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Cooktops Reviews
Updated December 2007
Separate cooktops (as opposed to the combined cooktop and oven you'll find in a freestanding range) are becoming a more popular option in new and remodeled kitchens. Although most cooktops are more expensive than a range, they give you terrific installation flexibility. Cooktops can be installed pretty much anywhere you choose, including on a kitchen island. Induction cooktops are getting a lot of play just now in both advertisements and reviews. This technology is actually not new, but it's recently been seeing a revival. Australia's Choice magazine and Consumer Reports both test induction cooktops, along with their reviews of other types. More induction cooktops are now on the market, indicating their growing popularity. Consumer Reports is the best source for cooktop reviews. In their most recent report, editors test 40 cooktops (including six induction cooktops) by putting them through exhaustive trials. Each is rated on its ability to melt, simmer and boil. Cooktops are tested on their ability to boil quickly, but are also assessed on how well they melt chocolate without scorching and how well they can maintain a slow simmer with tomato sauce. Choice, Australia's equivalent to Consumer Reports, also does comprehensive testing of gas and induction cooktops. In addition, we found some limited reviews in Kiplinger's magazine, along with owner-written reviews at Epinions, Sears.com, AJMadison.com and eBay Reviews. J.D. Power and Associates, a company better known for its automotive customer satisfaction surveys, has also surveyed owners about their large appliances, including cooktops, wall ovens and ranges. We were disappointed to find that Good Housekeeping magazine offers no coverage of cooktops, induction or otherwise. In our research, we noticed
a substantial performance difference between electric cooktops and gas cooktops.
Electric smoothtop cooktops perform better overall in testing. Gas cooktops,
which usually have heavy cast-iron burner grates, generally weren't as consistent
with heat control, particularly at low temperatures needed for simmering.
While the
Electrolux Icon E30EC65ESS
(*est. $1,250) electric smoothtop cooktop
is a top performer, a gas-powered model, the
Electrolux Icon E36GC75ESS
(*est.
$1,600) wasn't as good at simmering tomato sauce or melting chocolate. They
were about the same with high-heat tasks. The
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
Cooktops haven't been as widely reviewed as ovens and ranges, so information is somewhat limited. Even so, Kenmore Elite cooktops get the nod for combining features and value. Gaggenau and Electrolux are two high-end brands that receive attention from kitchen-design enthusiasts. Miele cooktops are a favorite with Australian experts, but are not as popular or as widely available in the U.S. Advertisement
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Cooktops Reviews |
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© 2008. ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
