Gas, Electric or Induction: Which Cooktop Is For You?
If you’re building a new kitchen in your home, you will be making one of the most important decisions. Which cooktop are you going to choose? It’s an important choice to make as each option has different benefits to complement different cooking styles.
The two most common types of cooktop are gas or electric. However, a newer type on the market is the induction cooktop. Craftbuilt Kitchens can help you decide which one might be the right one for you. Here are a few key points for each type of stove-top:
Going Electric:
In some cases, electric cooktops are more energy efficient than gas. There is a good amount of heat from a gas cooktop and it vanishes into the air whilst the heat of the electric elements has uninterrupted contact with your saucepans. One thing you should know – if your electricity does not come from renewable energy then greenhouse gases will be added to the atmosphere. Electric cooktops are ideal for using low temperatures for cooking such as slow simmering. The elements come in a few different options such as ceramic radiant, halogen or semi-halogen, radiant coil, solid hotplate or the newer form, induction.
Introduction to Induction:
Unlike traditional electric cooktops that use a type of electric resistance to produce heat, induction cooking is established by using magnetic fields. This works by the coils (the ‘element’) inducing heat in the steel cookware when a magnetic field is generated, therefore making the pot the element that cooks your meal. The quickest of all cooktops to cook and heat food, induction cooktops possess the same immediate control as gas. Induction cooktops have safety benefits that gas or electric do not have. When cooking with a pot and it somehow boils dry, the cooktop will automatically cool down or turn off and if the pot’s material is incompatible with induction cooktops or there is no pot on the cooktop, the element will not heat.
Cooking with Gas:
This is the preferred form of cooking by cooks and chefs. Gas has instantaneous heat control. There is a great selection of colours, designs and finishes such as stainless steel, glass, aluminium and enamel available. It’s hard to fault gas as it is a cheaper option. In the long run, it is a more environmentally conscious choice over an electric cooktop. The enamel is easier to clean than stainless steel or glass.
Discussing your ideal kitchen design with a design consultant at Craftbuilt Kitchens will get all your questions answered. With such great options, whatever your preference, you are sure to be cooking up a storm in style and enjoying your new cooktop.
