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An alternative to the traditional range is the cooktop and built-in oven. Cooktops drop into the top of a base cabinet and are surrounded by countertop. Some cooktops have fixed elements while others have modular elements. Modular units offer a variety of interchangeable accessories such as grills and griddles.
Deciding which cooktop is best for you will depend on the features you want and your budget. Answering the following questions can lead you to choosing the perfect cooktop for your kitchen.
1. Is this a new installation or replacement of a current cooktop into an existing opening?
2. Is the power supply gas or electric?
3. What is the current cooktop size (width and depth) and how large is the cabinet that the cooktop sits on?
4. How many cooking zones or burners will be needed?
5. If a gas cooktop, what type and style of grates would you like?
6. If an induction cooktop, do you have the necessary power specs required for installation?
7. What style and color of the cooktop are you looking for?
Cooktops have come a long way from the basic four-burner models. They are now available with smooth tops, grills, different burner configurations, and much more. There are standard cooktops (explained below) and professional series cooktops that can emit more (or less) heat. Before purchasing your next cooktop, make sure you review the following features for electric, gas, and induction models.
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Electric Cooktops
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Standard Coil Burner Surface
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The coil sits above the cooktop surface or into a recessed cavity. The coils are more vulnerable to spills but drip pans capture spills and are generally easy to access, remove and clean.
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Ceramic Glass (Smoothtop) Surface
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The radiant elements are installed beneath a glass surface presenting a sleek integrated appearance. These cooktops are easy to clean. The radiant elements heat quickly and evenly. Ceramic glass cooktops are flat and require that you use flat-bottomed cookware. Smoothtop cooktops have helpful features like variable-size elements, warming zones, and bridge elements.
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Gas cooktop burners offer precise temperature control. They are typically more expensive than comparable electric models, but are usually cheaper to operate. Higher quality gas cooktops offer special burners for fast high output heat for quick boiling and searing. They also offer burners that hold a gentle low heat for simmering sauces and liquids. Many models feature sealed gas burners, which make clean up easier and prevent food from being trapped under the burners. You will need a gas hookup to either a natural gas source or a LP source. Most cast-iron, porcelain enamel-coated grates are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
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Induction Cooktops
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These cooktops use electromagnetic technology to heat only the pan, leaving the burner plate much cooler than a gas or electric radiant burner. Since this type of current is used, you must use flat bottom, magnetic cookware otherwise no heat will be produced. Quicker, more efficient heating and a safer, quick-cooling cooking surface. Advanced technology allows the unit to automatically adjust energy output to the size of the pan bottom, regardless of its diameter. The most energy efficient cooktop currently on the market.
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Ventilation
Ventilation is a key consideration when purchasing a cooktop. The vent can be a microwave hood combination, but if you plan to install your cooktop in an island you will require a model with built-in downdraft ventilation.
- Downdraft Ventilation
- Please keep in mind that even though a downdraft ventilator solves the problem of needing an overhead hood, the space below the cooktop is lost to the ventilator itself. You cannot install an oven below a downdraft cooktop. If you choose a telescopic downdraft you may still be able to use some of the space below the cooktop for storage.
- Downdraft ventilation is typically designed for surface cooking on a griddle or grill but not necessarily in pots and pans. The farther away from the vent you cook, the less effective it becomes.
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Generic Points to Consider
Some cooktops provide more surface areas than others but flexibility is also an important consideration.Will the cooktop accommodate all of your cookware and cooking needs? Accessories, such as griddles, grills and wok rings can be added to certain models. Some models offer multiple burner types to provide high heat and low heat options.
- Heat Output:Most gas cooktops have two or more burners whose output measured in BTU/hr (British thermal units).A cooktop with at least one high output burner is recommended (Approx 15,000 or more BTU/hr.) Medium and Low Output burner options are also available to cover a variety of cooking needs.
- The outputs of electric burners are typically measured in watts.The higher the number the faster your food will cook.
- Cooktops generally are available in two standard sizes: 30 inch and 36 inch widths. Larger models are available in widths as large as 48 inches.
Cooktop Feature Glossary
- Bridge Element
Combines two or three elements into one large cooking area which is ideal for oversized cooking.
- Coil Heating Elements
Provide consistent and even heat on cooktop with a plug-in element that is removable for easy cleaning.
