Gas Cooktops

Gas cooktops have heavy-duty grates instead of a smoothtop

Reviews say that while electric smoothtop cooktops are more efficient and easier to clean than gas cooktops, gas provides more power, and some people prefer the visual control of a gas flame. Overall, gas cooktops do not perform as consistently as electric smoothtop cooktops in reviews, but owners say gas ranges are more responsive to temperature adjustments than electric ranges. Gas cooktops come mainly in 36-inch widths, with a few 30-inch and 48-inch gas cooktops available.

GE has received good test scores for a couple of its 36-inch gas cooktops. The GE JGP975WEKWW (*Est. $1,200) has continuous grates that are dishwasher-safe. The top is made of porcelain enamel, which is more durable than painted metal. There's one high-power burner, two medium burners and two low-power burners, along with knob controls. Experts say this cooktop simmers particularly well. It comes in white, black and black with stainless steel.

The 36-inch GE JGP637WEJWW (*Est. $800) costs quite a bit less but doesn't have continuous grates, meaning you'll need to lift pots to slide them from place to place. It has five burners, including a high-power burner, and front-center knob controls. The burner grates are round and made of gray metal, which one owner comments shows grime too easily.

At about $250 more, the 36-inch Bosch PGL985UC (*Est. $1,050) receives a recommendation from ConsumerGuide.com and has several very positive reviews at AJMadison.com. Owners especially like this range's childproof knobs and ease of cleaning, but one notes that grates are further above the flame than expected, which "can take some getting used to." Unlike the GE JGP637WEJWW, the Bosch cooktop includes continuous grates and a very large central burner, but in the one professional test that includes it, the Bosch cooktop receives below-average scores.

We didn't find any professional reviews for the budget-priced Kenmore 30-inch Sealed Gas Cooktop 32232 (*Est. $550), but it is well-liked by a handful of reviewers on Sears.com. While it has four burners instead of five, the grates are continuous. The four positions include a simmer burner with a range of 500 to 5,000 British thermal units, as well as a high-heat burner rated at 14,200 Btu. The controls are situated along the right side of the cooktop, and this unit comes in white, black and stainless steel. All models have black grates, which are dishwasher-safe. The top is porcelain.

Another bargain-priced gas cooktop, the 30-inch Maytag MGC5430BD (*Est. $600), receives good ratings from a handful of owners posting comments to retailer websites. As with the Kenmore 32232, this cooktop has continuous grates but only four burners. At 12,500 Btu, the most powerful burner doesn't run quite as hot as the Kenmore's. One reviewer at AJMadison.com notes that the burner caps are easily damaged if not cleaned promptly. ConsumerGuide.com recommends this cooktop as a Budget Buy.

You might have seen pro-style gas cooktops with oversized cast-iron grates in magazines and on TV. The Dacor Preference PGM3651 36-inch cooktop (*Est. $1,480) does well in testing, with good performance on both high and low heat. It has five sealed burners (650 to 18,000 Btu), continuous grates and a one-piece spill basin for easy cleanup. Three of the burners are high-power units, so the Dacor might be an option if you need to sear food in more than one pan at once. The Dacor also has several optional accessories including a wok, grill and griddle. The good-looking Dacor has three finishes: black, white and stainless steel. Each model has heavy black grates, but the Dacor also costs much more than the GE JGP975WEKWW, which performs just as well.