Advantages of Using a Gas Cooktop
Here are some of the advantages of using a gas cooktop for cooking.
Fast Heat Up Time
The instant you turn on the gas cooker it’s ready to start cooking. Of course, you have to wait a little bit for it to gain temperature, but you can begin cooking immediately.
This makes a gas cooktop perfect if you’re someone that wants to get your cooking done quickly.
Plenty of Temperature Control
Professional chefs use gas cooktops for one reason – they have much more temperature control compared to electric cooktops. Why?
An open flame is much easier to regulate than an electric burner that often radiates heat rather than operating at a constant temperature.
Compatible With All Cookware
Gas cooktops work with all cookware. The same cannot be said about induction or even electric cooktops.
That’s a huge positive when it comes to cost of ownership. And it’s a benefit that can’t be understated.
Low Cost of Use
Gas cooktops have a higher upfront with the price of the cooktop, but once the upfront cost is taken into account the cooktop is very affordable to use.
Why?
Gas is much cheaper than electricity.
Gas Cooktop Buying Guide
This section will cover some features to look at before purchasing a gas cooktop.
Kitchen Space
You really should take into account the size of your kitchen before purchasing a gas cooktop.
Here are some questions to ask before making your purchase:
- Is there enough space on my counter for a gas cooktop?
- Will I have room for a five burner cooktop?
- Where is the gas line?
If you plan on installing a gas cooktop on your counter, then make sure that the countertop is smaller than the gas cooktop.
Number of Burners
The amount of burners is determined first by the size of your kitchen and then by your cooking needs.
If you have a small kitchen, then you’re going to be stuck with a two burner cooktop. However, if you have a larger kitchen and do a lot of stovetop cooking, then you should strongly consider purchasing a cooktop with five burners.
Price
Price is obviously a factor to consider. A cooktop that has more features, burners, or a bigger size will cost more than a smaller cooktop or one with less features.
Types of Burners
Gas cooktops have a variety of burner types. Here are some of the ones you should look for in your gas cooktop.
BTU measures the amount of heat required to increase the temperature of water by one degree. In layman’s terms, more BTU means faster heating times. Burners have anywhere from 3,000BTU all the way up to 20,000BTU. The average is around 5000-8000BTU.
Controls
A gas cooktop will have a control knob to adjust the flow of gas, which allows you to control the temperature. We recommend cooktops that have metal control knobs because they are less likely to melt.
Also, if you have small children, then you will probably want a cooktop that has lockable controls. Trust us, this is especially important on a gas cooktop.
Cleaning
Most gas cooktops are relatively straightforward to clean. Simply remove the grate and clean with the recommended cleaning products.
However, you should look for a gas cooktop that has an easily removable grate.
Trivet Material
Trivets are the grates that you place the cookware on. They are available in cast iron or enamel.
We recommend cast iron trivets despite the price.
Why?
Cast iron is much more durable than enamel. It’s also a little more sturdy, which should prevent accidents.
Continuous Grates
A continuous grate is very convenient because it means you don’t have to manually lift the pots. Simply slide them from one burner to another.
It’s not a must-have feature. However, it’s very difficult to switch away from continuous grates once you have a cooktop with continuous grates.
Safety Features
Finally, safety features are something you should look for in a gas cooktop.
Everyone makes mistakes.
The safety features we really like are child safety locks and hot surface lights. Child safety locks are almost an essential feature if you have small children in your home.
Also, you should have an automatic reignite feature or automatic gas shutoff. Most cooktops will have an automatic gas shutoff.
If your cooktop doesn’t have an automatic gas shutoff, then you should install one.
Cleaning a Gas Cooktop
Cleaning a gas cooktop is not difficult. Here is a basic outline of how to clean your gas cooktop.
Now, you should clean up any spills immediately after they happen because they have a tendency to get stuck on if you don’t immediately clean them.
Also, make sure to keep the gas valve clean to ensure proper gas flow to the flame.
Conclusion
Well, that’s about it for the best gas cooktops. You can’t go wrong with any of the choices on this list. They’re all great gas cooktops, but some have more extra features than other cooktops.
Personally, we really recommend a gas cooktop if you have a gas hookup in your home. They are simply more efficient and easier to use than an electric cooktop.
On top of that, they are cheaper to use.