How to choose the best cooktop for your kitchen

by Rudi Xeno

Standing here in my kitchen, scanning the beauty of all our stainless steel appliances, the depth of our dark speckled granite counters and the sleek look of our black glass ceramic cooktop, I think of this room as a showplace. To be sure it's a utilitarian room, but a showcase nonetheless.

Kitchens as showplaces are common today, but this wasn't always the case. Growing up during the 1950's and 1960's, our kitchen was fundamentally a utility room for our house. It not that it wasn't attractive; it just that it wasn't attractive by design. It was where the serious business of cooking and daily family dining took place. Keep in mind that appliances such as dishwashers and microwaves were a decade or two in the future.

Today, our kitchens remain a central room in our lives and most of us enjoy them as much for their beauty as we do for their utility. They are our showcases.

Right now is a great time to liven up our kitchens. Let's think about it - we entertain in them, we are in them constantly during the day and some of us like late-night snacks too!

And, if any further rationale is needed, ask any realtor. No investment in home improvement yields a better return on investment than a dollar spent upgrading your kitchen.

If we're going to improve our kitchen, let's concentrate on where most of the action takes place, your cooktop. Whether you prefer a gas cook top, a conventional electric cooktop, or one of the newest variants, the induction cooktop, this is where most of action takes place.

Things to Consider When Selecting Your New Cooktop

Whenever I'm asked to recommend new kitchen appliances the ancient adage of now thyself" immediately comes to mind. When it comes to cooktops, here are 6 key questions to consider:

1. How serious a cook are you, or do you aspire to be?

Among the other advantages of cooking with gas is operating efficiency. Natural gas is still the cheapest source of power for cooking. But of course gas cooking also has its drawbacks. First is you must have a source of gas. Here in South Florida homes with natural gas are rare and stored Liquid Propane (LP) is not permitted in many communities.

Then there is the issue of clean-up. Although modern gas cooktops often feature sealed burners for ease of clean-up (in relative terms), they still require the most effort to keep clean. Finally, there is the open flame issue. Many consumers, particularly those with young children prefer alternatives to the gas cooktop.

Fortunately for us serious cooks, there is an alternative to the gas cooktop that requires no sacrifice in cooking performance and even offers a few advantages. In recent years Induction Cooktops powered by electricity to create an electromagnetic field have gained both in terms of availability and popularity in the US. Unlike conventional electric cooktops that produce radiant heat (hot surface), the new induction units produce electromagnetic energy that is transferred directly to the compatible pot or pan. Changes in heat settings are immediately effective allowing you to go from a full boil to a simmer virtually instantly. All the while, the cooktop remains cool to the touch, making it safer and incredibly easy to clean since there's no burnt on food fouling your cooktop. An excellent and succinct video displaying the advantages and features of induction cooktops can be accessed here.

For the casual or occasional cook, the best cooktop may simply be an replacement or updated version. If you presently use gas or electric, replacing your stove top with an updated version of a similar cooktop makes the most sense and is usually the most cost effective. Glass ceramic electrics are an ideal replacement for the older individual Coil units and will be much easier to maintain.

Similarly a basic four burner gas cooktop will make the most sense when replacing an older gas cooktop. The newer gas cooktops even in the economy class often offer ceramic tops and sealed burners for relative ease of clean-up. Most cooktops come in 30" and 36" models. Staying with the same size will minimize installation cost or effort.

2. How much money is in the cooktop buying budget?

Induction Cooktops generally start at about $1500 and can reach $3,000 for a really tricked out unit. While you can spend more or less I think a budget range, including installation, of between $1,000 - $2,500 is realistic. And, potentially a little more if you need more bells and whistles... or have a lot of mouths to feed!

3. How many people do you cook for?

Has your family grown? Do you frequently cook for larger groups or for special occasions? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then it probably time to abandon the traditional 4 burner configuration and consider either a 5 or 6 burner model. Fortunately, these days such models can be found in a 36" configuration that can be accommodated by most kitchens. But, expect to spend more.

In gas cooktops (staying with the common 36" configuration) two models stand out. The Jenn-Air 36 in. Pro-Style® Gas Cooktop with 6 Sealed Burners offers 6 burners with a continuous grate ($1969) while the KitchenAid Stainless Steel 36 in. Gas Architect™ Series Classic Commercial Style Cooktop w/Sealed Burners offers a continuous grate and a dedicated simmer burner ($2299).

In induction cooktops, a 5 element cooktop is recommended here. Remember, induction units cook appreciably faster than either conventional electric or gas. My pick here for the busy cook is the Stainless Steel w/Black Kenmore Elite 36 in. Electric Induction Cooktop ($2199).

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