One question that often comes up is, should you buy a range or a cooktop?

In short, it is really a personal choice, based on your budget, space limitations, looks, and needs.

Budget

Prices for cooktops, ovens and ranges vary a lot because the prices are changing constantly due to special offers and sales, brands are priced differently to start with, and they also depend on which of many different features they offer.

However, a separate cooktop and wall oven will always cost more than a range, and will also require electrical or gas plumbing to each unit.

Space Issues

With a cooktop and separate oven you are installing two appliances, therefore they will take up twice the space of a range. Building codes may also require you to install a vent over the cooktop. Also, you may lose some cupboard space to allow for the built-in oven.

Gas or Electric?

However, the first thing you should consider when buying a range or cooktop is whether you want the gas or the electric type. With the drastic increase in natural gas prices recently, many people are changing to electric appliances.

If you are simply replacing your existing equipment, this is no problem. If, however, you wish to convert from gas to electric or vice-versa, you might have to do additional work in your kitchen by adding wiring or gas inlets. Discuss this with your appliance dealer before purchasing.

Cooktop Elements and Burners

Standard gas burners:

Very easy to cook with, the choice of professional cooks. Gas burners heat up and cool off quickly compared to electric elements. You can see the flame and adjust it visually to the cooking task.

Electric-coil elements:

No open flame so perhaps safer, and less expensive than gas. May take a while to heat up and cool down, though, so if fine control is important to you then you may want to try one of the other electric options below.

Sealed Gas burners:

Gas burners are enclosed, the cooktop surrounds the burner so that any spills are easier to clean up. Most come with energy-saving electronic-ignition systems.

Ceramic-glass :

Have a smooth surface that is easy to clean and looks good. Can have either electric coils or halogen elements (or a combination). Halogen heat faster than electric coils but are more expensive to run.

Magnetic-induction:

Look similar to ceramic-glass units with the same easy cleanup, however, the heat is generated in the pan by an electromagnetic field, so the pan cooks the food, rather than the cooktop surface which stays cool to the touch.

Solid-disk:

Solid cast-iron disks contain the burner elements. These are similar to electric coil but are even slower to heat up and cool down. However, they are easier to clean than the traditional units.

Notes on burners:

The induction, halogen and European types of burners look good and are easier to clean than the other choices of burner but you need to carefully research these before you buy since these may not turn out to be the best investment. The initial costs are almost always higher and the repair frequency and expense are also higher for these types.

Other Advice

When you visit your dealer, take information on measurements and venting requirements for your existing oven/range if you have one. Ask about any other adjustments you will need if you want to purchase a different model from the one you have.

If you choose a gas range or cooktop, consider the pilotless electronic ignition type. This type usually costs no more than the traditional pilot gas type but is much more energy efficient (sometimes by as much as 25%).

Another money-saving feature for ranges is the oven window that allows you to watch your food cook. Be sure to add this feature since it will decrease the number of times you need to open the door to check food. This saves energy by eliminating the need for the oven to adjust itself to keep a constant temperature.

These windows sometimes cost as much as $40 to $50 more, but soon pay for themselves in saved energy costs. However, some of the newer radiant electric ranges suggest cooking certain foods with the door ajar and even have installed devices to hold oven doors open while cooking.

Be sure to keep your range or cooktop as clean as possible. Burned-on food and grease deposits will make your work harder and use much more energy than is required. Even with self-cleaning ovens, check often to make sure that there is not a build-up of ash deposits from the self-cleaning operation.

Choosing Cookware

A worthwhile investment, especially with electric cooktops, is cookware that is completely flat on the bottom. Flat bottoms help food to cook more quickly and evenly. Curved bottoms or old and dented cookware will waste energy and require a longer cooking time.

Also, be aware of what size burner you are using with each piece of cookware. Using a pot or pan that is too small or too large for the burner can cause uneven cooking and energy loss.

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New stainless steel Frigidaire range, the 30-inch FPDS3085KF from Frigidaire Professional Line is the dual fuel slide-in range with 4-burner gas rangetop, versatile 4.2 cu.ft. oven and bottom warming drawer with Pro-style stainless handles. The porcelain, deep drawn rangetop has continuous, cast iron grates, flexible front-right burner with the range from 600 BTU for slow simmering of delicate foods and sauces to whopping 17,000 BTU for fast boiling of oil or water, front-left burner with 9,500 BTU, rear-right burner with 5,000 BTU and powerful rear-left burner with 15,000 BTU. The dual radiant oven of this Frigidaire slide-in range comes with 2.5 kW bake element, 8-pass 4.0 kW Vari broil element and third convection element. The cooking modes and functions include Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Convection Roast, Effortless Convection, Preheat, Quick Preheat, Keep Warm, Chicken Nugget Button, Pizza Button and My Favorite.

