Cooktop Buying Guide

Cooktops come in a variety of types and sizes, allowing you the flexibility to choose an appliance that fits in with your kitchen decor. Buying a cooktop has become more of a challenge in recent years, as they have come a long way since the introduction of the traditional four-burner models.

1. Cooktop Size

If you’re wondering how to buy a cooktop, one of the primary considerations is size.

Cooktops can be bought as a standalone unit or combined with an oven, but this will depend on how much space you have to work with.

Separate cooktops are usually more common in small apartments or studios where space is limited.

2. Types of Cooktop

There are three standard types of cooktop: gas, electric and induction.

Gas Cooktop

Many chefs prefer to use gas cooktops because the heat can be instantly modified when cooking. Food is also likely to cook quicker because the flames heat up the sides of pans as well as the bottom. This means they are often more energy-efficient to run, although they are pricier to get installed.

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Electric Cooktop

The temperature on electric cooktops is slower to change, making on-the-fly cooking a bit more difficult. However, they are cheaper to install than their gas counterparts and they have no risk of gas leaks or open flames. Purchasing a model with a ceramic surface also makes cleaning easier than if you buy a traditional product with coil burners.

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Induction Cooktop

Induction cooktops are the most expensive, using magnetic field-based heating rather than applying direct heat to the pan. Not only do induction models have the fastest cooking times, they are the most energy efficient and you can set your dishware anywhere across the entire surface.

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Induction & Gas Cooktop

Some brands have a modular 30cm two burner option. You could have four inductions burners and your gas burners next to it forming a 90cm cooktop.

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3. Cookware that's compatible

Your new cooktop needs to be compatible with your current cookware, or you may need to buy new cookware to suit your new cooktop.

Induction cookware

You can only use induction-compatible cookware on induction cooktops. Induction-compatible cookware has a special ferrous base which is used to transfer the heat into your pots and pans using a magnetic field inside the induction cooktop. To see if you can use your current cookware on an induction cooktop, see if a fridge magnet sticks to the base — if it doesn’t you can’t use it on an induction cooktop, so if you buy an induction cooktop you’ll need to buy induction-compatible cookware too.

Gas, electric and ceramic cookware

You can use any kind of cookware on gas, electric and ceramic cooktops, including induction-compatible cookware.

If you decide to buy a:

Ceramic cooktop: heavy cast iron cookware is not recommended, but if you do use it be really careful when picking it up and putting it down to avoid damaging the delicate surface.

Gas cooktop: don't let the flames go too high up the sides of pots and pans as this can warp the sides.

To find the cookware that’s compatible with the kind of cooktop you want, use the Narrow Your Results tick boxes on The Good Guys' cookware page.

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4. Power Settings

When buying an induction cooktop it will come with a number of power settings, which enables you to have various dishes at different temperatures at the same time.

The more power settings you have, the more expensive the unit will be – but it may come in very useful if you regularly cook large meals for the whole family.

5. Useful Extras

You’ll need to think about what features are important to you when buying a cooktop, and how these will factor into your budget.

Here are some common features on modern cooktops:

Bridge element – creates one large cooking area for bigger tasks

Downdraft exhaust – draws smoke and odours out through a vent

Electric touch controls – start cooking at the touch of a button

Pan presence sensor – automatically turns the unit off when not in use

Pan size sensor – automatically adjusts heating element to pan size

Power burner – offers at least one high-intensity burner

‘Gas on glass’ top – burners are mounted on a ceramic cooktop for easier cleaning

6. Cooktop Style

The cooktop you choose will have an impact on the style of your kitchen, either working with or against the overall kitchen look you’re trying to achieve.

Modern Cooktop

Induction, ceramic and gas on glass cooktops blend seamlessly with your benchtop, enhancing a modern, minimalist kitchen style.

Family Cooktop

Induction cooktops are the safest for families because they use magnetic field-based technology to heat up induction-compatible pans so the cooktop surface stays touch-cool.

Industrial Cooktop

Industrial kitchens channel warehouse and factory style, so a big, chunky stainless steel freestanding cooker or gas cooktop with a large wok burner will give your kitchen an industrial edge.

Scandinavian Cooktop

A sleek gas cooktop or a flat induction cooktop adheres to Scandinavian minimalism principles, or a designer freestanding cooker can be used to create a focal point and add character to the kitchen.

Country Cooktop

An all-in-one freestanding cooker with lots of gas burners on top and a wide oven underneath creates a stylish cooking hub and becomes the hero of any country kitchen.