BlueStar Companion Series RNB244BV1 24 in. Pro-Style Gas Range

If you’ve ever wished you could squeeze a restaurant kitchen into a city apartment, the BlueStar Companion Series RNB244BV1 is basically that wish in stainless steel. This 24-inch pro-style gas range is compact enough for tight kitchens but cooks like it belongs on a line with a chef yelling “Behind!” every thirty seconds.

In this in-depth review, we’ll walk through what makes the BlueStar RNB244BV1 (often referenced alongside its updated sibling, the RNB244BV2) such a favorite among serious home cooks: its serious burner output, convection oven, infrared broiler, open-burner design, and almost ridiculous level of customization. We’ll also be honest about the trade-offsbecause no one wants to discover the lack of a self-clean mode after roasting chicken every Sunday for a year.

Meet the BlueStar Companion Series RNB244BV1

BlueStar is a Pennsylvania-based manufacturer known for building professional-style ranges for home kitchens. Their RNB (Nova) Series is all-gas, open-burner, and performance focused, offered in sizes from 24 inches up to 60 inches. The RNB244BV1 sits at the smallest end of that lineup but still carries the same “serious chef” DNA as its larger siblings.

The “Companion Series” name points to how this range is often used: as a high-powered secondary range next to a larger unit, or as a primary range in a small space where every inch matters. Yet despite the compact 24-inch footprint, it delivers the BTUs, oven capacity, and control you’d expect from a full-size professional gas range.

Key Specs at a Glance

Here’s a quick snapshot of what the BlueStar Companion RNB244BV1 brings to your kitchen:

• Size: 24" pro-style all-gas range (about 23 7/8" wide, 24" deep, cabinet-depth friendly)
• Configuration: Freestanding range with four open burners and continuous cast-iron grates
• Burners: UltraNova™ open burners up to 22,000 BTUs for high-heat searing and fast boiling
• Simmer: Dedicated burner capable of a very low ~130°F gentle simmer for sauces and melting
• Oven: Extra-large convection oven sized to fit an 18" × 13" commercial baking sheet
• Broiler: 1,850°F ceramic infrared broiler for steakhouse-style charring
• Construction: Heavy-duty, commercial-style stainless steel with robust oven door and knobs
• Ignition: Automatic electronic ignition and re-ignition for all burners
• Customization: Available in hundreds (often marketed as 750–1,000+) colors and finishes with trim options
• Fuel: Natural gas by default, with LP conversion kits typically available

On paper, that’s a lot of performance packed into a small box. In practice, it means this 24-inch range behaves more like something you’d expect to see in a busy restaurant than a typical apartment stove.

Burner Performance: Where the BlueStar RNB244BV1 Shines

UltraNova™ 22,000 BTU Power Burners

Let’s start with the burners, because they’re the star of the show. Typical residential gas ranges offer main burners in the 9,000–15,000 BTU range, with “power burners” sometimes reaching 18,000 BTUs. BlueStar’s UltraNova burners go well beyond that, hitting up to 22,000 BTUs on the RNB Series.

What does that actually mean in day-to-day cooking?

• Faster boiling: Large pots of water for pasta, stock, or potatoes reach a boil noticeably faster.
• Better searing: You can get restaurant-quality browning on steaks, burgers, and cast-iron skillet dishes without the flame feeling “maxed out.”
• Real wok cooking: With an open burner and high output, stir-fries get that elusive smoky “wok hei” more easily than on a standard home range.

If you’re the kind of cook who frequently uses big pans, heavy cast iron, or likes to batch cook, that extra burner power isn’t just a spec-sheet bragit’s something you’ll notice every week.

Precise 130°F Simmer Burner

On the other end of the spectrum, the RNB244BV1 includes a dedicated low-output simmer burner designed to hold temperatures around 130°F. That’s low enough to keep delicate sauces barely shivering, to melt chocolate without scorching, or to keep soups warm without reducing them into a salty concentrate.

This is a big deal if you’ve ever tried to simmer tomato sauce on a basic gas range and ended up with scorched bits caked to the bottom of the pot. With BlueStar’s simmer burner, you get a much finer level of controlespecially helpful for long-cooked dishes or anything dairy-based.

Open Burners and Continuous Grates

BlueStar is known for its open-burner design. Instead of the sealed bowls you’ll see on many mainstream brands, these burners are open, with the flame surrounded by removable burner rings and grates.

Pros of the open-burner setup include:

• More efficient heat: Open burners allow more oxygen to interact with the flame, which supports those higher BTU outputs and more responsive heat.
• Easy deep cleaning: Spills can fall through, but the burner components and top pieces are removable so you can clean them thoroughly at a sink rather than fighting with fixed sealed-burner bowls.
• Better pan support: The continuous cast-iron grates let you slide heavy pots from burner to burner without lifting.

