[RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.==Whowired] Nov 04, 2011 -- Samsung Electronics America, a market leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, will make the wonder of holiday cooking this season – and throughout the year – easier and more flexible than ever with the launch of its Flex Duo™ Oven, the first freestanding electric range to incorporate two ovens in one.

The Flex Duo™ (FE710RDS) is a 30-inch free-standing range with a 5.9 inch cu. ft. oven that, with the aid of an easy-to-use Smart Divider, splits into two separate cavities – 2.7 cu. ft. and 3.0 cu. ft. This gives cooks the option of preparing either two dishes at two different temperatures with no mixing of aromas or tastes, or one larger dish. When the Smart Divider is removed and the Flex Duo™ operates as one 5.9 cu. ft. oven, its size is significantly larger than that of the larger cavity of a typical standard double oven, which often measures 4.2 cu. ft.

The debut of the Flex Duo™ Oven comes as the most intense and stressful time of the year for cooks is about to get underway. And according to a new national survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos detailing the extent of the holiday cooking crunch, it is revealed that the number one headache is timing the meal so that all dishes are done and ready to be served at the same time (cited by 56 percent of respondents). Another big worry is cooking multiple dishes all at once (27 percent), while 31 percent are concerned with having too many dishes to make and not enough time to make them.*

To help take the stress out of holiday meal planning, another cooking duo – Michael and Bryan Voltaggio, stars of the sixth season of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and co-authors of a new “food families” cookbook VOLT, ink – is joining Samsung with tips, techniques, and new recipes tested on the Flex Duo™ Oven and developed to make full use of its two-ovens-in-one capability. Consumers can connect with the Voltaggio Brothers on the Samsung Home Appliances Facebook page with the Flex Duo™ Match-Up Sweepstakes.

“For both my brother and me, holiday cooking is all about great food that can be shared with friends and family. When it comes to being in the kitchen during this hectic season, it’s important to keep the process as easy and efficient as possible,” said Michael Voltaggio, chef/owner of ink. Restaurant in Los Angeles. “Bryan and I are all about having the right tools in the kitchen, and for the home cook, the Flex Duo™ Oven is the must-have appliance. It allows us to prepare more than one recipe at a time so we’re not fighting for the oven, relieving a lot of stress and worry. This oven allows us to spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the meal with our guests.”

Added Bryan Voltaggio, chef/owner of VOLT Restaurant in Frederick, Md.: “I can’t think of another single oven that allows me to simultaneously roast a pork loin and cook a Provencal vegetable side dish on top.”

The top cavity of the Flex Duo™ Oven (2.7 cu. ft.) is perfect for a smaller appetizer dish like an olive brioche, while the bottom oven (3.0 cu. ft.) can simultaneously cook something larger like roast chicken. The Smart Divider ensures that temperatures can be individually controlled in each cavity and that there is no mixing of aromas or tastes. Much bigger dishes like a holiday turkey can easily be accommodated with the entire oven (5.9 cu. ft.).

Other features of the Flex Duo Oven include:

• Five burners for easier, more carefree meal preparation.
• A warming drawer to keep dishes warm while awaiting guests.
• True convection system to heat the entire oven at once, or dual convection system for both the top and bottom cavities.
• A steam clean feature to reduce cleaning time and effort.

“Samsung is dedicated to bringing ease and convenience right where moms need it the most: the kitchen,” said Kevin Dexter, Senior Vice President of Home Appliance Sales and Marketing, Samsung Electronics America. “The Flex Duo™ Oven delivers on a number of fronts. It gets dinner on the table faster, provides the flexibility that people need during their busy days by allowing them to broil while they bake and bake while they roast all at the same time, and saves energy and money.”

The Flex Duo™ Oven is available at major retailers including Best Buy, H. H. Gregg, Lowe’s and Sears for $1,599 (MSRP).

*The survey conducted by Samsung Home Appliances and Ipsos Public Affairs was an online poll conducted with a sample of 1,013 adults aged 18 and older. The survey was conducted October 4-7, 2011 and the panel was interviewed online.

About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.

Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit www.samsung.com for more information. You can also Fan Samsung on www.Facebook.com/SamsungUSA or follow Samsung via Twitter @SamsungTweets.