Size
If you’re wondering how to buy a cooktop, one of the primary considerations is size.
Cooktops can be bought as a standalone unit or combined with an oven, but this will depend on how much space you have to work with.
Separate cooktops are usually more common in small apartments or studios where space is limited.
Types of cooktop
There are three standard types of cooktop: gas, electric and induction.
Gas
Many chefs prefer to use gas cooktops because the heat can be instantly modified when cooking. Food is also likely to cook quicker because the flames heat up the sides of pans as well as the bottom. This means they are often more energy-efficient to run, although they are pricier to get installed.
Electric
The temperature on electric cooktops is slower to change, making on-the-fly cooking a bit more difficult. However, they are cheaper to install than their gas counterparts and they have no risk of gas leaks or open flames. Purchasing a model with a ceramic surface also makes cleaning easier than if you buy a traditional product with coil burners.
Induction
Induction cooktops are the most expensive, using magnetic field-based heating rather than applying direct heat to the pan. Not only do induction models have the fastest cooking times, they are the most energy efficient and you can set your dishware anywhere across the entire surface.
Power settings
When buying an induction cooktop it will come with a number of power settings, which enables you to have various dishes at different temperatures at the same time.
The more power settings you have, the more expensive the unit will be – but it may come in very useful if you regularly cook large meals for the whole family.
Features
You’ll need to think about what features are important to you when buying a cooktop, and how these will factor into your budget.
Here are some common features on modern cooktops:
- Bridge element – creates one large cooking area for bigger tasks
- Downdraft exhaust – draws smoke and odours out through a vent
- Electric touch controls
- Pan presence sensor – automatically turns the unit off when not in use
- Pan size sensor – automatically adjusts heating element to pan size
- Power burner – offers at least one high-intensity burner
- ‘Gas on glass’ top burners are mounted on a ceramic cooktop for easier cleaning.
