Upgrade Your Kitchen with the Best Cooktop

Cooktops are useful in just about any home. They allow anybody to cook a variety of dishes, from simple instant noodles to delicious beef stew. Depending on what your mood is for the day, you can cook up something that suits your tastes using a cooktop alone. In many modern homes, cooktops are a staple due to their versatility.

Below, we’ll be discussing what makes a cooktop a good purchase, as well as what you should be looking out for when picking one.

What is a cooktop?

A cooktop is a kitchen appliance that releases heat over a concentrated area. This allows the user to heat food in pots, pans, and other kitchen utensils with ease. Cooktops can use induction, electric, or gas to heat up. The cooktop is often the most-used appliance in a kitchen thanks to its ease of use, quick heating up time (especially when compared to an oven), and versatility.

Why do you need a cooktop?

Cooktops are essential for many recipes, so here’s a quick rundown on why you’d need one.

They allow you to cook plenty of food

Cooktops are very important if you want to do any sort of cooking at home. In fact, many people only know how to cook through a cooktop— a testament to how versatile the appliance is. You can make soups, cook rice, and even pop some popcorn on a cooktop with the right tools. The cooktop is a space that can be used for every meal, all throughout the year— you don’t have to worry about your home getting too hot like when you use an oven in the summertime.

Cooktops are extremely versatile and easy to use, allowing you to cook almost any type of cuisine. Even if a recipe calls for a certain method of cooking, there is likely to be an alternative for the stovetop. Beginning cooks and seasoned chefs alike can cook loads of items on a cooktop.

They are affordable

Compared to something like an oven or even a refrigerator, cooktops can be relatively affordable. Combined with their versatility, they are the go-to for almost everybody when it comes to a cooking solution.

If you had to choose which kitchen appliance to upgrade, it should be your cooktop. It is used all the time and is an easier expense to handle in comparison to a range or oven.

What are some things to consider when buying a cooktop?

Here are a few quick pointers that’ll help you, should you decide to find a cooktop for yourself.

Heat source

Cooktops need some form of power to heat your pots and pans. Currently, cooktops use both induction heating and gas heating as methods of heating food. Gas heating is currently the more popular of the two, as it’s cheaper and easier to install, whereas induction heating is safer and easier to use. Let’s go through both methods briefly.

Induction heating involves the use of electricity to release heat. It doesn’t involve gas, which makes it extremely safe, and all you need to do is plug it into an outlet for it to work. Unfortunately, these cooktops are generally more expensive to get than gas cooktops.

Gas cooktops have the advantage of being cheaper. However, because they run on gas, they are more dangerous when left unattended. Gas cooktops are also popular as they do not require you to install the cooktop near an outlet to use.

Some users prefer to use gas because the heat is easier to handle. You can quickly increase or decrease the heat, allowing your food to be cooked perfectly. Others prefer induction (or electric) for its safety and ease of cleaning, but the burners can stay hot for a long time, making it more challenging to softly turn down the heat while cooking.

Capacity

The capacity of a cooktop is vital for cooking, especially if you live with many people. If you live alone, a cooktop with just one burner or two is more than enough. If you have a family, however, then a cooktop with multiple available spaces might be preferable if you want to cook up something special for dinner. The extra space lets you use multiple pots and pans at a time, which can save you both time and effort.

In general, however, you should be fine with a cooktop with two burner sizes. Four to five burners are more than enough to accommodate most cooking needs, and two burner sizes should accommodate all pots and pans. Most cooktops with four burners have two sizes, but those with five burners may offer three sizes.

Cooktop price range

Cooktops are very affordable, and you can get one for as little as $500 per unit. Larger cooktops can come in at over $2000 in price, with better build quality, better design, and more features.

If you get a single, stand-alone cooktop, such as a hot plate, that can cost you just $70 or so. This is a smart solution for small apartments or even college dorms.

Don’t be afraid to spend a bit of money on a cooktop. It'll get used so often, it’ll be worth the investment. Plus, a higher-end model can last you for years with no issues, as well as provide some nice, upgraded features. Spending more can give you more temperature range, more burners, faster heating times, and more.

How do we choose the best cooktops?

We choose our cooktops based on their size, capacity, power source, and customer reviews. By taking into consideration the brands, customer ratings, honest reviews, price, and quality, we feel confident in naming these the top cooktops on the market.

Cooktop FAQ

Q: Are cooktops safe?
A: Electric cooktops are generally safer than gas cooktops, as they only use electricity to run. Gas cooktops can be dangerous if improperly installed or left unattended, and as such should be used with caution. Always be careful near any cooktop that has recently been turned off as the surrounding areas will still be hot or warm.

Q: Is a cooktop a stove?
A: A cooktop refers to the cooking mechanism alone, whereas a stove refers to a cooktop plus an oven underneath. Stoves are also known as ranges in some areas.