Cooktop for home: types, pros and cons, how to choose

Recessed cooking surface is installed in the kitchen set, on the countertop. It is used instead of the classic oversized stoves. This is a great option to save space in a small kitchen. In large rooms, they do not clutter the space and do not stand out among the interior items.

Gas Hob

It often consists of four burners, there are compact models with two burners and enlarged - for five burners. Pros:

• Instantly adjustable temperature.
• On gas surfaces, you can use any cookware.
• They cost relatively inexpensive.

Minus - not easy installation, it is required to connect the stove to the gas supply system or to a cylinder. The surface needs periodic cleaning. If when cooking food falls on the cooking surface, its particles can fall into the area of burners, which requires thorough cleaning.

Electric ceramic cooktop

Special heating elements heat the ceramic surface. The places where they are installed are illuminated with a red light. The surface is perfectly flat, and the controls are touch-sensitive. 

Pros:

• Easy installation. It is enough to connect the equipment to the mains.
• You can use any pots and pans.
• Easy care. The cooking surface is sealed, so when cleaning it is enough to simply wipe it.
• The average heating speed is energy efficient.

Minuses - it responds worse to temperature adjustment than gas models. It takes time for the ceramic surface to heat up. After turning off the hob will still be hot for a while.

Induction cooktop

The heating elements are based on an induction coil. It transmits the heat to the cookware. The surface of the hob is not heated.

Pros:

• Highest heating rate, higher than gas cooktops.
• Quick and precise adjustments.
• Safety - the cooking surface stays hot during operation.
• The easiest to clean. If something falls out while cooking, food particles do not stick to the surface and are easy to remove.
• Maximum energy efficiency among hobs.

Minuses - you need a powerful wiring and an appropriate socket. The power of current from 25 to 40 A. Cookware is needed special, made of magnetic materials - magnetic steel or cast iron.

Combination cooking plates

This is a combination of gas and induction burners. Sometimes the high accuracy of temperature settings of induction hobs comes in handy, and sometimes the ability to cook with classic gas in ordinary cookware (for example, in case of power outages) is suitable.

How to choose

If the house is not gasified, electric and induction cooktops are definitely suitable. When there is a gas supply, the choice of equipment depends on the needs. If you need to cook as quickly as possible with high-precision temperature control and there is an opportunity to buy special cookware, you can choose among induction models. If closer to the classics - then among the gas stoves.

Pay attention to such characteristics:

• The presence of an oven.
• Surface material. Metal enameled, tempered glass - more often at gas cooking surfaces. Glass ceramic - in induction and electric cooking surfaces, it is the easiest to clean.
• Type of heater. Induction - spot heating, rapide with a spiral - strongly heats the cooking surface, halogen - with additional lighting that accelerates heating.
• Type of control - mechanical or touch screen.
• Additional options - timer, auto shut-off, lock function.

Cooking surfaces for the home are made in different modifications. Their cost depends on the type of heating element, surface and functionality. It is worth choosing a cooktop, taking into account what options are really needed.