Other features of the Frigidaire range include Sabbath Mode, 2-, 3- and 4-hour self-cleaning oven programs, Rapid Clean function for a quick, light oven cleaning, ergonomic Pro-Select controls, clock with timer and Add a Minute feature that adds a minute in the middle of oven cycle without resetting. PowerPlus Preheat, PowerPlus Boil and PowerPlus Clean offer fast and performance oriented execution of their respective functions. Price for this slide-in Frigidaire range is approximately $2,300.

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The new Frigidaire cooktop, available in 36″ and 30″ widths starting this December, comes with stylish black ceramic glass, nicely accented by stainless steel panels. These induction hybrid cooktops offer 2 induction zones and up to 3 electric elements for the utmost cooking flexibility. The 30″ wide cooktop has two left-side 7″ electric elements 1.8 kW each, and two right-side induction zones with power boost – 10″ front 2.5 / 3.4 kW and 6″ rear 1.5 / 1.9 kW. The 36″ wide Frigidaire cooktop adds center 6″ electric element with 1.2 kW output.

The right-side Pro-Select control knobs with Hot Surface indicator lights provide precise temperature control and are easy to operate, durable and stylish.

Other notable features of these Frigidaire cooktops include Keep Warm zone and flexible SpaceWise bridge element to combine 2 burners into one to fit larger cookware. Expected suggested price is $1,600 for 36″ wide FPCC3685KS Frigidaire cooktop, while 30″ wide FPCC3085KS hybrid is currently planned at $1,400. Frigidaire.

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Give yourself the power and flexibility of this gas induction hybrid hob from Rosieres. The 60cm wide ceramic top has ultra-thin stainless frame with 2 induction zones and 2 gas burners. Both independently controlled induction zones have 9 power levels with direct access to maximum level which is handy when you need to quickly boil water or oil, 99 minute timers and various sensors for secure cooking. The rear induction zone has 2.3 kW output which can be easily boosted to 3.2 kW, while the front zone has 1.4 kW with 1.8 kW respectively.

The gas part of this hybrid hob offers 3.0 kW rapid and 1.75 kW semi-rapid burners with integrated electronic ignition, thermocouple gas safety and individual cast iron grates. Price is around €550. Rosieres.

Other hybrid hobs,
Thermador hybrid cooktop
36″ hybrid cooktop
Hybrid range cookers

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This 75 cm gas cooktop, the RTV 750 FPN has black tempered glass top and packs 12,000 watts of raw cooking power. Its 5 gas burners include
- ultra-fast 3.5 kW burner
- 2 rapid burners 2.5 kW each
- 2 semi-rapid 1.75 kW each
You can find this Rosieres cooktop for around €400.

If you can only fit a 70 cm wide gas cooktop, then consider white gas-on-glass RTS 742 IN. Comes with 4 gas burners including
- 3.5 kW ultra-fast
- 2.5 kW rapid
- 1.75 kW semi-rapid
- 1.0 kW auxiliary
This gas cooktop is priced at around €325.

Other gas cooktops,
Hybrid hob from Rosieres
Siemens gas on glass cooktop
Gas on glass hob with side wok
Gas cooktops from ILVE
75 cm gas cooktops from Hotpoint
5-burner gas cooktop
Gas cooktops from Franke
Thermador gas cooktop

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As part of its newly launched collection of eco-friendly induction appliances, UK leading kitchen appliance brand, Belling has launched two new induction hobs with unique features and a choice of touch or rotary controls. Building on the success of the PBi60 hob launched last year, Belling has created the PBi60 mk2, a 60 cm induction hob with a totally unique touch control Temperature Slider. The stylish and precise temperature slider allows you to accurately adjust the temperature setting of each induction zone simply by running a finger from left to right – the ultimate in controllability. In addition to the touch slider, the PBi60 mk2 has a digital display and griddle function. For cooking on a high heat, the PBi60 mk2 has a power boost setting which allows the user to borrow power from another cooking zone when a burst of additional heat is required.

Boasting an impressive 18 features, the PBi60 mk2 is built to handle those unexpected interruptions, offering a pause button which automatically cuts power and a recall button that instantly restores the hob’s previous settings so that the cook can pick up exactly where they left off. Offering complete peace of mind, the PBi60 mk2 incorporates a Safety Shutdown function which automatically turns off all cooking zones if the hob is left unattended for a long period and Overheat Pan Protection which employs sensor technology to shut down an unattended hob before reaches a dangerous temperature.

The second of the two launches is the PBi60R, the first 60 cm 4-burner rotary induction hob on the UK market, combining induction technology with the simplicity of rotary controls. In addition to simple and intuitive knob control, the PBi60R boasts innovative features including safety shutdown, overheat pan protection and power boost. The Belling PBI hobs will both be manufactured in Britain as part of Glen Dimplex Home Appliances commitment to home-grown innovation. Previously, Belling hostess trolley.