The trade-off is that cleaning takes a bit more effort than on some sealed-burner designs. If you frequently boil over starchy pasta water or fry without a splatter screen, you’ll want to keep a semi-regular deep-clean routine. For many serious cooks, that’s an acceptable price for the control and power you get in return.

Oven Performance: Convection + Infrared Broiler

Extra-Large Convection Oven in a 24-Inch Frame

One of the pleasant surprises with the RNB244BV1 is how much oven you get relative to the small exterior footprint. The convection oven is designed to handle at least a half-size (18" × 13") commercial baking sheet. That makes it easier to roast full sheet-pan dinners, bake multiple loaves of bread, or handle holiday side dishes without resorting to tiny pans.

Because it’s an all-gas oven, the heat is slightly moister than what you’d get from a typical electric oven. That’s great for roasting meats and vegetables and works beautifully for everyday baking. The convection fan helps even out the temperature, reducing hot spots and giving more consistent results across racks.

1850°F Infrared Broiler for Serious Browning

Then there’s the broiler, which is not just a glowing strip of metal but a ceramic infrared unit rated around 1,850°F. In practice, this gives you:

• Steakhouse-style finishing: Sear steaks on the stovetop, then slide them under the IR broiler for a quick, intense finish.
• Perfect gratins: Mac and cheese, potatoes au gratin, and casseroles get bubbling centers and nicely browned tops.
• Fast toasting and charring: Crostini, peppers, and even s’mores are quick work.

Compared to many standard gas ranges, this broiler is more intense and more even, which is exactly what you want when you’re chasing that restaurant-level caramelization.

Design, Build Quality, and Customization

BlueStar leans hard into a “commercial in your home” aesthetic, and the RNB244BV1 sticks to that script. The unit feels solid: heavy oven door, sturdy knobs, thick cast-iron grates, and a front panel that looks more like it was lifted from a professional kitchen than a typical big-box store appliance aisle.

A few design highlights:

• Cabinet-depth profile: At roughly 24" deep, the range sits neatly with standard cabinetry, making it look built-in even in smaller kitchens.
• Handcrafted construction: BlueStar ranges are known for being hand-assembled, and the fit-and-finish reflects that emphasis on durability.
• Color and trim options: While the stainless-steel look is classic, one of BlueStar’s calling cards is the ability to order ranges in hundreds of colors with different trim metals and knob accents. If you want a cobalt blue range with brass trim in a 24" footprint, this is where you find it.

For design-focused homeowners, that customization turns the range from “appliance” into a focal point. For minimalists, the basic stainless version still looks clean, purposeful, and professional.

Living With the RNB244BV1: The Everyday Cooking Experience

Weeknight Power and Control

On a typical weeknight, the power and layout of the RNB244BV1 make multitasking straightforward. You might have:

• One UltraNova burner blasting a large pot of water for pasta
• The simmer burner gently coasting a marinara or cream sauce along
• Another burner handling a sauté pan of vegetables or a quick stir-fry

Being able to go from a roaring boil to a whisper-quiet simmer on the same range is what makes this feel “pro” in daily usenot just on special cooking projects.

Baking, Roasting, and Holiday Dinners

In the oven, the convection system and generous interior let you:

• Roast a full chicken with vegetables underneath, without crowding
• Bake two sheets of cookies with relatively even browning
• Handle a small turkey or multiple casseroles for holiday meals, despite the 24" footprint

All-gas ovens are especially friendly to roasting meats and vegetables, and the BlueStar’s convection fan helps keep browning more consistent so you aren’t constantly rotating pans.

Noise, Controls, and “Missing” Features

The controls on the RNB are intentionally simple: sturdy analog knobs for burners and oven temperature. There’s no touchscreen, no built-in clock, and no programmable timer. For some buyers, that’s a downside; for others, it’s a relief.

It also skips certain convenience features:

• No self-cleaning cycle: You’ll be relying on manual cleaning and good oven liners rather than pressing a “clean” button.
• No Wi-Fi, apps, or automation: If you want to preheat your range from your phone, this isn’t that product.
• Open burners require attention: Spills and splatters mean lifting grates and burner components for a deep clean now and then.

The upside is fewer electronics that can fail, and a straightforward, mechanical feel that many cooking enthusiasts actually prefer. It feels like a tool, not a gadget.

Is the BlueStar Companion RNB244BV1 Right for You?

This range is not for everyoneand that’s a good thing. It’s built for a specific type of home cook and kitchen.

Best For

• Serious home cooks in small spaces: You want restaurant-level heat and control but only have room for a 24" range.
• Gas-first cooks: You prefer the responsiveness and feel of gas burners and a gas oven.
• Design enthusiasts: You love the idea of a colored or custom-finished range that becomes the centerpiece of the kitchen.
• Tech minimalists: You’d rather have robust knobs and burners than touchscreens and apps.