- Continuous grates
Allow you to easily slide heavy pots between burners without doing any lifting.
- Control Placement
Cooktops have burner controls either in the center or on the sides of the surface of the cooktop.Rangetops have the controls in the front similar to a range.
- Control Type
Controls can be electronic (digital touch pads) or manual (push-button or rotary knobs).
- Downdraft Exhaust
Available on some cooktops, they are similar in function to a range hood. A fan draws smoke and odors down into the cooking unit and disperses them outdoors through a venting system.
- Dual Size Ribbon Element
Offers a convenient choice of using two different sized elements, depending on the size of the pan.
- Electronic Touch Controls
An electronic touch-control cooktop has no knobs and is available on electric cooktops. This type of cooktop offers other features as well:
- If an unoccupied element is left on, sensors in the cooktop will turn off the element.
- Sensors adjust the size of the element to the size of the pan being used.
- The control-lock feature for the elements is a safety feature to prevent accidental activation.
- A digital reminder timer alerts you when the cooking time is complete.
- Electronic Ignition
An automatic system that instantly lights burners on gas cooktops.
- Frameless Design
A smooth and seamless cooktop surface. Can be mounted flush with the top of the countertop or sitting on top of the countertop surface.
- "Gas on Glass" Top
The sealed burner is mounted directly on the ceramic cooktop, offering the easy cleaning features of an electric smooth top with the performance of gas.
- Hot surface indicator lights
Available on most electric models, alert you that a surface may still be hot even though it is powered off.
- Modular Accessories
Some manufacturers offer modular attachments for their cooktops. These attachments are usually 12" to 15" and can come with either gas or electric units. Some examples of modular add-ons include a deep fryer, steamer, wok cooker, grill griddle, or burner.
- Open Burners
This type of cooktop has large openings for burners. The opening is a little larger than the burner itself. The cooktop lifts open to clean spills that drain into openings in the cooktop.
- Pan Presence Sensor
Detects when a burner element is left "on" and automatically shuts it off when not in use.
- Pan Size Sensor
Automatically adjusts the heating element to the size of the pan.
- Power Burners
Power burner cooktops will have at least one 14,000 BTU (or more) burner.
- Professional Series Rangetops
A professional series rangetop gives you more control over your cooking since you can cook at both higher and lower temperatures. These units can have either open or sealed burners. They are deeper than a standard cooktop (usually 10" or so) and the controls usually are positioned in the front. A larger professional series cooktop can come with one of the following configurations: all burners, griddle with burners, grill with burners, griddle and grill with burners, or French top. A French top configuration is composed of concentric rings of progressively mild heat. Therefore, you do not constantly adjust a single burner, but rather shift location to the appropriate heat, all on one large cooking surface. All professional series cooktops must use high-powered CFM updraft ventilation. CFM, or Cubic Feet per Minute, is the measurement of air flow. Updraft ventilation consists of a wall, canopy, or cabinetry-mounted hood. The styles and price ranges depend on the ambiance of the kitchen and model of the rangetop. Depending on the size of the rangetop, the CFM can be range from 900 CFM to 1500 CFM.
- Recessed Installation
Some ceramic cooktops can be recessed so that they are practically flush with the countertop giving a sleek built-in appearance.
- Ribbon Heating Elements
Provides consistent heat from elements beneath the smooth surface, which is directed straight up to the pan for high-speed warm-up and even heating.
- Sealed gas burners
Make clean up easier and prevent food from being trapped under the burners.
- Simmer burners
Provide low, gradual heat when required for a variety of cooking needs such as preparing soups and sauces.Once a drawback when cooking with gas, better gas cooktops offer precise low temperature control.
- Sizes
Standard sizes for U.S. cooktops are 20", 24", 30", 32", 36", and 45". Professional series cooktops are available in these sizes: 30", 36", 42", 48", and 60".
- Surfaces
The outside material of the cooktop or the appliance itself. Glass, porcelain, brushed chrome, and stainless steel are the most common.
- Tri-Ring Element
Accommodates various-sized pots or pans for the ultimate in cooking versatility.
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Make sure it will fit!
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Measure the space that you want the cooktop to fit into. Know the height, width, and depth before you shop.
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