button.
The Viking and FORNO microwave drawers are so alike, the only notable difference between these two items is the price. For the FORNO, you will be paying nearly $1,500 less than its pricier competition.
If you prefer a traditional microwave over a microwave drawer, FORNO has you covered there too. The FORNO Built-In 1.6 cu.ft. Microwave Oven in Stainless Steel has 1,000 total watts of cooking power and 11 power levels. It can hold dishes up to 16 inches by 16 inches.
Viking vs. FORNO Appliance Package Comparison
Lastly, let’s not forget that purchasing items as an appliance package can save you a great deal of money. The pictures above show packages from Viking and FORNO’s popular models. These are four-item packages with the most important kitchen appliances included. Not only can you be sure to save money, you will also achieve a cohesive look by matching all of your main kitchen appliances. Whether you are updating your kitchen or you are a builder looking to outfit a newly built kitchen, a package deal like this will give you the professional, streamlined look you want to see when you walk into a fresh, new kitchen.
As you can see, these two packages show you just how much money you can save by not only going with a packaged deal, but also by choosing the FORNO luxury appliance package for your kitchen needs. Here, you will save nearly $17,000. That is a massive savings considering the similarities between these products.
Final Thoughts on Viking versus FORNO Kitchen Appliances
If you want the high-quality, dependability, and user-friendly features of luxury appliances but without the high price tag, FORNO is a smart choice.
HOME OUTLET DIRECT is the perfect place to shop online for your high-end luxury kitchen appliances at affordable prices. It is easy to find just what you need with this preferred dealer of FORNO appliances, which provides great quality and brands you can trust at exciting low prices.
Extra discounts and special rates are given to builders and military personnel, as well as financing with our Affirm payment program, so you can enjoy your appliances right away and pay as you go.
Home Outlet Direct is ready to help you today. Don’t let high price tags stop you from starting your dream remodeling job right now. You have options to do the upgrades your family deserves. Call us today or chat online with one of our expert team members to get help with your order, and enjoy your shopping experience.