Having the right cooktop is essential if you're to enjoy the time you spend in the kitchen. If your cooktop is old and tired, then maybe replacing it is the best way to go. There are some important factors to consider when selecting a cooktop.
With the choice available today, you'll have no problem finding one you love. That's a given. Your kitchen will look fabulous, cooking will be more enjoyable, and you'll have a great looking kitchen if you ever decide to sell down the track.
Before you buy your new cooktop, there’s one important question to ask.
Which kitchen are you updating?
It may seem like a strange question, but the fact is, many people own more than one property. If this is the case, then is the new cooktop for your own kitchen, a granny flat, rental property, holiday home?
If it's for your own kitchen then the choice you make will be based on your own taste, aesthetics, functionality, cost of utilities bills, your level of concern for the environment.
If it's for a granny flat or rental property, then you'll be mainly concerned with performance, durability, cost, and replacing same for same to minimise expenses. In this case, one of the best ways to go is with a basic 4 burner from a trusted brand; one that is functional, reliable, low maintenance and low cost.
Decisions to make when replacing the cooktop in your kitchen
At the risk of sounding obvious, one of the factors to consider when selecting a cooktop, is what energy source will it use?
If you already have an electric set up, then you may be tempted to stick with electric, which is totally understandable. Same for same is more cost-effective in the short term, but the utilities bills can be higher.
If you're planning on being where you are for a long time, it may pay to investigate the cost of plumbing for a gas cooktop. If the oven is already gas, then half the work is already done. The cost of replumbing should be recouped over time, and you'll have a cooktop that is eco-friendly using a cleaner source of energy, and cost-effective to run reducing your utilities bill.
How much cleaning are you prepared to do?
This is something you can easily forget when updating your cooktop. Cleaning cooktops is a pain, let's be frank. Choosing a cooktop that's easy to clean saves you time and energy, so you can do other things you enjoy more.
When it comes to cleaning, there are some key factors to consider when selecting a cooktop.
These are:
- Are there difficult edges where food can be trapped?
- Are the knobs hard to clean around?
- If it's electric, how easy are the hot plates to clean?
- If it's gas, are the trivets easy to remove? Are the gas burner caps easy to take off and put back in place for cleaning the surface?
Ease of cleaning is usually one of the major factors to consider when selecting a cooktop.
What types of electric cooktops are there?
If you're choosing an electric cooktop, there are a variety of hot plate styles available, each with their own benefits.
Here's a snapshot:
Ceramic cooktops. These are the ones you see blending seamlessly with the kitchen bench. This is because the coil or plate elements are under ceramic glass. The elements glow a brilliant 'red orange' colour when they're on. They give you more counter space and are easy to clean.
Induction cooktops. These also have a streamlined look. The difference is they use magnetic fields to operate. The heating coils under the glass are powered by electromagnetic energy that's activated by the iron in your cookware. They have accurate temperature control, heat up and cool down quicker.
Solid element hotplate. This is your classic stovetop design. They're straight forward to use, and provide consistent heat. They're also easy to maintain and easy to clean when you get to it early and use a dedicated solid element hotplate cleaner. These are an extremely affordable option, such as the Innova Four Burner 60cm Electric Cooktop at Bathware Direct.
The essential range of cooktops at Bathware Direct
Bathware Direct has the largest range of bathroom products online, including an essential range of gas and electric cooktops.
With Bathware Direct you get the best quality products from leading brands, at the lowest prices.
Add to that an enjoyable customer experience and prompt delivery, and your home makeover is easy.
For the best range, best prices, and best quality, you can't go past Bathware Direct