Cooktop comparison: Gas Versus Electric

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When I was remodeling my kitchen, I didn't know whether to go with a glass cooktop or a gas range. The following lense is the summary of the research I did relating to cooktops

Here you will find the facts, and even some expert opinions on the dilemma every home owner will one day find themselves faced with. Glass cooktop, or gas range?

Indroduction: what are the differences between gas and electric ranges?

Here are a list of features to look (out) for when deciding upon a new model of cooktop

Considerations

Gas vs. electric: Some cooks prefer gas, and some prefer electric. Fans of each say that it makes cooking faster and easier. When changing the temperature applied to a pot, gas is faster. Gas is also praised by many professional chefs for the ability to cook solid foods like meats. Electric cooktops are better for boiling water or other liquids, and apply a more even heat across the pot.

Do you have gas hookups run to the kitchen of your home? If your home doesn't have gas service, you'll need an electric range or cooktop. Most homes with gas service are running a gas furnace for heat, and most have a gas hookup in the kitchen, but not all. If you're not sure that your kitchen has a gas hookup, get behind your existing range and check before going out to buy your new range or cooktop. Installation wise, electric ranges can be a bit easier to install than gas ranges.

Cooktop vs. (built-in) Range: The range is the traditional answer to cooking food in the kitchen. It encompasses the oven and the cooking surfaces in one simple appliance, and is the easier appliance to install. If you're in a hurry to replace an old range, you'll probably want a new range that fits in the old space. Make sure you measure the old space exactly before going to buy a range-some older ranges came in nonstandard sizes.

Cooktops are the modern aesthetically pleasing choice. They are a nearly flat appliance, meant to sit on a counter and blend with their surroundings. Cooktop installation is usually accompanied by counter installation, as you fill in the space where the old range was, and is also more complicated, requiring a hole to be cut into a countertop. Usually, changing from range to cooktop is a bit of a remodeling project. You will also need to purchase a wall oven unit, which can be installed anywhere in the kitchen. People who frequently cook for large groups might want to consider getting a second wall oven, to let them cook different things at different temperatures at the same time.

Cost: Cooktops and ranges cost about the same, with cheap models running as low as 200 to 300$, but this can be misleading. Remember that you'll also need to purchase a separate wall oven to accompany your cooktop, which will cost another 400$+.

Safety: Gas ranges and cooktops carry typical safety concerns of working with gas appliances. Unlit gas can accumulate and cause explosions, thus professional installation is recommended if you're not an experienced handyman. Luckily, in modern appliances, pilot lights are rarely used, and electronic systems are much safer than the gas ranges of 40 years ago.

Smooth top cooktops carry special safety concerns, as they are easily mistaken for a counter surface and will be hot even after a pot is removed from their surface. Look for cooktops which not only have a bright light while they're on, but don't turn off that light until the surface has cooled to a touchable level. Warn children about the new burn hazard in their kitchen, and remember to warn children who might not have encountered a cooktop before when they visit your home.

Photos of the slickest and coolest cooktops

Here are some of the latest features of cooktops

notice the gas cooktop on the left has an automatic sensor that can determine if the gas is lit, and turns off the gas if the burner blows out. Cool stuff.

Siemens auto-shutoff range feature

Siemens range cooktop

Bosch cooktop

Gaggenau Sleek cooktop

Thermador gas range cooktop by anamoly23

gas range Thermador cooktop

curated content from Flickr

Pros of the Gas cooktop and range

Heres a list of what makes Gas ranges and cooktops great

With a gas range, it is faster to change the temperature applied to the food you're cooking.
In many areas natural gas costs less than electricity.
It is easy to tell when the burner is on, making it harder to burn yourself
you can cook with them even if your electricity in your home isn't working
Proferred by professional chefs

Cons of the Gas cooktops and range

The not so great things about Gas ranges

Gas ranges left on can cause gas buildup and lead to explosions and fires
Harder to install in many cases
Heat your pans less evenly than electric ovens / slower to bring water to a boil.
have been known to give your ceiling a yellowish tint if you do not have proper ventilation.

Pros of the glass electric range and cooktop

These are why electric may be the option for you~

Easier to clean. The flat nature of glass and ceramic cooktops makes cleaning extremely easy. This one of the greatest things about a flat electric range.
Heats food more evenly than gas ranges, making boiling and heating foods faster.
aesthetically pleasing. Their flat just looks so sleek!

Cons of the glass or ceramic electric cooktop and range

Some things to look out for when thinking about buying an electric range or cooktop.

Ceramic and glass cooktops are susceptible to breaking if you drop hard items on them. This can cause expensive repairs and replacements.
Cannot change heating temperature as fast as gas ranges.
Can be dangerous for children because some models show no color even when they are hot.

Great cooktop and range resources

I used many of these sites in my search to find the perfect range for my kitchen

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