Think Twice If

• You strongly prefer an electric or dual-fuel oven for ultra-precise baking.
• You want a range with a built-in clock, timer, or smart connectivity.
• You hate the idea of ever scrubbing an oven or dealing with deeper burner cleaningself-cleaning electric ranges may suit you better.
• You rarely cook at high heat and don’t need the extra BTUs.

Price-wise, the 24-inch RNB Series typically sits in the premium end of the all-gas range market. It’s an investment, but one aimed squarely at people who cook often and want restaurant-style performance.

Installation and Practical Considerations

Before you order a BlueStar RNB244BV1, a few practical notes:

• Measure doorways and hallways: The 24" width and 24" depth are a big advantage in older homes or apartments with narrow passages, but always confirm clearances.
• Plan for ventilation: High-output burners and an infrared broiler deserve a proper range hood that can handle the steam, smoke, and heat they create.
• Gas supply and conversion: Make sure your gas line is correctly sized and that you specify natural gas or LP as needed. Use a qualified installer who’s familiar with pro-style ranges.
• Service network: Because BlueStar is more niche than some mainstream brands, it’s smart to confirm local service options before you buy.

Real-World Experiences With the BlueStar 24" RNB Series (User-Style Insights)

While every kitchen is different, certain themes pop up repeatedly from owners and reviewers of BlueStar RNB rangesespecially the smaller sizes and open-burner models. Here’s what that looks like translated into day-to-day life with a 24-inch RNB.

The Urban Cook With a Tiny Kitchen

Picture a compact apartment kitchen with barely 8 feet of counter space. The homeowner cooks five or six nights a week, frequently entertains, and has zero interest in letting a mediocre stove dictate their menu. For them, the 24" BlueStar acts like a pressure release valve on the limitations of a small space.

On Friday night they might:

• Use one UltraNova burner to blister poblano peppers directly over the flame for tacos.
• Simmer a pot of black beans on the low burner for an hour without scorching.
• Slide a sheet pan of roasted vegetables into the convection oven, which fits comfortably despite the 24" width.

The range doesn’t feel “small” in use; it feels like a full restaurant workstation that just happens to be narrower.

The Weekend Baker Who Also Loves Steak

Another common profile is the home baker who also loves a good steak night. For them, the BlueStar’s all-gas oven and powerful broiler are a compelling combination.

On Saturday morning, they load two trays of scones and a pan of granola into the convection oven. The heat is even enough that they get nice browning without constant rotation. Later that evening, they:

• Sear ribeyes in a cast-iron pan over a high-output burner until a deep crust forms.
• Finish the steaks under the infrared broiler for a minute or two to achieve that steakhouse top char.
• Roast asparagus on a sheet pan on a lower rack at the same time, letting the convection fan work in their favor.

The result is restaurant-level quality in a footprint that still leaves room for a small kitchen island or extra storage.

The Stir-Fry Enthusiast

If you love wok cooking, the open burners and 22,000 BTUs are a huge step up from ordinary residential ranges. With a properly seasoned carbon-steel wok, the BlueStar lets you:

• Get a ripping-hot surface quickly for searing meat and aromatics.
• Maintain high heat even when you add cold ingredients.
• Create layered flavor and texturecrisp-tender vegetables, caramelized sauces, and a hint of smokiness.

The continuous grates make it easy to tilt and maneuver the wok without worrying about gaps in the support surface.

The Trade-Offs Owners Learn to Live With

The honest flip side of all the praise is that owners also accept a few compromises:

• Cleaning requires commitment: When you cook at high heat, especially with oils and sauces, you’ll need to occasionally strip the top down and clean burner components. Many owners schedule this like they would changing air filtersannoying but necessary maintenance.
• No “set it and forget it” electronics: If you’re used to setting digital timers or pre-programmed cook modes, the back-to-basics control scheme is an adjustment. Most people solve this with a simple digital timer or their phone.
• Heat output is real: The same burners that can power a restaurant-style dinner also demand decent ventilation and cookware that can handle the flames.

For cooks who genuinely use their range as the heart of the kitchen, those compromises typically feel like a fair trade for a compact machine that can handle serious cooking for years.

Final Thoughts

The BlueStar Companion Series RNB244BV1 24 in. Pro-Style Gas Range is not just a “small range with nice knobs.” It’s a concentrated version of a professional open-burner, all-gas platform, designed for people who actually cookand who want restaurant-level performance without needing 36 or 48 inches of floor space.

If you’re looking for a compact, powerful, highly customizable gas range and you’re willing to trade convenience features (like self-cleaning and built-in electronics) for raw cooking performance, the RNB244BV1 deserves a serious look. It can transform a modest kitchen into a confident, capable cooking spaceall while looking like it belongs in a chef’s loft kitchen in the middle of the city.

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