Nowadays, with such a large variety of options available for everything, it is important to understand the features one is looking for in a product. This ensures that you spend your money and time wisely where it promises a good ROI. Even an entity as fundamental as a gas stove comes with a buyers’ guide enlisting the important areas to focus on.
The life of an Indian household is in its kitchen. Whether you’re an amateur cook or an avid experimenter, whether you live alone or in a large family, or if you just use your kitchen for heating the leftovers, it is important to choose your gas stove according to your need. Buying unsuitable equipment can clutter your kitchen making it impossible for you to enjoy your time there.
The importance of flame failure function
While gas cooktops are impressive for their instant heat control, some fall short in terms of safety. We don't test or recommend any gas cooktop that doesn't have a flame failure safety feature. This feature should be standard equipment, but unfortunately, not all models are fitted with this. If the flame goes out, gas can escape silently and invisibly, building up in the room, which is why gas cooktops now require a flame failure device by law.
Number of Burners
Some cooktops are equipped with just a single burner or heating zone while other models are furnished with two to five burners for cooking various dishes in one cooktop. So, depending on your family’s needs and requirements, decide on how many burners you want your cooktop to have.
Burner’s Type
Wok burners have an intense rapid flow and are suited for stir-fry cooking and fast boiling as they heat up more quickly than a large burner. They're best for stockpots, extra-large frypans, and round bottom woks.
Large burners are suitable for most uses such as frying, boiling pasta, and potatoes. They're best for larger non-stick frypans or saucepans. Avoid high temperatures when cooking with non-stick cookware.
Medium burners are suitable for foods that require a quick response to temperature change such as rice or simmering casseroles and soups as the ingredients need to be brought to a high temperature initially and then reduced to a very low simmer.
Simmer burners are suitable for delicate ingredients such as making sauces, melting butter, and chocolate. They're best for smaller frypans and saucepans.
Layout of burners
You need to consider the position and layout of the burners and their size about the pots and pans you use. Burners that are spaced out so you can use multiple pots at once and don't have to reach over one element to get to another a range of simmer, medium, and large-sized burners. Simmer burners are positioned at the front so you don't have to lean over other burners to stir a sauce. Medium burners positioned at the back – these are best for simmering foods for a long period that don't require frequent stirring. A wok burner – this is best positioned at the side on its own or in the center for accessible and continuous stirring an oblong-shaped burner if you'd like to use a grill or hotplate for barbecuing.
Cooking Power & Range
It should go without saying that a cook top's ability to, well, a cook should be the top priority when making your selection. Cooking power is measured in BTUs, a unit that determines just how much heat output a burner can manage. The most powerful residential burners can reach as high as 20,000 BTU. But strength isn't everything—your cook top's burners should be able to handle delicately small output levels, too. How else are you going to get that perfect simmer or carefully melt chocolate without burning it beyond recognition? The best cooktops feature a range of burner power, from the fastest boiling burner to the daintiest simmer burner. Some cooktops split up their burners into dedicated tasks, while others feature burners that can do it all from high- to low heat.
Trivets
Trivets or pan supports should be flat and stable on the cooktop. Those with rubber feet are less likely to move and won't scratch the surface. Trivets without large gaps allow you to slide pans around the cooktop without lifting them. Most cook tops come with bulky, heavy cast iron trivets, but if you can find enamel ones they're much easier to clean. Stainless steel trivets can stain easily so avoid these. Some cooktops have a trivet for each burner – you won't be able to slide pots around these cooktops but they're much lighter to lift and will fit into your kitchen sink with ease.
Labels&Controls
Any labels should be etched as opposed to bonding. Bonded labels sit on the surface and can fade if you use harsh cleaners, whereas etched are on the surface – you can feel the difference. Control knobs should be a good size – ideally with a crossbar, so they're easy to grip, and have a clear pointer. Controls shouldn't be positioned too close to the trivets or burners.
Child Lock Function
For the safety of your child in the kitchen, this feature is excellent. It will also give you peace of mind while preparing dishes. You just need to press the child lock button and it will automatically get locked.
