Types of Cooktops
In today’s modern kitchens, homeowners can select from cooktop types including electric, gas and induction, with many sizes and colours available to suit each kitchen.
Electric Cooktops
Electric cooktops use electricity to heat the cooktop’s coil or glass elements, which in turn heat your cookware. Traditional electric cooktops feature visible, coiled elements, while sleek, modern ceramic cooktops conceal these elements beneath a smooth glass surface. All types of Electric Cooktops provide consistent heat for a variety of cooking needs.
Gas Cooktops
Gas cooktops offer a classic cooking experience, using gas fuel to power burners, providing a visible flame for instant heat and responsive temperature control. Gas cooktops offer versatile cooking with simmer, rapid, and wok burners, accommodating everything from delicate sauces to high-heat stir-fries. Safety is prioritised with many Gas Cooktops equipped with flame failure devices.
Induction Cooktops
Induction Cooktops are equipped with electromagnetism which directly heats cookware, offering faster heating times, precision heat control, superior energy efficiency and a safer cooking surface. Many induction cooktops feature bridging zones, where the power and size of cooking zones can be combined to cater to larger cookware such as griddles and grill pans.
Dual Fuel Cooktops
Dual fuel cooktops offer the best of both worlds, combining the precise control of a gas cooktop with the even heating of an electric or induction cooktop - allowing you to sear a steak to perfection on the gas burner while crafting a glaze with the gentle heat of the induction or electric cooking zone. Dual fuel cooktops offer the ideal choice for serious home cooks who demand flexibility and professional-style results.
Induction Cooktop with Integrated Rangehood
For space-saving and efficient ventilation, this induction cooktop features a built-in downdraft rangehood that quickly removes cooking steam, smoke and odours. Ideal for kitchen islands, induction cooktops with integrated rangehood combines aesthetics and functionality where design and space are paramount.
Considerations Before Buying a Cooktop
Cooktop Size & Configuration
Consider where your cooktop will be placed and the space surrounding it. The most common cooktop size is 60cm, with 75cm and 90cm models becoming increasingly popular, offering more cooking space. It’s also worth noting how many cooking zones or burners will be required to suit your cooking needs, with many brands featuring a minimum of 3 burners on 60cm cooktops and up to 5 or 6 burners on 90cm cooktops.
Cooktop Fuel Type
The two most common cooktop fuel types are electricity and gas. Electric and induction cooktops offer a sleek design, easy cleaning, and precise temperature control, while gas cooktops provide instant heat and visual flame adjustment, favored by many home chefs. Electric-powered induction cooktops are increasingly popular due to their safer and energy-efficient operation.
Settings and Modes
The perfect cooktop is one that's best suited to your cooking lifestyle, so it’s important to inspect the power, temperature settings and modes available. The greater the number of modes and settings, the greater the cooking personalisation, with functions such as ‘boost’ and ‘pause’ providing enhanced control.
Controls and Smart Connectivity
Enjoy precision cooking control with options like touch control, dial knobs or slider controls. Wi-Fi enabled cooktops can be intelligently and remotely monitored and controlled via an app on your smart device, providing smart home integration in the kitchen. Connected cooktops may work with compatible smart rangehoods, which automate the extraction experience.
Cooktop Finish
Are you looking for a seamless design in your kitchen where the cooktop matches your oven and fridge or are you after something brighter, acting as a focal point in your kitchen? From Stainless Steel to Black or Grey, we have a cooktop to suit your style.
The Future of Home Cooking: Cooktop Trends
Induction cooktops are driving the future of home cooking with new technologies which ensure home cooks can enjoy precision cooking that is safer and more energy efficient. Below are some trending induction cooktop technologies to keep an eye out for:
PowerLite Induction Cooktops
Induction cooktops with PowerLite technology are compatible with common 20A-rated current and 4.6kW-rated electrical setups, streamlining the transition from electric cooktops. PowerLite induction cooktops are currently available from Electrolux, with more brands expected in the future.
Zoneless Induction Cooktops
Also known as full-surface induction cooktops, zoneless induction cooktops offer unparalleled cooking flexibility, allowing you to place pots and pans of any size anywhere on their continuous surface.
Connected Cooktops and Rangehoods
Enjoy smart convenience in the kitchen with connected cooktops and rangehoods. "Hob-to-hood" functionality syncs smart rangehoods with compatible cooktops to automate the extraction experience, adjusting ventilation based on the cooktop’s activity and power levels.