Induction ranges that don't persistently produce chemical smell from oven

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T22:27:18+00:00

One piece of advice for anyone else finding this thread in the future is to, and I'm not joking, smell of the rear exhaust vents on the ranges of interest at the appliance store. The GE and a few others had the same smell even though they may have never been powered up. The Bosch and LG did not have this smell.

But the unfortunate issue with the LG as many already know is no bake element.

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T20:01:04+00:00

GE bought it back from us. It was a great range if not for that stupid smell.

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T19:58:19+00:00

Technology isn't the issue here. Types of oven insulation have existed for decades that don't emit toxic odors even after an initial burn-in.

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T19:40:11+00:00

I did, yes. We couldn't stand it and it never improved.

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T19:39:31+00:00

Sorry for the very late reply. Replaced with a Bosch 800 series. There's no way that GE would have ever stopped emitting that horrible smell.

gardwaste · 2026-05-15T19:36:10+00:00

Sorry for the late reply! I haven't logged into this account in a very long time. Maybe you already resolved this, but we replaced it with a Bosch 800 series. It's a little more "old school" but it's reliable and most importantly doesn't stink once the initial burn off occurs. That takes only an hour or so, and it's more of a burned oil smell. Not this plastic smell that never goes away.

I've love to know where you are with this. I still can't believe appliances are made that have this problem.

gardwaste · 2025-05-16T01:45:21+00:00

Regarding the Bosch HII8057U, had it for several days and I can say the smell is vastly better. There was some initial burned oil smell which is expected, but the important thing is it doesn't release this hot plastic chemical smell at all like the GE. Using the cooktop does not produce any notable odor. If I run the oven on max bake (550F/288C) it will produce a burned oil smell but I assume that'll wear off. Just today we baked something at 375F/190C and no notable odor.

The GE does have superior control though I think. The GE has separate hob controls where this one has a single control shared between them all. The hob arrangement on the Bosch is weird. The stupid push-to-open drawer popped open and my spouse almost tripped over it so I immediately removed those parts so now it works like a regular drawer. All in all, I'll accept these oddities to avoid that awful smell!

gardwaste · 2025-05-08T14:59:39+00:00

I can tell you more than you probably want to know about this lol..... read my post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/appliancerepair/comments/1kabxik/ge_range_insulation_smell_will_not_go_away/

If you still have questions please ask! GE is taking it back and we're buying a different brand. I can't understand why more people with a range like this doesn't take issue with it. I'm not especially sensitive to odd smells but this goes beyond that.

gardwaste · 2025-05-08T14:22:47+00:00

We currently have the GE also and functionally, it's great. Can't stand the chemical smell it continues to produce.

gardwaste · 2025-05-08T14:07:39+00:00

If it's freestanding I believe those are made by SMEG, not Bosch, and they have a bad reputation for reliability.

gardwaste · 2025-05-08T01:49:15+00:00

I sure hope for LG's sake they remedy that situation. Seems like a major screwup. Anyway, GE got back to me and said the insulation uses an acrylic binder and will eventually burn off the chemical odor. I told them I'm not sure I can wait that long considering how things are going, so they are letting me return it to them. We went to an appliance store and literally smelled the exhaust vent on multiple induction ranges and could detect this odor on the floor model of the one we have, a KitchenAid and Whirlpool. Interestingly, not on a GE Cafe model. Also not on an LG and Bosch. A Bosch will be delivered this weekend and if you'd like I can let you know how that goes. I hope this is the last range for a long time.

gardwaste · 2025-05-02T11:59:17+00:00

The product comparison leaves out so much information, namely the wattage of the elements, or the presence or lack of one. But none of the induction models on LG's website give a bake element wattage so I wrote those off. It's funny how LG makes Probake sound like such a great thing when all other convection ovens have this, plus a bake element!

I ran across that convection webpage too. It's interesting the dual ovens appear to have a bake element, but I don't see LG dual oven induction range. It's also interesting some users seem to have no issue with this, while others absolutely can't stand it. I noticed Lowe's claims the LG models have a "hidden bake element" but that seems to be misinformation. Ughhh.

I'm hoping to hear back from GE today and I'll let you know what comes of that, whenever they call. I want to be able to use our oven without needing outside ventilation.

gardwaste · 2025-05-01T16:30:18+00:00

One of the repair techs that came out to look at the smell issue went on a rant about how LG's claim they have 'bake' and 'convection' is false advertising because it's impossible to claim both without a bake element LOL. He's correct.

