Do you cringe when you hear ‘electric stove?’ You’re not alone, but not all electric cooktops are created equal. While the older models are ugly, unpredictable, and hard to cook with, newer electric cooktops are sleek, elegant, and have functions that make life easier. It’s also important to note that not all cooks are the same, and not all lifestyles are the same. What works for someone else might not work for you. So just because a friend swears by gas cooktops doesn’t mean that electric cooktops aren’t for you. Many elements come into play when deciding on the best cooktop, and we’re here to explore why electric may or may not be suitable for you.
Why You Might Love an Electric Cooktop
As mentioned above, the electric cooktop your great aunt had when you were a kid is not the electric cooktops we are talking about here. Newer models are a totally different animal, and they can now stand their ground when up against a gas cooktop.
- Electric cooktops are often easy to install, especially for a home without an existing gas line. If your home doesn’t already have one, that can add thousands of dollars and extra days on a kitchen remodel.
- The flat surface of electric cooktops is easy to clean. When the pasta water boils over, it’s much easier to wipe up than on a gas stove that often has grates and lighting elements that are a pain to clean around.
- Pots and pans are also less likely to wobble and spill on the flat surface.
- Gas cooktops have to be lit, and sometimes getting that just right can be difficult. Or there isthe risk of not turning it off all the way and having a gas leak. Electric cooktops are easy to turn on and off, and there’s no risk of gas leaking into your home.
- Sometimes they are easier to install and less expensive than their gas or induction cousins. This isn’t always true, but electric cooktops are often easier to install, which lowers labor costs, and they are less expensive to purchase.
- If you have a modern design for your kitchen, electric cooktops are better suited for those styles. Their smooth surface is sleek and minimalistic.
- New models can be connected to a smartphone so you can preheat your oven, check that it’s turned off, or change a setting without even being in the kitchen.
Why You Might Hate an Electric Cooktop
Even with all their pros, we can’t ignore the cons of the electric cooktop. They aren’t for everyone, but some of these cons may not apply to you or even matter to you. However, they are undeniable cons that we must cover.
1. One of the biggest and scariest downsides to electric cooktops is that kids burn themselves more often on them since it isn’t always easy to tell if they are hot or not. Newer models have lights to indicate when and where they are hot, but that’s less obvious to children than the flame of a gas stove.
- The newer models with fancy features sometimes cost more than gas cooktops.
- Another unfortunate downside is that they use three times more energy than gas cooktops. If you’re looking to lower your carbon footprint, you probably don’t want an electric cooktop.
- You can’t cook a pot of mac and cheese if the power goes out. Unlike gas which can be lit with a lighter even when the power is out, electric cooktops are entirely out of service until the power is turned back on.
- The tops are often glass and can be damaged if something is dropped, and these repairs are not cheap either.
- Same home cooks say they cook food slower, and many people complain that it’s hard to control the heat with electric cooktops.
There is no such thing as one size fits all, and that goes for cooktops as well. Things like cooking preferences, styles, and gas availability can all factor into the ideal cooktop option for you. Now you can use this information and make the best decision for you and your family on
whether or not you’ll be investing in an electric cooktop or continuing with your search for the best cooktop for your kitchen remodel.