Top & Best Cooktop Review 2022 – How to Select Ultimate Buyer’s Guide
Cooktop: How to choose the best in 2022
Today we are going to talk about a product that has revolutionized the way of cooking: the cooktop.
Modern, practical and technological, the cooktop has been replacing the traditional stove in homes, both for efficiency and design. Nowadays, there are models for all spaces, tastes and pockets.
In the midst of so many options, we will show in this article what you should take into account before buying the cooktop that will meet your expectations and needs.
First, the most important
- The cooktop is a modern, light, practical table stove that takes up less space in the kitchen.
- Nowadays, there are different models, with different modes of operation, sizes and finishes.
- However, in addition to not having an attached oven, the cooktop requires specific space for its installation.
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The best cooktop models: Our favorites
The idea of the cooktop is to make the act of cooking even more pleasurable besides, of course, composing the decoration of your kitchen. Thus, manufacturers invest in innovative versions, both in terms of design and features.
Therefore, below, we will present you the best cooktop models available on the market today.
- Great option with two mouths
- An excellent induction model
- The best electric model
Buying Guide
It may seem simple to choose a cooktop for your kitchen. But you need to understand the installation and operation system, among other factors, before making this investment.
Therefore, we created this Buying Guide with all the information you will need to make the best decision before investing in the most suitable cooktop.
What is a cooktop?
The cooktop is one of the most modern and stylish appliances trends these days.
It is a table stove, thin and flat, without the built-in oven, which adds modernity to your kitchen, as well as practical cooking.
Did you know that in addition, the cooktop is designed with technological features, including flame-free heating rings, which not only speed up cooking time, but also guarantee safety against burns.
On the other hand, precisely because it consists only of the table with the burners, the cooktop is a type of stove that can only be installed in specific spaces.
Therefore, your kitchen needs to be planned. We will talk about this in more detail later in this article.
But still, it is the ideal type of stove for those who want to combine modern design, with space optimization and practicality when cooking and cleaning.
Although it does not come with the oven, with the cooktop you can install an oven separately anywhere in the kitchen.
Which is often an advantage, since you can take advantage of previously unused places.
Due to the high demand and popularization, nowadays, you can find the cooktop with different types of operation, coating and number of mouths.
The design is also varied, from those that look more like traditional stoves to the most minimalist and contemporary.
What are the differences between the floor, built-in stove and cooktop?
In addition to not having the oven, the cooktop has some important differences with respect to the more traditional types of stoves.
The floor stove is the most common and traditional. With gas operation and built-in oven, this type of stove is perfect for kitchens that do not have planned furniture.
This is because this stove can be placed in any space, without the need for works for its installation.
In addition, the floor stove can be switched and removed for cleaning, which in practice can be more laborious.
The most modern ones come with some technologies like timer and grill.
The cooktop is more compact, efficient, technological and easier to clean compared to traditional and built-in stoves.
The built-in stove, which looks similar to the traditional floor stove, also with a fitted oven, has a more modern look.
Unlike the floor, the built-in stove does not have legs and, as the name says, it must be built into the kitchen countertop, which helps in saving space.
In addition, with this type of stove you need to move it to clean under or behind the appliance.
But once installed, it cannot be removed or replaced unless you have a kitchen remodel.
In addition, the built-in stove can operate on gas or electricity.
For those who prefer to invest in a personalized kitchen, the cooktop, also known as table stove, brings more versatility.
Despite needing a more specific installation than the other types of stove, the cooktop takes up less space and is easier to clean.
In addition, as we have seen, the cooktop has a more elegant and slimmer design.
Its operation is also more versatile, and can be electric, gas or induction.
Below, you can see the main differences between the three types of stoves: floor, built-in and the cooktop:
What do you need to know about installing the cooktop?
To have a cooktop, your kitchen must be planned, as this appliance needs a specific size base to be installed.
Experts recommend that the countertop where the cooktop will be needs to be very resistant to heat and humidity, in addition to having a thickness that varies between 30 and 60 millimeters.
In addition, the manuals and each cooktop contain information on how far the appliance needs to be from the wall and other appliances.
However, currently, there are already prefabricated counters for sale to install the cooktop.
This can be a great solution if you don’t want to invest in a kitchen remodel.
If you choose to remodel your kitchen, the first step in having a cooktop is to consider the size of the niche in which the product will be installed.
Therefore, it is important to check the exact sizes of the appliance in your product manual. We’ll talk more about this in Purchasing Criteria .
