Gas vs Electric Cooktop

For those looking to buy a cooktop, choosing between a gas and an electric cooktop can be difficult. Both types of appliances have a wide range of features and benefits that appeal to different buyers. Depending on your needs and budget and with a little planning, you can choose the perfect cooktop for yourself and your family.

Advantages of Gas Cooktops

The biggest advantage of gas cooktops is that they can be controlled instantly. The flame responds immediately to the turn of a knob, and the visual monitoring of the flame is a key asset of this style of cooking. Gas cooktops also allow for even distribution of heat. When turned off, the heating elements or burners cool very quickly. Standard gas cooktops with burners and drip pans are generally more difficult to clean, as compared to smooth surface electric cooktops. However, newer models feature sealed gas burners and ‘gas on glass’ features, which take care of this drawback.

The gas supply to the cooktop can be natural gas or propane. Depending on where you live and the availability of the gas source, you can choose either of the two types of gas. Modern gas cooktops feature electric ignition, for which you will need a basic electric circuit in addition to the gas supply. Cooking on gas cooktops is generally less expensive than cooking on electric cooktops. Professional cooks and large families tend to prefer gas cooktops, because they are more versatile, heat food faster and to higher temperatures.

Advantages of Electric Cooktops

Electric cooktops are available in coil style and smooth surface. Ceramic and glass surface cooktops, which have smooth surfaces, are very popular because of their sleek look and ease of cleaning. Spills and burns can be easily cleaned with a recommended cooktop cleaner. If maintained properly, these cooktops will look like new for a long time, adding value to your kitchen.

Induction electric cooktops use magnetic resistance to heat up cookware. In this type of cooking, the cookware must be metal to permit them to react to the magnetic forces. Induction cooktops do not heat up as much, because the cooking is done in the pot or pan itself. Energy conservation is highest in this type of cooktop and they are also the safest. Induction cooktops include a wide range of features such as touch controls, timers, alarms, and sensors which are also seen in other high-end electric cooktops. However, induction cooktops can cost much more than standard electric and gas cooktops.

Disadvantages of Gas and Electric Cooktops

The open cooking flame of a gas burner is considered a safety risk by many. In standard gas and electric cooktops, the coils and burners are a bit of a hassle to clean. Ceramic and glass cooktops can be susceptible to scratches and damage if pots and pans are slid across the surface. Heavy objects must never be placed on these surfaces, as this may cause breakage. You must also be careful about the type of cleaner you use on these surfaces. Smooth surface cooktops also require the use of flat-bottomed cookware for more efficient cooking.