Choosing the Right Cooktop For Your New Stove – Gas Versus Radiant Versus Induction

When choosing a new stove, you’ll be faced with deciding between several options that are available today.

• Gas flame burners burn gas and apply heat directly to your cookware.
• Electric radiant burners have coiled metal elements that radiate heat from below.
• Electric induction cooktops create an electro-magnetic field that passes from the stove elements to the cookware (while staying cool to the touch).

Gas

Gas is an appealing choice for those who prefer the flavour of cooking over an open gas flame. Home chefs will also find it easier to control their cooking on a gas stove, because:

• You can make very small adjustments to the height of the flame, and see exactly what you’re working with.
• You can adjust the heat faster with a gas stove. When you turn off the flame it removes the heat right away, which is not the case with other types of cooktops.

It’s worth noting that gas stoves typically cost about 20% less to operate than electric, and are also less costly to repair. If you didn’t previously have a gas stove, you must factor in the initial cost of connecting the gas line from your furnace up to your kitchen, or in some cases putting in a new gas line if you do not have one.

Induction

Induction cooktops are gaining in popularity, because they have many of the benefits of a gas stove without needing a gas line. As soon as you stop the energy transfer from an induction element to the cookware, the heat stops. If something boils over, you can quickly wipe away the mess – definitely not the case on an electric cooktop with coil elements.

Induction cooking is also the most energy-efficient choice. 90-95% of the heat generated is transferred to the pan. This is only 80% in electric radiant burners, and 50% in gas flame burners (yet because gas is so inexpensive to operate, it is still the lowest cost overall).

The final thing to consider before selecting your stove is what type of cookware you already own. Only ferrous metals such as cast iron and stainless steel work with induction elements, and cooking vessels must also have a flat bottom to heat properly. You can use a specially designed metal plate to heat other types of cookware, but you will sacrifice much of the energy efficiency.

Before automatically choosing the most familiar electric range, consider the benefits of gas and induction cooktops, and whether one of these alternatives might be right for you.