In addition, you also need to be aware of some other details of installation of the cooktop such as the ones we will list below:
- The sockets must be out of the furniture and at a distance of 30cm from the gas point to avoid accidents;
- The bench must be between 3 cm and 6 cm thick and withstand temperatures of 90ºC;
- Try to leave the refrigerator away from the cooktop, because if it is too close to it, the energy consumption of the refrigerator will increase;
- If the sink is on the same bench as the cooktop, it will be necessary to leave a distance of at least 45cm between it and the cooktop, to avoid contact with water.
What pans can you use on the cooktop?
Before you invest in a cooktop it is essential to know that not all models are compatible with all types of cookware.
That is, depending on the cooktop you buy, you may also need to buy new cookware.
This will depend exclusively on how the appliance works.
Thus, the only cooktop that has no restrictions on the type of cookware is the one that works on gas.
But, if you choose the electric or induction cooktop, know that not all pans work in them.
We will talk in detail about the operating model in Purchasing Criteria .
But beforehand, it is important that you know that these two types of cooktop do not produce a flame when heating the mouths.
And, precisely for that reason, some pans do not work in these types of cooktop.
If you choose the electric table stove, for example, be aware that you will not be able to use cookware, such as ceramic, glass or copper cookware.
For the perfect use of this cooktop it is necessary that you use pots with reinforced bottoms, mainly those made of steel or iron with at least three layers.
In order to use the induction cooktop, you must invest in stainless steel pans, triple-ply or cast iron.
To find out if the pan is compatible with the induction cooktop, you can, for example, try to place a magnet on the bottom of the pan, on the outside.
If the magnet sticks to the pan, it is because this type of pan can be used.
Check out the pans that can be used in each cooktop:
- Gas cooktop: All pans.
- Electric cooktop: Only pots with a reinforced bottom, preferably made of iron or steel.
- Induction cooktop: Magnetized stainless steel cookware, triple-bottom or cast iron.
How to clean your cooktop?
Cleaning the cooktop, especially the electric and induction cooker, is much easier, as they are completely flat surfaces, without the grills in the mouths.
In addition, food scraps tend not to stick to these cooktop since most of the time they have bases made of glass.
However, precisely because of this, the base of the cooktop cannot be cleaned with abrasive material such as steel sponges.
Otherwise, you will have permanent scratches on the surface of your table stove.
To help you conserve your cooktop, we have separated some simple and quick tips that should be adopted when cleaning:
- Unplug the cooktop and wait for it to cool;
- After cooling, remove the grids (in the case of the gas cooktop) and the burners and wash everything with a soft sponge;
- Clean the cooktop table with a soft sponge, neutral detergent and water;
- Remove all soap from the cooktop with a damp cloth;
- Dry the cooktop table with a dry cloth.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of the cooktop?
As we have seen, the cooktop has many advantages. This is a modern, technological appliance that takes up much less space in your kitchen.
The cooktop is easy to clean.
In addition, due to the material of manufacture and the design, the cooktop is easy to clean and, depending on the model chosen, has numerous functions to make cooking more practical, efficient and safe.
Another advantage is that, nowadays, there are several options of sizes and mode of operation.
That way, regardless of your budget or the space you have available, you can purchase a cooktop to call your own.
But of course, like all appliances, the cooktop also has its disadvantages.
The main one is that it is necessary to prepare for its installation: either through a renovation, creating a planned kitchen, or by purchasing a prefabricated counter.
That is, it is not possible to simply buy a cooktop and take it home. The furniture where it will be fitted must have been thought of before.
Another disadvantage is that the cooktop does not have an oven. That way, if you want to make baked goods, you’ll have to invest a little more to buy an oven separately.
In addition, it is also a product that requires a high investment, especially if you need to buy new cookware.
Below, we have gathered the main advantages and disadvantages of the cooktop:
How much does a cooktop cost?
The price of the cooktop varies a lot depending on the operating model, the size and the extra functions available.
So, in general, you will find the cooktop costing between R $ 100 to R $ 10,000.
Of course, you don’t have to buy the most expensive of all. Nowadays, it is possible to purchase an efficient and quality cooktop for a reasonable price.
Where to buy a cooktop?
You will find the cooktop for sale in department stores and hypermarkets, But we recommend that you make your purchase at online stores like Amazon.
So, not only do you guarantee more model options, with attractive discount options, but you also get the cooktop from the comfort of your home.
Purchase Criteria: What to take into account before choosing the cooktop
As we have seen, in order to have a cooktop in your kitchen, the first step is to ensure adequate space for your installation. But, when choosing the ideal table stove, you will also need to decide which model will be most functional for you.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand what are the characteristics that distinguish one model from the other. Therefore, we have listed for you the main factors that must be observed before buying the cooktop:
- Operating mode
- Energy Rating
- Mouths
- Size
- Design
- Finishing
- Color
- Extra functions
Next, we’ll explain each of these factors in detail so that you can make the best decision and invest in the ideal cooktop.
