Cooktops

Your cooktop is a very important element of your kitchen... often the hub of your meal preparing process. Therefore you should make sure you get the right cooktop for your needs and preference.

Probably the first decision to be made is what type of cooktop you would prefer- gas, electric or induction.

Gas cooktops are quite popular and use a cheaper source of energy than electric models. Heat is available instantly and can be varied quickly. Excellent for woks! A sparking igniter is a useful accessory to look for. Naked flame. Low temperatures may be more difficult to maintain. Fittings are more fiddly than other types and harder to clean.

Electric cooktops have a neater, smoother appearance and don't have the parts that are fiddly to clean like gas cooktops. They also have no naked flame, but cooking elements do stay hot for a long time. Electric cooktops take a lot longer to heat up or cool down, so temperature change is not as quick. Don't work as well with woks. More expensive to run. Check the power rating of the elements to assess how efficient the unit will be.

Induction cooktops are also electric, but use a magnetic field to heat the saucepan etc itself, instead of heating the surface first. These are quite energy efficient, but expensive to purchase initially- up to 3 or 4 times the cost. Another option is to have a combination cooktop, with just one or two induction elements which you can use most of the time, if desired. Easy to modify temperature and to clean.

You also need to consider how many cooking positions you might need and the sizes and layout of these. Consider the pots and pans you commonly use, and how they would fit in a combination on the cooktop. Also, what space do you have for installing a cooktop? Do you have a large square space or would a long narrow design fit better?

What about appearance? Cooktops come in a variety of colours and styles, so find one that you like and that fits your kitchen decor. If you are doing a complete kitchen renovation, consider what your new kitchen will look like, and coordinate with that. Your new cooktop needs to please you for many years to come!

Is it easy to clean? Make sure there aren't too many deep crevices or hard to reach places where spills could accumulate. Can you remove parts and get under them to clean below? For easy clean, enamel cooktops may be better than stainless steel or ceramic. For safety purposes, knobs that need pushing in to turn on make it less likely for young children to be able to operate it, or for accidents. Electric elements which change colour when hot are also a safer option.

Your cooktop can add class and flair to your kitchen, so it is worth taking a bit of time to get it right.