How to Choose a Cooktop

Installing separate wall ovens and cooktops in your kitchen is a great way to create two distinct cooking zones. This combination provides one place to sear and sauté and another area to bake and broil. Best of all, you don’t have to stand in front of a hot stove when you are baking and using your cooktop at the same time. Whether you’re making the switch from a traditional range to a cooktop and wall oven, or designing a kitchen from scratch, this guide will help you choose the best cooktop for your space.

Cooktop vs. Range

When it comes to cooking appliances, there are a few different terms you’ll often see, including ranges, cooktops, and rangetops. A range is a single appliance that combines an oven and a cooktop. You also have the option of separating those two units. When you do this, you’ll be shopping for a wall oven and a cooktop separately. The terms of cooktops and rangetops are often used interchangeably, although the term rangetops can also refer to the cooktops included in a range. It is more accurate to refer to cooking appliances as ranges and cooktops.

Types of Cooktops

As you begin shopping for cooktops, there are two primary options available to you. Portable cooktops are great for on the go and they store away easily when they aren’t in use. Built-in cooktops become a permanent fixture in your kitchen design and are built to hold up to daily use, even by the most avid home chef.

Portable Cooktops

You can have an efficient and convenient cooking space just about anywhere when you choose portable cooktops. These totally enclosed units are small, compact, and easy to use with a power outlet or sometimes a propane tank. This makes them a popular choice for camping and tailgating.

Portable cooktops can also be a great solution for smaller kitchenettes, or to add additional cooking solutions to a rental property. If you have children just learning to cook, purchasing a portable induction cooktop is one of the safest ways to give them more freedom to help out in the kitchen. 

Built-In Cooktops

For a kitchen that’s as functional as it is beautiful, built-in cooktops are the way to go. These designs are nestled into your countertops and can even be featured in a kitchen island. If you’re planning for an outdoor grilling area, a built-in cooktop that’s rated for outdoor use is a great way to extend the functionality of the space. 

Cooktop Fuel Types

When it comes to cooktops, there are three different fuel types to consider. Electric cooktops, gas cooktops, and induction cooktops each provide their own list of benefits and drawbacks. Getting to know the differences between the fuel types for cooktops will help you choose the best cooktop for your kitchen.

Your kitchen is likely already outfitted with either an electric connection or a gas connection for the cooktop. Induction and electric cooktops both utilize the same electric connection. If you are building or remodeling a home, you may even get the chance to choose what type of connection you have. 

Electric Cooktops

Electric cooktops make it easier to achieve a constant temperature, especially at lower temperature settings because the electric element allows for the whole burner to heat evenly, where a flame can provide hot spots and cooler spots. These cooktops heat up quickly and make it easy to get just the right amount of heat.

Gas Cooktop

Gas cooktops feature an adjustable height flame, allowing you to visually monitor how much heat the burner is delivering to your pot or pan. The open flame also provides the ability to char a pepper or other vegetables directly over the flame.

Induction Cooktops

Induction cooktops utilize electricity as fuel, but they operate in a much different way than electric cooktops. If you don’t already own a cooktop that utilizes induction technology, keep in mind that you can’t just use any old pots and pans with an induction cooktop. Induction appliances use electromagnetic technology to heat induction-compatible pans directly, without any wasted energy. It does this by using an electric current passed through a coiled copper wire that transfers energy directly from the induction element to the compatible pots and pans. 

Unlike thermal conduction, induction heats the pot almost instantly, allowing you to boil water in half the time it would take with another cooking method. Another benefit is that induction appliances are by far the safest cooktops to cook on because the surface itself doesn’t heat up, eliminating the opportunity to burn your hand on a heating element or burner. You must use pot and pans specifically made for this electromagnetic cooking method, so plan to buy a new set of kitchenware to take full advantage of the capabilities of these cooktops.

Types of Burners

Smooth

Many electric and all induction cooktops feature a smooth, continuous surface of glass or ceramic, with the burners installed beneath the surface. These smooth surfaces make it easy to wipe down spills as soon as the burners have cooled. There are specific cleaning products made with smooth surfaces in mind. Make sure you are using products approved by the manufacturer to avoid scratching or etching the glass or ceramic surfaces.

Coil

Some electric cooktops feature an exposed coil burner. Of all the different types of burners, these can be among the most difficult to keep clean because spills can drip down between the coils. Most cooktops allow the coils to be safely removed to wipe down the burner pans, and it’s a good idea to keep the burner pans free of food debris that may burn into the pan or coils.

