Types of Cooktops with their Pros and Cons

When primitive human beings first discovered fire, they enjoyed eating food like never before. As time passed by, various cooking equipment had been made to cook with ease and efficiency. One of the kits that make cooking easy is a cooktop. It is a device that is commonly used to apply heat to the base of pans and pots for cooking.
Through the years, cooktops have seen various innovations. They add versatility to any kitchen, changing the way you prepare food for your family. But it’s important to learn how to choose the right cooktop for your needs. Not all of them are created equal, so keep reading to find out which one to purchase.

Induction Cooktop: Pros and Cons

Hearing the term induction, you will think that this is a specific method for heat generation. The classic stove uses fire to cook your food. The microwave oven uses microwaves to heat or defrost frozen foods. Induction cooktop produces an electromagnetic field to heat a pan and cook meals.
An induction cooktop produces heat at a fast rate by generating an magnetic field which induces Eddy currents in the bottom part of the cookware.
Your cooking pan must touch the glass part of the cooktop so that it can start generating heat. If you turn on the cooktop without the pan on top, nothing will happen.
Before you can start using the induction cooktop, you need to test your cookware if it attracts magnetic force. A simple magnet attached to your refrigerator will do the trick. Once the magnet sticks on the cookware, you can use it on your cooktop. Otherwise, it won’t heat up at all.

Pros

• Due to the effects of Eddy currents, rest assured that cooking on this cooktop will be fast. A simple press on your cooktop’s button settings will heat your pan in seconds.
• Since cooking with an induction cooktop entails fast heating compared to other cooktops, it consumes less energy, making it an efficient way to lower your electric bill.
• You won’t have to worry about cleaning up this cooktop because when you make an accidental spill on it, wipe it down with a clean cloth, and your cooktop will be clean again.
• The design of the induction cooktop sports a flat-glassed base, which matches well with your fantastic kitchen.

Cons

• Although this cooktop boasts many benefits, it comes at a hefty price because of its relatively new technology.
• For you to cook your food in the induction cooktop, you need to have induction-compatible cookware. Ceramic and mixed metal cookware won’t heat up on induction cooktops.
• Upon turning on this cooktop, at lower heat levels you will hear a buzzing sound that may be irritating at times.
• Because this cooktop relies on electricity, you won’t be able to cook without it.

Gas Cooktop: Pros and Cons

Gas cooktops are your conventional stoves that use fire to heat up or cook food. They have knobs that allow you to control the amount of heat you’re using to cook.
For you to power up your gas cooktop, you will need propane, liquified petroleum gas, butane, or other combustible gases safe for cooking.
You will have to safely secure the gas valve to the gas tank so that there won’t be leakage.
There is no need to test for cookware compatibility with this cooktop. Since you will cook with flames, you can use any cookware like ceramic, stainless-steel, or even induction-compatible pans.

Pros

• Although cooking in a gas cooktop won’t be as fast as in an induction cooktop, it still heats up more quickly than most cooktops on this list. Because of the control knob, you can adjust the flame to a certain level if you want to cook fast with your gas cooktop.
• You won’t have problems buying cookware because this cooktop does not need electromagnetism. Any cookware works well with the gas cooktop.
• Because you control the amount of flame you want to generate, you will have precise temperature control and won’t have problems when cooking foods that require a certain level of heat.
• Even if you don’t have electricity, you won’t have problems cooking because it relies on propane and other combustible gases to produce flames for heat.

Cons

• Installation needs handling with care. If you make a mistake when installing the gas valve on your propane tank, it may cause gas leakage. When you start cooking, it might ignite the leaking gas, and indeed your tank will combust.
• There are gas cooktops that are hard to clean. You must be careful not to make a mess on these cooktops so that you won’t have a hard time cleaning them.
• Since this cooktop relies on combustible gases, you might risk yourself on the dangers of your tank exploding.
• Most gas stoves have retro designs, which make them not a good fit in modern kitchens.

Electric Cooktop: Pros and Cons

Most of the modern houses today rely on the use of electric cooktops. It utilizes an electric coil that heats the surface of the cooktop.
When you want to cook food using low heat, this cooktop is the one for you.

You can choose from the two types of electric cooktops available right now – coil and smooth top. If you select the coil electric cooktop, you will see metal coils on top of your stove, and you can place your cookware there.

On the other hand, a smooth top uses an easy to clean glass surface with coils installed underneath it. It provides a better appearance but at a higher price.

Pros

• You don’t have to rely on explosive elements so that you can heat or cook your food.
• You won’t have difficulty cleaning your cooktop when you have a smooth top because of its glass top. You only need to wipe off food stains with a clean cloth.
• Having this cooktop in your kitchen will look stylish because of its modern design.
• Installation is a breeze. You won’t have to worry about gas valves and gas tanks. All you need is a small space and a power socket, and your cooktop is ready to go.

Cons

• Electric cooktops rely on the power of electricity. Without it, you won’t be able to cook your food.
• Purchasing an electric cooktop is more expensive than buying a gas stove because of its design and technology.
• If you own a coil-type electric cooktop, cleaning it is a challenge because its small spaces are hard to clean.
• Since it uses electricity most of the time, expect your electric bill to rise.

Rangetop: Pros and Cons

If you would like a gas stove-like cooktop on your countertop, you would likely purchase a rangetop.
It looks like a modern gas stove on top of your counter. It extends from your rear counter to the front counter.
Propane gas fuels this cooktop, and there are knobs you can use to control the heat when cooking.

Pros

• Unlike a regular gas stove, it looks sleek inside your kitchen because of its modern design.
• You can control the amount of heat you want to cook your favorite meals.
• No electricity means no problems because your rangetop doesn’t rely on electricity to heat food.

Cons

• The installation will be a challenge because you will need to make space on your counter and the cabinet below it to place your gas tank.
• Because you’re using a combustible power source, you need to take extra precautions.
• Cleaning small spots of your range top will be difficult because of its tight spaces that can’t be accessed easily.

Choosing the right cooktop won’t be a challenge if you know what you’re looking for. If you want a fast-cooking cooktop, go for an induction cooker. High electricity bills bothering you? Buy a gas or rangetop cooktop. And when you want to cook at low heat, don’t hesitate to go for an electric cooktop.
Depending on your wants and needs, they are all excellent choices to have in your kitchen.