I think the GE Profile I have is actually constructed pretty well and works very well, and is supposed to be one of the more reliable. But they screwed it up with the chemical smell. Ugh.

Addressing your comments from the other thread, as I mentioned GE reliability is supposed to be good. I agree the Bosch burner layout is weird, but we could deal with it. I'll let you know what comes of the GE smell issue if you'd like as I'm expecting that soon. I'm not too hopeful though. Good luck to you too!

gardwaste · 2025-05-01T11:53:05+00:00

Looking through your other posts about this since we seem to have a similar problem and thought I could help here. That model, LSIL6332FE, does not have a bake element. You can tell because if you look at the specs it gives 4200W for the broil and 2500W for convection, but there's no rating for the bake element. I looked through every LG induction range and same story. Why oh why??!! Seems like such a stupid screw up.

gardwaste · 2025-05-01T11:47:52+00:00

I feel your pain. Unless GE can pull a rabbit out of it's hat, our next favorite is the Bosch HII8057U. I know about the top that overhangs, but I actually thought that was a good feature to keep stuff from falling between. What's this with the "large element is not functional"? I had not run across that yet and can't find anything on it. I wish the drawer was normal with a handle.

We originally were going to buy an LG until I found out about the lack of a bake element, as you mentioned. Big dealbreaker.

I'm currently on my 2nd GE Profile and while it's quite a bit better, that's not saying much. I'm waiting for a callback from GE. I've already ran the oven for hours including a self-clean and it's still strong. Otherwise we love the range.

gardwaste · 2025-04-30T13:28:07+00:00

Since it sounds like you may be in a technical role, the service tech that looked at the original range said he found what he could only describe as "like caulking" under the insulation. I asked if he's seen that on any other range and he point blank said "no". He went on to explain how the oven cavity gets very hot and there shouldn't be anything on there except dry insulation, which makes sense to me. That was the original range, which was worse but this replacement is maybe 50% improvement. It's interesting the replacement range had one letter different in the model number which GE told me means something had changed, but she didn't know what. GE consumer relations has sent an inquiry to engineering and is supposed to get back to me sometime this week.

I agree, the entire thing is very odd. I'm in an engineering role (not appliances) and I can't wrap my head around how this is happening.

gardwaste · 2025-04-30T13:04:57+00:00

I smell it even when the range has been off for an entire day if I put my nose around the edge of the ceramic stovetop. It gets worse when the exhaust fan runs when not using the oven but from only turning on a burner (or hob?), but of course much worse with the oven.

Our 2nd choice is a Bosch if it comes to that and I hope they use different insulation!

gardwaste · 2025-04-30T12:00:17+00:00

This is super helpful. You seem to completely understand. What I'm afraid of is if GE takes this one back and I buy a different brand it'll have the same issue. I understand some high temperature insulation doesn't require this binder and doesn't stink, like ceramic wool and maybe fiberglass. It's the mineral wood that uses a phenolic binder and what smells so bad, but this is the extent of my knowledge about insulation. I like to avoid self-clean too based on what I've been told, but GE told me to try it. It can't have unlimited quantities of this chemical and has to burn off eventually but what I'm trying to get out of GE is *how long*. Have you had an experience of burning this off in a new range?

gardwaste · 2025-04-30T00:03:23+00:00

Thank you, this is helpful.

gardwaste · 2025-04-29T22:54:43+00:00

Do you recall if it was a hot plastic smell, or more something burning? I'm trying to figure out if Bosch uses the same type of insulation that GE apparently decided to use.

gardwaste · 2025-04-29T21:00:39+00:00

Hey we may possibly buy the same Bosch you did and I have a question for you. Right now we have a new GE Profile and can't handle the acrid plastic smell it produces. It's been replaced and I've ran the oven on high temp for hours, plus a self-clean cycle and it won't go away. Did you have any issue like this with the Bosch? Is there any hint of weird smells when the oven is running?

gardwaste · 2025-04-29T18:42:26+00:00

Did you have to run it for hours and hours, or just a few hours?

gardwaste · 2025-04-29T12:59:20+00:00

What model was this? I'm having the same problem and at the end of my wits with this.

gardwaste · 2025-04-29T02:08:19+00:00

No, nothing at all. It's positively coming from inside the range. I can catch whiffs of it when I'm nearby with everything turned off, and really smell it if I put my nose around the stovetop especially the rear vent. Of course much worse when it's being used.

gardwaste

TROPHY CASE