What gas cooktop should i buy

Our Kitchen Appliances Deputy Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou primarily recommends them over a range to optimize cooking and prep space on a kitchen island or when you'd like to invest in a double wall oven. Gas cooktops also come in a variety of styles and finishes to suit your unique kitchen design.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen and Appliances Lab has spent years testing a wide variety of cooktops and ranges, including gas ranges and induction cooktops. When evaluating gas ranges, our Lab experts test to see how quickly they can reach a boil and maintain a steady simmer.

We also consider design elements like knobs, grate construction and finishes. To find the best gas cooktops, we used data from our gas range testing, researched models from trusted and proven brands and vetted user reviews. Our top choices have enough well-spaced, high-powered burners to prepare a whole dinner, plus they're easy to clean and use and are built to last. Here are the best gas cooktops to buy in With its exceptional grate construction, elegant stainless steel design and features like backlit knobs and a professional high-powered center burner, this inch gas cooktop from the GE Cafe range offers great performance and luxury-inspired looks without luxury pricing.

Unlike many cooktops that are one-size-fits-all, this Cafe model has easy-access knobs in four finish options — brushed stainless, black, bronze and copper — to match almost any kitchen design. Some reviewers note that the grates have scratched their cookware, but this is an issue with most gas cooktops with cast iron grates. This model also comes in black and stainless finish options.

Many gas cooktops have optional griddle attachments, but this popular model from the GE Profile range has an extra-large, integrated griddle that reviewers particularly love. This cooktop has five sealed burners ranging from 5, to 18, BTUs with continuous cast iron grates in a modern linear design. It also features backlit knobs and a precise simmer burner. Some reviewers complain of staining on the cooktop and wear on the knobs over time. It also has the sleek, high-tech looks to match, with blue backlights on each knob.

This cooktop has five sealed burners with an exceptionally strong 22, BTU dual-burner for boiling and searing, as well as special features like an integrated griddle and wok burner. Bosch offers a wide range of gas cooktops, and this five-burner model in the series balances features, price and ease-of-use in a simple inch frame.

Sealed burners range from 5, to 19, BTUs for a variety of cooking needs, with raised continuous cast iron grates for easy cleanup. Take note that some reviewers complain of wear on the knobs and say that it takes practice to arrange many pots and pans on the grates without tipping.

It has continuous cast iron grates that come in two different design options — contemporary linear grates and hexa grates. The cooktop also has a unique central control panel and includes a wok ring. The winner of our best gas range roundup, LG's smart range with ProBake Convection was the top performer in our Lab tests.

It performed well in our stovetop evaluation with a max 17, BTU burner, but the oven is where this range excels: It consistently baked cakes and cookies in its spacious convection oven, browning perfectly even across baking sheets though taking a couple extra minutes to do so. The broiler didn't produce super even browning, which is important to keep in mind when melting cheese on a baked ziti. Its controls are easy to use and clear to see due to a slanted control panel.

A smart feature we liked: If there's a problem, the "smart diagnosis" feature transmits data via your phone directly to LG Customer Information Center to troubleshoot without stress. Just keep in mind: some reviewers complain of rusting and discoloration issues both inside the oven and on the cooktop.

The Viking 5 Series model is an excellent option for serious home chefs who want a professional setup. Dual Burner Dual burners use an inner burner ring and outer burner ring to accommodate various sized pots on the same burner area. Bridge Burner Some electric cooktops feature an interconnected bridge burner. This allows for even heat along the entire cooking surface, ideal for using a griddle or oblong dish.

Warming Zone A low output burner gas or low watt burner element electric is used to provide a warm zone where food can be kept warm until is ready to be served. Continuous Grates Gas cooktops with continous, interlocking grates allow for convenient transfer of pots and pans from one burner to another. Continuous grates also provide a more integrated appearance with the countertop.

What kinds of specialty cooktops are available and what do they do? For the ultimate in cooking customization, specialty cooktops or integrated modules take the cake. For those who want more than the traditional setup, or perhaps are limited by space, these specialty cooktops provide an opportunity to have a little bit of everything. Offering all the same features as a full-size cooktop, these 2-burner surfaces are ideal in galley kitchens, wet bars and other areas where space is a consideration.

These units can be installed side by side. The extremely deep fryer can handle large portions of small food items or even a whole chicken. With a two-gallon capacity this unit can hold up to 14 cups of cooked pasta and includes one solid and one perforated stackable insert pan.

Two watt heating elements — front and back — enable you to cook on one side of the module while keeping other items at serving temperature. For ease of cleaning, unwanted grease is drained into a removable collection pan.

The low-profile grate fits nicely with any Wolf gas cooktop and can accommodate your largest stockpot. How can I further protect the investment of my new cooktop? Most manufacturers offer a one year limited warranty on their product. Our Product Protection Guarantee covers all functional parts and labor on your new appliance for up to two, three or five years.

We hope you have found this buying guide to be useful and informative and we appreciate the time you took to read through it. If you have questions that were not answered by this guide, please feel free to contact us.

Kitchen Appliances. Kitchen Packages. Wall Ovens. Built-In Coffee Makers. Warming Drawers. Kitchen Accessories. Laundry Pairs. Laundry Related Accessories. Propane Grills. Pellet Grills. Natural Gas Grills. Charcoal Grills. Grill Covers. Grill Accessories. Heating, Venting and Cooling. Water Treatment. Many people find that the flame provides a helpful visual aid, so you can see at a glance whether the heat level is correct.

Gas is a cost effective and environmentally-friendly energy source. Gas is compatible with all types of cookware. Wok cooking is easier with gas, as the gas trivet should support the round base of the wok. Look for a model with a dedicated wok burner. Some people prefer to use the manual knob controls found on gas cooktops as opposed to electronic touch controls.

Disadvantages: A natural gas connection may not be available in your area. To get around this problem, you might be able to use LPG i. Gas cooktops produce a lot of heat, which can make your kitchen environment hot and uncomfortable. The open flame presents a potential safety concern - we've heard horror stories of tea towels accidentally catching fire, or of people's hands getting burnt. It's best to invest in a gas cooktop with a flame failure device fitted to each of the burners - which will automatically shut off the gas supply if the flame goes out.

Gas cooktops without this feature are not as safe. These cooktops can be a bit fiddly to clean, as food has a way of gathering around the base of the trivets.

Gas cookers don't fit in very well with a minimalist kitchen scheme. View all gas cooktops. Other factors to consider before buying: Size When buying a cooktop, your first consideration should be size. Number of gas burners A 60cm wide stove will give you four gas burners, which should provide ample space if you only need to cook basic meals. Cast iron trivets Cast iron trivets are more expensive than the standard enamel trivets, but they're sturdier and more durable.