Cooktops

When we decided to renovate our kitchen I became obsessed with cooktops, especially the upscale kitchen cooktops because that was what I was convinced I wanted for our new kitchen and didn’t want to settle for anything less. So before I did anything else I looked them up on the Internet so I would know everything I needed to know about cooktops before I even set foot in a store. So here I have some of the things that I researched that made it easier when it came to buying my beautiful upscale kitchen cooktop for my new kitchen.

Tips for Buying Cooktops

1. What sort of power is better for cooktops?

Gas or electric these are the two different power sources available for cooktops. The gas ones are generally larger and you need to connect to the gas mains. If you already have gas in your kitchen then you may prefer gas cooktops. Though one of the drawbacks is that they are harder to clean than electric cooktops.

These days the better electric cooktops all have radiant burners that are usually installed underneath a layer of ceramic glass. This is what will generally make them easier to clean, they are all one flat surface and there are no annoying grooves to trap pesky, hard to clean grease and grime. Electric cooktops are also easier to moderate and perform better at the lower heat settings but they can be damaged by dropped pots on the surface so care needs to be taken.

There is a third option, which is induction cooktops, and whilst they actually look the same as electric cooktops they use electromagnetic technology instead of radiant burners.

2. How easy is it to clean?

In general, as mentioned previously, electric cooktops are easier to clean however if you are buying a gas model then you need to look for burners that are sealed. Other things that make cooktops easier to clean are knobs that remove for cleaning, rims that contain spillage and other feature that make cooktops easy to clean.

3. Continuous grate

This is a feature that a lot of people love this feature because it means that heavy pots can easily be slid from one burner to another. A tip is that if you are looking for continuous grates for cooktops the best to buy is made from cast iron or stainless steel as they are more durable and tend to last longer.

4. Understand your cooking style before shopping for cooktops.

Your style of cooking needs to match the cooktops that you look at to buy. So if you only cook occasionally then a high-powered burner is not necessary but if you often cook for a large crowd of people then you would want at least one high-powered burner to help you. Purchase cooktops according to what you need.

5. The ergonomics

Try before you buy and this works for cooktops as well in terms of how easy it will be to use when you have it installed at home. Check out how close the burners are, is it well laid out or will it be difficult to use all four burners at once.

6. How are the controls laid out?

Also look at the controls and decide whether they will be easy to use when you are actually cooking. Do you prefer old-fashioned knobs or would you prefer to have touchpad’s that can become difficult if they stop working or malfunction. Do you have children? Knobs on the front are easier for a child to reach and you may want to look for cooktops that have a control lockout feature to prevent them from being turned by curious little fingers.

7. Not all cookware is compatible with induction heat

If you are going to choose induction cooktops then you need to have magnetic cookware otherwise you may have trouble getting the pans to heat. Though you can also use cast iron, and stainless steel as well.

8. Measure your space before you buy

Don’t make the mistake that some do and forget to measure the space that the cooktops will need to fit into. This saves you wasting time at the store looking at cooktops that are not suitable and trying to explain to a store that you need to return it because it doesn’t fit into your kitchen.

9. The safety element

Whenever you are buying appliances it is best to make sure that it complies with all safety requirements as specified by the governing body. Shoddy cooktops that are not to standard could cause a serious accident in your house so it is best to save yourself the worry and check first.

For the same reason safety you want to have gas cooktops especially installed by a professional. Gas is a very volatile fuel and only qualified people should be installing appliances that need it. So when buying a cooktop always think safety first.

10. Does it come with a warranty?

This is a must; a warranty protects you and means that if you happen to buy a product that is faulty you have some recourse. You can either get it replaced or fixed at no cost and avoid what may otherwise be expensive repair bills. It is also handy to have access to either online or on the phone support, someone that you can contact with operational as well as functional questions.