Cooktops - Choosing a Cooktop
THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING YOUR NEW COOKTOP
In planning an improvement to your kitchen, some realistic self-understanding goes a long way and can save you substantial dollars and countless hours of research. Ask yourself the following questions throughout your cooktop decision-making process:
How serious a cook are you, or do you aspire to be?
Traditionally, "serious cooks" have an affinity for gas cooktops (or stoves). Gas cooktops are preferred to other cooktops because they allow you to instantaneously change the cooking temperature. Plus, the investment you make on a gas cooktop can vary greatly - from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. Gas cooktops are also very efficient; they use natural gas for cooking power, and natural gas is a very inexpensive resource.
Of course, nothing valuable comes without some type of drawback. Gas cooking is no exception. First, locating a source of gas can be difficult. It is hard to find a home with natural gas, and many living communities do not allow liquid propane (LP) storage. Clean-up can also be frustrating. Most modern gas cooktops come with sealed burners for easy clean-up. Despite the sealed burners, gas cooktops still require the most cleaning effort. Finally, there is the issue of an open flame. Families with small children often select an alternative to the gas cooktop to keep children safe.
Fortunately, there is an alternative to the gas cooktop that requires no sacrifice in cooking performance and even offers a few advantages. An induction cooktop, which is powered by electricity, is a very popular replacement for a gas cooktop. Induction cooktops produce electromagnetic energy that transfers right to a compatible pot or pan, so there is no hot surface to avoid (like with gas cooktops). Changes in heat settings occur instantly, so you can go from boiling a concoction to simmering the ingredients immediately. All the while, the cooktop remains cool to the touch, making it safer than a gas cooktop. Cleaning an induction cooktop is also simple because there's no burnt food surrounding the cooktop to peel away. Keep in mind that although an induction cooktop relies on costly electricity for its power source, it uses it so efficiently that it actually rivals gas cooktops for low cost of operation honors.
For further discussion on induction cooktops, I highly recommend The Induction Site. There you'll find in-depth yet easy to understand information on everything to do with induction technology and cooking.
For the casual or occasional cooks, the best cooktop replacement is usually a replacement in kind. Replacing your current gas or electric cooktop to an updated version is usualy the most cost effective. If you are accustomed to old coil units, then consider investing in a glass ceramic electric cooktop. They are much easier to maintain than a coil cooktop!
Similarly, you can trade an outdated gas cooktop for a basic four-burner. Again, the newer gas cooktops have ceramic tops and sealed burners to make clean-up a breeze. Most cooktops come in 30" and 36" models, so you can replace your old cooktop without having to worry about excessive installation efforts or costs.
How many people do you cook for?
If you frequently cook for large groups or special occasions, or your family is as big as the Brady Bunch, then you need to ditch the traditional four-burner cooktop configuration and upgrade to a five- or six-burner set-up. Both gas and electric cooktops are manufactured in a 36-inch arrangement that fits in most kitchens. Choose an electric model with multiple-zone elements and bridge-burners. These will give you versatility in the size and shape of the cooking vessels you can use. Pick a gas model with continuous grates for the same result. A five element cooktop is the best for induction cooktops in this category.
How much money do you want to spend?
We've already establishd that you can pay as little or as much money as you'd like for a cooktkop. For the record, gas and conventional cooktops (either coil or glass/ceramic) are the most affordable. The more advanced features you add to the unit, like grills, griddles or downdraft vents, the more the price will increase. Induction cooktops generally run in the lower thousands. Also, keep in mind that a switch to an induction cooktop will also require you to use cookware that is magnetic, so plan on an additional expense there.
How important is ease of maintenance (keeping it clean)?
An induction cooktop is the way to go if you want easy maintenance and no frills clean-up. Spills and spatters won't scorch on the cool cooktop surface and can be wiped up and away with a wet cloth. Why? Remember, only the ingredients within the magnetic cookware will be heated - not the cooktop surface!
Electric glass/ceramic cooktops are also easy to clean (but not like an induction cooktop). The smooth surface makes spills and spatters easy to get rid of, although truly burnt or scorched food is going to require scraping and elbow grease. For maximum ease of maintenance, choose a model with touch controls rather than conventional knobs.
Gas and electric coil units are by far the toughest cooktops to clean. The design is improving steadily, but it's no where near as easy as a glass/ceramic or induction unit.
How important are aesthetics?
Aesthetics are highly subjective. You'll need to compare cooktops and decide which type looks better to you. Do you prefer the clean, smooth surfaces of both glass/ceramic electric and electric induction cooktops, or would you rather see the industrial, high-end gas cooktop in your kitchen each day? It's up to you.
Unfortunately, cooktops aren't available in every color of the rainbow. Black, white or stainless steel are your most common choices these days. Some manfacturers do offer other colors, but that is by special order only. Just remember: there's a reason why designers offer cooktops in timeless colors. They will be stylish forever. Ordering a magenta cooktop today might be painful to look at five years from now.
What kind of cooktop do you use now?
No one is going to tell you not to switch to a different style of cooktop but replacing your old unit with a new unit of the same type is the most economical choice. Let's be honest. Converting to a natural gas cooktop from an electric cooktop will be problematic at the least - and impossible at it's worst! Switching from gas to electric, however, isn't quite as hard. You'll still need to ensure you have the right electric circuits in your home, though, and that requires the skill of an electrician.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Built-in grills and griddles as well as downdraft venting are the most often discussed features of today's cooktops. I have mixed feelings about them. Adding grills, griddles and vents all take up valuable space on your cooktop, generally requiring you to either compromise on the number of burners or elements your cooktop accommodates or move up to a much larger unit (48 inch min.) at the expense of counter space, aesthetics and installation cost. Most conventional kitchen counters could easily be overwhelmed by a four foot cooktop. Units of this size are generally best reserved for a center island.
RECOMMENDATIONS
So what is the best cooktop for you? Of course only you can answer this question, but here is where I come out on this question. In the past, if I had my druthers, I'd have gone with a gas cooktop. It's hard to argue with the cooking versatility, familiarity and performance of gas cooking. But, living in my part of South Florida, gas is not an option. Today however, with the availability of Induction Cooktops offering virtually all of the benefits of gas cooktops in addition to benefits unique to its own technology, I'd choose an Induction Cooktop. Precise heat control and ease of maintenance make this new cooking technology irresistible to me.
The addition of a new and improved cooktop just might be the thing that helps you get up a little bit more energy and creativity in the kitchen. Best of all, it doesn't have to cost a mint!
Good luck.
