How to choose a cooktop

How often do you cook? Which type of cooktop favors your kitchen design and space? Which units are easy to clean? What special features will you use? Before you shop for a cooktop for your kitchen, learn what your best choices are.

The space you have

You'll want to check if your kitchen has the space to accommodate some form of ventilation, such as an overhead hood or a downdraft ventilator. This is built into the base cabinet rather than mounted above the cooktop, pulling air down from the unit, and is more suited for kitchen islands with no overhead exhaust. If your cooktop is going to be placed against a wall, you may also want to consider getting a backsplash plating.

Your cooking requirements

Know your capacity:
Ask yourself how much you need to cook. This should give you an idea of how big a cooktop you need, what kind of surface area to consider, or if you need more flexibility with a modular configuration with adjustable burner sizes for different-sized cookware.

Gas cooktop:
Gas-fired cooktops are usually the preferred choice of those who cook often because it provides fast heat, precise control and a high temperature quickly. Plus when you turn it off, the heat source goes away, unlike electric cookstops where the heat remains long after the electricity is cut off. Gas stoves are also cheaper than electricity. You can pipe through mains gas or use bottled LPG, and most cookware will work on a gas cooktop. However, cleaning the trivets and stove surface can require elbow grease.

Not surprisingly, stainless steel is a popular surface as it's easier to clean and maintain. You can opt for an easier cleanup with models that offer ceramic glass surfaces or sealed gas cooking systems. These are much like electric cooktops, except with gas burners placed over the ceramic surface, which greatly help to prevent liquid and food debris from crusting up the stove. Do take heed that with gas, you should run a ventilation fan to remove traces of gas and cooking vapor from the kitchen.

Electric cooktop:
Electric cooktops have no open flame which those living in small apartments may prefer. It's also easy to clean up. The catch is it's more expensive than gas, takes longer to heat up and cool down, and isn't as instantly controllable as gas, but are great for cooking at very low temperatures or for long, slow simmers. There are two types: The exposed metal coil burner and the ceramic glass cooktop with electric elements placed beneath the glass surface. The coil burner is more economical and also heats up quickly for fast cooking. The exposed heating coil can accommodate a wide variety of cookware, although it is more vulnerable to spills, drips and cooking messes.

With a ceramic glass cooktop, expect to pay slightly more. The upside is that it's easier to clean. The downside is you have to use pans with flat bases for good contact with the heating surface. Maintenance is also necessary. You have to ensure there's no grit between base and cookware that could scratch that tempered glass. Aluminum and copper-based pans purportedly leave deposits over time on the ceramic surface, and spills can bake on if not wiped up quickly. It is suggested that you invest in a special cleaning cream to keep the glass streak-free. Note, too, that the glass holds heat for a long time, so you need to be aware of this once it's turned off, particularly if you have young children around.

There are other less common types of electric cooktops: Halogen and induction. The halogen cooktop uses halogen bulbs under the glass to produce heat, although these reportedly have the same efficiency as a radiant unit in the ceramic cooktops, which does not justify the higher cost. Induction cooktops, on the other hand, produce heat by transferring electromagnetic energy directly to the pan. However, you will need a particular type of cookware, such as cast iron and stainless steel but not aluminum, for the induction to take place. This is a really cool way to cook, literally, as the surface remains cool with only the pan heated, making this is a very energy-efficient process. It's also fast and just as controllable as gas. However, it's very expensive.

Hybrid cooktop:
Some models feature a modular design that can accommodate both gas and electric heating elements, or even a grill and steamer. With a modular setup, you can customize your cooktop for a wide range of cooking functions.
Other features:
These functions add to usability and convenience.

• Touch-sensitive Controls: Electric cooktops are increasingly offering touch and slide controls in addition to the stand knobs. Unlike touch controls, slide versions are embedded in the glass of the cooktop. To operate, you slide a finger along the glass. The advantage to touch-sensitive controls is that they are digitally lit and are easy to operate in the dark. They also make it easy to select precise cooking temperatures.
• Ignition systems: This is for gas-fired stoves where there are a number of ignition types. Electric ignition can be either powered by the mains or battery, but are easy to operate as they will instantly light the burners. Piezo systems require pushing a button to produce a spark. Finally, there's a old-fashioned manual method where you light a match or use a burner lighter to ignite the gas. That said, if you do get electric ignition, see if there is a model that also includes a manual ignition in the event of a power failure.
• Clear icons: Symbols and markings on the cooktop should be easy to read and use, and their layout should be as intuitive to use as possible.
• Safety features: Most electric cooktops should come with auto-shutoff features. But do check. Look for models that automatically shut off or down in the event of overheating or if the surface plate has been left on for a long period.
• Accessories: Most cooktops will offer dual burners or more, and some will even have options such as grills, steamers, and woks.

Your budget

No matter what type of cooktop you decide on, do check out the selections in stores before buying so as to get a better idea of what cooktops will be the best value for your budget.