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BlueStar, manufacturer of high-performance ranges and wall ovens for the home, announced that its ranges will be featured on season two of The Next Iron Chef. The show pits 10 world-class chefs from around the United States against each other in cooking challenges each week, with the winner crowned the Next Iron Chef. Throughout the series, the contestants will complete some of their challenges on one of five high-performance, ruby red BlueStar 48″ ranges. Each of the 48″ ranges features four 15,000 BTU open burners, one BlueStar trademark UltraNova 22,000 BTU power burner, one 130 degree simmer burner, and a 12″ charbroiler. More on indoor charbroilers.

According to Keith Wolf, Vice President of Marketing, BlueStar was approached by the show designers, looking for a true high performance product for the chefs to cook on. Impressed by the premium, professional-quality performance delivered in a home kitchen environment, Next Iron Chef picked BlueStar. BlueStar owners will be delighted for sure to watch some of the best chefs in the world cook on the same brand of range they have in their own homes. The Next Iron Chef premieres on the Food Network on Sunday, October 4th at 9pm Eastern / 8pm Central.

BlueStar has long been recognized as the only true professional quality range for the home. The unique 22,000 BTU burner system is the highest powered open burner on the market. For lighter cooking, the ranges also feature a 130 degree simmer burner, perfect for preparing delicate sauces and soups. It boasts an extremely large oven capacity, powerful convection fan, and a roll out rack that will support even the largest and heaviest turkey. The line offers 24″, 30″, 36″, 48″ and 60″ ranges and is available in more than 190 colors. Each BlueStar range is hand-crafted in Reading, Pennsylvania.

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Get lower consumption, higher capacity and quality of food preservation with the new Prime combo fridges. The new class ‘A+’ models have 35 litres more capacity than traditional combos, while the All-OK function provides optimum control of the state of food preservation in the fridge.

Thanks to Smart technology, combining the power and flexibility of the new generation motor and the intelligence of the turbidity sensor, the new Prime dishwashers guarantee perfect ‘A’ class washing with water and energy consumption as low as possible.

Prime washing machines consume 10% less energy than class ‘A+’ products and have a special Smart function that reduces washing time by up to 33% thanks to a sensor that gauges the quantity of laundry in the drum.

Powerful stainless steel gas cooktops from Indesit Prime Range are available in 60cm and 75cm widths with 4 and 5 enamelled burners including a special double crown burner for ultimate cooking flexibility.

Stylish multifunction ovens offer better temperature control for the lowest consumption and several specialized functions for the most authentic dishes. Indesit.

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The sharp looking 60cm induction range, De Dietrich DCi799XU1 marries a pyroclean oven with an induction hob, offering the best of both technologies. All 4 induction zones have boost function and 15 power levels with levels 7-11-15 being directly accessible. Touch controls, 4 programmable 99-minute timers, auto-safety shut off, residual heat indicators and child lock make induction range top convenient and safe to use.

The 56-litre multifunction oven has 3 programmable memory functions which allow you to customize and store cooking modes, times and temperatures, so your favorite dishes are always only few touches away. Cooking modes include fan cooking, combined heat/pizza setting, conventional Eco cooking, turbo grill, full width variable grill, economy grill, Bio grill, defrost, keep warm and conventional cooking. Other oven features are cool-touch door with 4 panes of glass, easy-clean inner glass door, electronic clock and programmable timer. De Dietrich also equipped this 60cm induction range with Eolyse, a sophisticated air purification system to remove bad cooking smells, fumes and grease. High grade, easy-clean enamel interior, interior halogen light and storage compartment. Price for the De Dietrich DCi799XU1 is £1,100.

Previously,
Double oven range from De Dietrich
Falcon induction ranges
Induction range cooker
Diva induction range
Rangemaster induction ranges
Freestanding induction range
Kenmore induction range

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New De Dietrich hob, the DTi853X is zoneless induction cooktop. Actual De Dietrich definition is 65cm zoneless dual Continuum induction hob. Similar to MaxiSense cooktop from AEG, the entire hob surface represents one large cooking area. Sensors under the glass detect the presence, size and placement of a pot or pan or several, and energize the induction elements that are only directly under. Basically, you can cook anywhere within the surface of the hob, with any pan shape and size. To be precise, this particular zoneless hob has 2 flexible Continuum 40 x 23cm zones with boosters – left and right, 4.6 kW each. Or you can select a maximum 7.2 kW total connected load. At a glance, this cooktop features touch controls, 15 power levels per zone with 3 programmable direct access levels, programmable memory function, start control, digital display, 4 programmable 99-minute timers, independent minute minder, elapsed time and power tracker.

Redundant safety mechanisms make this zoneless induction cooktop one of the safest appliances we have seen. They are anti-overflow, anti-overheat, residual heat indicator, auto-safety shut off, child lock, control lock, cleaning lock, automatic pan detection, small object detection and electronic power monitor. You can buy this De Dietrich hob for approximately £800.

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