Grate

Many gas cooktops feature heavy-duty grates that are raised above the burner, with a stainless steel surface below. These sturdy grates support the pots and pans, keeping them raised above the flames of the gas burners. Most grates lift out of place, allowing you to wipe spills off the smooth surface below with ease.

Shop by Size & Number of Burners

Cooktops, like many appliances, come in a selection of sizes. Some can be as narrow as 24 inches wide while others can extend upward of 60 inches or more in width. The larger the cooktop, generally the more burners the cooktop will have. There may even be burners designed for specific uses, such as to heat full griddles or bring a pot to rapid boil.

Cooktops by Size

It’s important that the cooktop you select fits into your kitchen layout perfectly. If you are simply replacing an existing cooktop, you may need to find a new cooktop stove that is the same dimensions as the one you’re removing. If you’re designing a new kitchen, consider the size cooktop you want and let your contractor know of your plans so they can plan the layout of your kitchen accordingly.

Some of the most common cooktop widths include:

• 24 Inches
• 30 Inches
• 36 Inches
• 48 Inches
• 60 Inches

Cooktops by Number of Burners

When you are shopping for a portable cooktop, you’ll find appliances with as few as one or two burners. These are ideal for tailgating at your favorite sporting event, camping in the great outdoors, or adding a functional cooking area to a rental property.

Compact built-in cooktops typically feature between two and four burners while still taking up minimal countertop or island space. This provides enough room to keep a couple pots and pans going. The size of the cooktop will determine how close together each burner is.

As you start expanding into the larger cooktop designs, you’ll notice that they can feature five or six burners, possibly even more. These designs are ideal for the avid home chef that likes to cook multiple dishes simultaneously.

Once you see how many burners each design offers, make sure to look at which burners offer full heat and which ones are specifically designed as a warming area or rapid boil burner. You may notice that some burners are larger than others or offer different heat settings so you can cook a variety of items to perfection. 

Cooktop Features to Look For

Sometimes, the special features of a cooktop or range can take it that extra step and extend the use of the entire appliance. Integrated grills, griddles, and downdrafts are just a few of the special features that may help you choose one design over others. 

Built-In Downdrafts

There’s no need to install a bulky overhead vent when you shop for cooktops featuring built-in downdrafts. This is an exceptionally convenient choice when you’re incorporating a cooktop into an island design and don’t want to break-up the sight lines with overhead range hoods.

Grills

Many cooktops boast a built-in grill surface that makes searing a steak or getting a great char on a pepper an easy task. Built-in grills help to extend the ways you can use your cooktop, giving you the freedom to grill in any weather.

Griddles

Whipping up a fluffy stack of pancakes or the perfect fried egg is easy when you shop for cooktops featuring griddles incorporated into the design. These flat cooktops are often featured down the center of the unit or along one side of the design.

Sabbath Mode

In the Jewish tradition, the Sabbath is a holy day when the use of electricity is limited. Today, many appliances are designed with a Sabbath Mode to allow the user to observe their beliefs while safely using the appliance. These features include the option to set the cooktop or the oven the day before, or adjust the heat settings without changing the display modes, so family and friends can enjoy a hot meal on the Sabbath without breaking tradition. 

Final Considerations for Selecting Your Cooktop

When you’re having trouble making your final selections, there are a few additional considerations to help you hone in on the best cooktop for your kitchen design.

ADA Compliant Designs

When accessibility is a factor in the kitchen design, it’s imperative to choose ADA compliant cooktop stoves. These cooktops offer slight differences in the design to make them easier to operate for someone with height restrictions, such as someone that is in a wheelchair. They do this by positioning the controls for the cooktop along the front edge, where they are easy to reach. Because there isn’t a range underneath, cooktops are a great choice for ADA kitchens with lower countertop installations, as well.

Controls

While it may not be one of the first things that pops into your mind when deciding on the best cooktop for your kitchen, the controls actually play a major role in the daily operation of your cooktop. Some cooktops feature knobs that turn to adjust the temperature of each burner. Others feature digital keypads that you can press to change temperature levels. Some gas cooktops even feature buttons that you have to push down as you turn to ignite the flame. 

Where the controls are located along the cooktop can be as important as what types of controls are featured. If you have young children in the home, you may not want a cooktop with controls that run along the front of the cooktop, where a young child or a pets jumping up in search of food could accidentally turn them on. If you have dexterity issues, a flat panel may be easier to work than traditional knobs.

Style & Finish

As with any appliance, the overall style and finish of the appliance will play a role in the final aesthetic of your kitchen. As you look for the perfect cooktop to add to your kitchen design, consider the materials and finishes featured on your other appliances to find a cooktop that will complement the pieces you already have in place.