Apart from the oven, the cooktop is one appliance that does a lot of work in the kitchen. Your main cooktop doesn’t have to be just for display while the one in the dirty kitchen does all the work. Cooktop technology has advanced to produce easy to clean, reliable and aesthetically pleasing products.
TYPES OF COOKTOPS
Gas
Gas cooktops provide instant heat and the flame can be seen, which allows you to adjust the heat quickly and easily. The response is also very rapid – you’re less likely to overcook anything because the burners stop cooking as soon as the flam is off. Some cooktops have sealed gas burners, making it easier to clean, while others have the burners out in the open, so trivets and pans support can be troublesome to clean,which makes cleaning a little more difficult.
As gas cooktops require an LPG or another source of gas, it is best to turn off the gas (from the source itself) to prevent gas leaks from happening.
Electric
This cooktop is much simpler to handle since you can just turn it on and start cooking. However, there is a waiting time before the burner heats up, which may extend your kitchen cooking time. Once started, though, it provides constant and even heat. However, electric cooktops take a longer time to cool down, and this may lead to overcooking. It is best to take the pot or pan off the burner as soon as the food is cooked.
Electric cooktops, like gas cooktops, have coil burners and smooth or ceramic glass sealing in the burners. Ceramic glass cooktops are easier to clean and do not affect the cooking process in any way.
Induction
Induction cooktops use electromagnetic energy to cook food. It is the most efficient in terms of energy consumption. A great feature about it is that the cooktop surface stays cool to the touch, even while cooking! It is also the easiest type of cooktop to clean, as there are no burners where food can spill into. However, not every type of pot and pan can absorb the heat being produced by the electromagnet. Glass, aluminum, copper and stainless steel pans will not cook on this kind of cooktop; instead a pot or pan that is iron or iron-based in the center is needed to be able to cook here. Induction cooktops are the most expensive kind, usually costing up to three times more than a gas cooktop.
TIPS FOR PURCHASING A COOKTOP
Style
Your personal style and your kitchen’s design play a big role in your choice of cooktop. It is best to choose your cooktop while you’re still building the kitchen to save you from installation hassles and measurement problems.
What you need.
Consider the different styles of cooking to be done and select a cooktop that can perform these tasks well. If you don’t cook at home very often, invest in an electric cooktop. This will last longer than a gas cooktop and will be easier to clean. If you are the type to cook three meals a day, then go for a gas cooktop. It will come out cheaper in the end. You can even combine gas and induction or electric and induction cooktops if you wish. This allows certain dishes to cook simultaneously at different paces.
Types of burners
Many cooktops can come with specialized burners suited to your cooking requirements. The more common types are simmer, wok, fish, and char grills. Also consider burner layout when creating a cooktop with specialized burners. You don’t want to be simmering something in front of where you would be frying another, as this may just cause accidents and burns.
Types of heating elements
There are three kinds of heating elements – radiant, solid and smooth top. Radiant elements have easy to clean, coil-like elements. Solid and smooth top elements, which are usually found in electronic cooktops, are easier to clean and provide even heat.
Power rating and range hoods
Look into the power rating of your cooktop. Larger burners will generate more heat. Finally, depending on your cooktop and your type of cooking, buy a suitable range hood. Even if some cooktops come with downwards ventilation, range hoods will increase the ventilation in your kitchen.
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