Cooktops

There are three basic types of cooktop: gas, electric (also called ceramic) and induction. Induction cooktops are stylish, modern cooktops that use a magnetic field to heat your cookware only.

It can take a moment to completely wrap your head around it, but unlike ceramic, induction cooktops do not need to get hot to heat the cookware. This makes induction an attractive option from both a safety perspective and a cooking perspective; as induction takes very little time to heat up, cooks fast, and uses less electricity to do so. Gas cooktops give you the same quick and precise temperature control as induction, however they are less energy efficient.

There are many other benefits to induction cooking. It is a much faster cooking method than gas or electric cooktops and it allows for instant temperature adjustments as well as precise control. Induction cooktops are generally the most expensive and you will need to have cookware that is specifically compatible with induction cooking for it to work. But in return you will get a safe, stylish cooktop with superior performance.

Induction cooktops are the most expensive to buy outright however they make up for this in the long run as they are the most energy efficient cooktops to use. This is due to a combination of factors such as the much faster cooking times and the fact that the magnetic field used to heat the cookware can transfer energy with roughly 85% efficiency. This efficiency will not only save you money on running costs but will mean that your kitchen itself will be noticeably cooler.

Electric cooktops are still reasonably efficient, and you will be paying less up front, however they have longer heat up times. Electric cooktops can either have a ceramic glass surface, or solid hotplates as cooking zones.

Gas is the least energy efficient cooktop type. If you are considering a gas cooktop you should check that your home is connected to mains gas. If not, that doesn’t necessarily rule out a gas cooktop – many models can be connected to bottled LPG – but it will make it a more expensive option without a mains gas connection.

In general, whatever type of cooktop you decide to use, it's always best to clean up spills straight away. Once a spill dries on a cooktop it can become much harder to clean later. Applying a protector can make cleans easier, while cooktop cleaning solution is great for more intense jobs.

If your cooktop has control knobs, it's a good idea to remove these when cleaning so that you can stop dirt and grime getting trapped and building up underneath them. Again, the longer you leave it, the harder it is to clean.

Since induction cooktops don't get hot, spills don't get cooked on to the surface - simply wipe away with a damp cloth. Induction and electric ceramic cooktops have a continuous, flat surface with touch controls which means there are no places for dirt to get trapped (just make sure you keep the touch controls clean to ensure they're always responsive). Gas cooktops can be harder to clean, while the emerging 'gas on glass' models from the likes of Fisher & Paykel or Miele can make cleaning easier.

Gas cooktops provide instant heat control and you can use the size of the flame to differentiate between high, low, and medium heat. With burners designed specifically for woks, this often gives gas cooktops that edge for high-flame cooking tasks. If you have asthma or another respiratory condition it is worth keeping in mind that gas releases small amounts of contaminants like nitrous dioxide when burned, however plenty of ventilation via a rangehood can help.

Electric ceramic cooktops (as opposed to electric cooktops with solid hotplates) have an easy-to-clean surface and whilst they are not as precise or instantaneous to control as other cooktops, they are particularly good at maintaining a steady, low heat – perfect for tempering chocolate.

For fast cooking that is as adjustable as gas and more energy efficient than any other cooktop, you might want to consider an induction cooktop. If you can get past the higher price point you will find that they are the safest, easiest to clean and most responsive cooktops on the market today. Checkout our cooktop buying guide and our induction vs gas article for more on cooktop types.