Stove

Stoves are used for cooking certain meals. In The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, and The Sims 4, Cooking skill points can be earned from using stoves, toaster ovens, microwaves and grills. Stoves can be found in buy mode under "Appliances -> Cooking".

Although these appliances appear to have controls, dials, and knobs, they cannot actually be used.

The Sims
In The Sims, toaster ovens, microwaves, cooktops, and stoves all share the same capabilities. They are not clickable objects; one will be automatically used while cooking if it is available and accessible. If more than one is available and accessible, the Sim will choose one randomly, and the player has no control over which one the Sim will use.

Due to the way objects work in The Sims, recolors of Maxis objects are separate objects. Therefore, recolors of Maxis stoves may have prices and Hunger values that are different from the originals.

While most stoves/ranges appear to have ovens, Sims cannot actually use them.

The Sims 2
Since The Sims 2 has a full 3D environment, Sims can now use the ovens in stoves/ranges, and will use them when appropriate. Unlike The Sims, stoves, microwaves, and toaster ovens cannot all cook the same dishes — some foods must be cooked on a specific type of appliance, or on one that has a specific type of cooking area. Stoves in The Sims 2 are now clickable objects, but a stove's menu will only show meals that it is able to cook.

The Urbz: Sims in the City
Stoves can be purchased at South Side Bridge.

The Sims 4
Like in previous games, most stoves have a size of 1x1. However, the chef stations introduced in The Sims 4: Dine Out are much bigger. Most stoves can be bought from the Build Mode. The Pancake Pro Free-standing Grillie are unlocked when Sim reach level 10 of the Chef career.

Chef Stations introduced in The Sims 4: Dine Out are similar to stoves and are the only objects to cook Experimental Food. For the cost of §800, Sim can hire a chef to cook at home for 4 hours.