Operating mode
The mode of operation will influence the way the cooktop heats the food and the choice of the energy source used.
In this way, as we have already seen, the cooktop can work by means of gas, electricity or induction.
The gas model is practical because you can use the same system you used with the traditional stove. In addition to being able to cook even when there is no power outage.
In addition, this type of cooktop is compatible with all types of cookware.
The downside is that the gas cooktop does not have a high performance for cooking food quickly.
The electrically operated model makes the cooktop superior in terms of speed for preparing food.
This is because, in the electric table stove, the burners are heated by means of a resistance, similar to that we have in electric showers.
This means that there is no need for a flame to heat the food.
And, precisely because it does not produce flames, this type of cooktop has no grills in the heating nozzles, which makes cleaning easier.
The downside is that the electric cooktop takes longer to cool.
Did you know that the cooktop that works by induction also has no flames. In this case, the heating takes place by electromagnetic induction.
This means that if you touch the stove on, you will not feel any heat. Thus, this type of stove brings an extra safety point.
In the induction cooktop the heat will only be activated when you place the pan in the heating nozzle.
For this reason, food cooks at a much higher speed and the heating nozzle cools more quickly as well.
Check below the main characteristics of the three types of cooktop in terms of operating mode:
Energy rating
If you opt for the gas cooktop, you must take into account the energy rating of the appliance.
This information comes on the Concep Seal attached to the cooktop and helps you know if you are buying an economical cooktop.
The classification varies between “A” and “E”, with A being more efficient in gas consumption, ensuring greater savings and less damage to the environment. The E rating is the least efficient.
Mouths
Another factor you should note is the type, quantity and power of the heating nozzles. You can opt for a cooktop with one to 6 heating rings.
Compact cooktops, with one or two burners, are light and portable. These models can even be taken to the table, the barbecue or the balcony.
A 4-burner cooktop is recommended for those who live alone and like cooking a lot or for those with a small family.
With 5 or 6 mouths you will be able to produce more for families of five or more people.
Also, take into account the size of the mouths. The most modern cooktop models offer mouths with different sizes, so you can use pans with varying diameters.
Finally, if you are serious about cooking efficiency, look at the power of the heating nozzles.
In the most modern options, you will find burners that double and triple flames that can reach up to 4,000W.
The other burners, on the other hand, can have rapid heating, such as 3,000W and semi-quicks of 1,650W.
Size
This is a point that you should pay the utmost attention to. After all, you need to ensure that the cooktop will fit in the space that you have available in the kitchen.
To give you an idea, a medium-sized four-burner cooktop can measure 5.5cm high, 59cm wide and 52cm deep.
A larger four-burner cooktop is about 5cm high, 86cm wide and 60cm deep.
The compact two-burner cooktop, for example, can measure about 4.7 cm in height, 30.2 cm in width and 51.4 cm in depth.
The largest ones, from 5 to 6 mouths, are, in general, 4.2cm high, 73cm wide and 51cm deep.
Design
For you who think that every stove is square we have good news to tell you.
The cooktop can be found in different formats, guaranteeing even more charm, modernity and exclusivity to your kitchen decor.
Therefore, before making your purchase, also take into account the design of the cooktop.
In general, you can choose square, rectangular and even curved models. Some have unique rounded shapes.
Finishing
Cooktops can be manufactured with different types of finish. You can choose between stainless steel, glass or glass ceramic.
Your choice will determine not only the look and the decor, but also the resistance and durability of the cooktop.
The cooktop with stainless steel finish has high resistance, but has a traditional look, similar to conventional stoves.
In general, the stainless steel cooktop has grills in the heating nozzles, which also influences cleaning, which becomes a little more laborious.
The cooktop with tempered glass finish is resistant to high temperatures and thermal shocks, in addition to being easier to clean.
The glass model may or may not have mouth rails, as well as different colors and even prints.
The cooktop with glass-ceramic finish is the most technological and modern of all, with fully digital control.
Therefore, this type of finish is only found in electric or induction cooktop.
Glass-ceramic is also a type of glass, but it is more resistant and durable.
In addition, this type of finish guarantees a high degree of protection as it does not let the cooktop table heat up, thus preventing accidents with burns.
Color
When we think of cooktop, we imagine them in black or silver. But there are many different colors and patterns for cooktop.
You can choose colors like white, red, yellow, blue and green, for example.
In addition, if you prefer, there are modern models that come with striped prints, for example.
Extra functions
Finally, we recommend that you observe the extra functions of the cooktop models.
In general, the electric and induction type will offer the most resources.
Among them, you will find cooktops with automatic shutdown, touch sensitive buttons, timer, temperature level control, warning lights, among others.
The choice here is personal and will depend on your need for use.
