One of the most distinct-looking
and regularly used appliances in the kitchen is a cooktop. A cooktop is an
excellent addition for those homes that have built-in ovens.
When shopping for the perfect
cooktop, you are going to require to keep a few things in mind to stay within
your style and budget.
When it comes to selecting the
right unit, you may require to start with getting either electric or gas.
If you have the opportunity to
install, ensure you weigh the pros and cons of the two of them.
- Shop
Cooktops
- Types/Kinds
Smooth ceramic cooktops have a
sleek appeal and offer easy cleanups. However, you will require to use a
separate or unique cleaner for the ceramic glass surface. Ceramic cooktops are
available in a plethora of colors to complement any kitchen design and
interior.
The ribbon aspects on a
smooth-top cooktop heat fast than the old coil elements, and some are
adjustable in size as well. Some sealed ceramic cooktops can be attached, so
they are virtually flush with the countertop perfectly.
Smoothtop cooktops have helpful
attributes like variable-size elements, warming zones, and bridge elements.
Sealed surface burners contain
spills for easy cleanups. Several cooktops are designed with the sealed burners
fitted below the surface of the countertops.
Models are available with
gas-on-glass where the burner, which are sealed, is installed directly on the
ceramic cooktop, assembling the ease of cleaning of a smooth electric top with
the functionality of gas overall.
Sealed "simmer"
burners let you to cook delicate foods. Precise temperature controls permit you
to control the temperature for every cooking requirement.
Rangetops Vs. Cooktops
Although the two are alike.
There are some key differences between a cooktop and a range top and cooktop.
While a cooktop fits into a cutout area of your countertop, a rangetop slides
into place onto an already built shelf cut to its precise dimensions.
As their name suggests,
rangetops are the top section of a bulky, powerful kitchen ranges. Because of
this, they take up more space than a cooktop, rendering a large cooking area at
the price of counter space.
Rangetops' bulky roots also
offer them with a more professional set of elements, often consisting of more
powerful burners and more diverse configurations that might include additional
burners or griddle sections.
Bridge Elements
Joins two or three elements into
one vast cooking area, which is ideal for oversized cooking.
Coil Heating Features
Provides even heating and
consistent on the cooktop with a plug-in attribute that is removable for easy
cleaning purpose.
Downdraft Exhausts
Available on some cooktops, they
are the same in function to a range hood as a whole. A fan draws smoke and
odors below into the cooking unit and releases them outdoors through a venting
mechanism.
Electronic Touch Buttons
An electronic touch-control
cooktop comes without knobs and comes with electric cooktops. This kind of cooktop
provides other features also: If an unoccupied element is left on, sensors in
the cooktop will turn off the elements specifically.
Sensors adjust the size of the
elements to the size of the pan being utilized. The control-lock aspect for the
elements is a safety attribute to prevent accidental activations.
A digital reminder timer
notifies you when the cooking time is complete.
Electronic Ignition
The automatic mechanism that
immediately lights burners on gas cooktops.
Open Burners
This sort of cooktop has large
openings for burners. The opening is a little vast than the burner.
The cooktop lifts open to clean
waste/spills, that drain into openings in the cooktops.
Pan Presence Sensors
Identifies when a burner
attribute is left "on" and automatically shuts it off when it is not
being used.
Pan Size Sensors
On its own, adjusts the heating
component to pan size.
Power Burners
Power burner cooktops have at
least one 14,000 BTU or more burners.
Sizes
General sizes for cooktops are;
24", 30", 36", and 45" exclusively for US. Professional
series cooktops come in these sizes: 30", 36",
42", 48", and 60".
Thus, If you are a serious cook
or you would like to be, and you have a spacious kitchen, go through this
buying guide, and it will surely enable you to polish your skills and fulfill
your dream of becoming a prolific cook.
For more information on the
cooktop ranges, please visit East West International located in Houston.