No kitchen would be perfect without a proper working stove and cooktop. It is probably the most important appliance in your home and especially so if you enjoy cooking.  We spend so much time preparing meals and whether you cook for yourself and your family or for a special occasion or a big party, you would enjoy the experience so much more if you’re cooking on a properly functioning cooktop. Besides just cooking to survive, we cook because it’s often a social event and a fun time to spend with friends and family while sipping wine, stirring your pots and cooking up a storm.  The right cooking top can make all the difference.

Cooktops come in many forms and sizes and can range from affordable to extremely expensive, depending on the size, capacity, looks and features you choose.  It could be the one item that finishes off a modern kitchen, shows style and class or simply just be the area where you spend most of your time every evening.  No matter what your lifestyle, purchasing the correct cooktop to suit your needs is as important as purchasing a car.

There are two types of cooktops available on the market and again each one comes in different styles and sizes and with their own advantages. You might choose a top for its beautiful looks and smooth finishes, or opt for one that has all the features you are looking for to create those extravagant dishes.  You can choose between the conventional electric cooktop and the gas version.  Both are incredibly convenient and efficient but certainly differ in many aspects.

When it comes to good looks and style, the electric cooktop will usually win hands down. Its features include glass panels, soft curves, flat tops and digital or touch controls. They are available in modern designs and colours to suit your kitchen.  Electric cooktops often appear more stylish compared to the rigid edges of a gas top, although gas tops also come in beautiful designs especially if the slightly more rugged style appeals to your taste.

Technology as ensured that your electric cooktop’s elements can be regulated to fit your pots and pans exactly. This ensures even cooking and the ability to regulate heat distribution. Additional features like bridge elements and warming zones optimize the usage of electricity.  These are features that the gas tops do not have.

Another important feature of an electric cooktop is that it’s believed to be much safer than its gas counterpart. Both versions are extremely safe to use, but where a power leakage is not harmful to your health and safety, a gas leakage could be very dangerous if gas bottles are not regularly checked and serviced. However, safety standard are always enforced by law and manufacturers of both types of cooktops must comply with those standards at all times.

Modern electric cooktops are designed to keep electricity consumption as low as possible. Variable element size ensures that heat is available only under the base of the pot and not further, making it very energy efficient.  A gas top can be just as efficient in saving gas as the flame can be adjusted to cover only the base of the pot.  However, there are those who believe that the electric stove saves more in the long run.

A great disadvantage of an electric cooktop is that it takes a while to warm or heat up. The reaction time is slow and the same goes for when the power is switched off, taking long to cool down.  Using the gas version is like having heat on tap and your cooking time can easily be split in almost half. Gas cooktops make precision cooking easier as certain foods can only be cooked on gas as it gives exact heat and temperatures exactly when it’s needed. Not all elective cooktop have this feature or ability unless specifically designed, making them very expensive.

When the power fails and all is cold and dark, your electric cooktop is of no use to you. This is when gas tops come in handy as you will always have a working cooktop no matter the circumstances. Power outages don’t affect gas tops and cooking is never a problem.

Consider the pros and cons of both cooktops before making your final decision or purchase. Both types are excellent to work with, but you need to understand your own specific needs and the top that suits your lifestyle best.  Beauty is not everything and neither is an excellent cooktop if cooking is not a priority for you. Shop around for prices and options and make a wise decision.  Cooktops are an investment and not something you can replace next week because you’re tired of it.