Gas vs. Electric vs. Induction Ranges/Cooktops

In the modern kitchen, there are three different cooking options to be found when it comes to ranges and cooktops: gas vs electric vs induction. You might be wondering what is the difference between induction and electric cooktops, or an induction range vs electric range for that matter. What is an electric induction range, and are electric stoves induction? Can you learn how to tell the difference between induction and electric cooktops?

Each fuel type is effective at preparing whatever meals you have in mind, but there are certain advantages each has over the other as well as drawbacks. Gas ranges have been around the longest and use the raw power of open flame to cook. Electric ranges have elements or coils that are directly heated by electricity. An induction cooktop transfers heat through electromagnetism into conductive cookware with virtually no heat emanating from the element itself. Like most folks, we are accustomed to what we learned to use while growing up. But you shouldn’t be wary of making the change to another type of cooktop. In fact, you may realize the cooktop you’re most familiar with is actually not the right one for your cooking style.

Read on as we cover each type of cooktop, going over their pros and cons before purchasing your next cooking appliance as well as some expert picks for each.

Gas Hookup

Gas has better performance overall in terms of output and precision. They’re able to achieve high heat much quicker than electric units and turn off immediately upon cessation.

Advantages of Cooking with Gas

Manual Ignition Option

Gas ranges/cooktops will work in the event of an electrical outage by using a match or lighter to ignite the gas flow. That way, lack of power will not inhibit your ability to prepare meals.

Precise Heat Adjustment

Gas output is far more precise in control as the flame output is quickly and easily adjusted in real time by using the control knobs, rather than selecting levels like you would on an electric unit.

Heats Up Fast

Gas heat is immediate and powerful from point of ignition, allowing you to boil large pots of water without waiting for the cooktop to preheat to your desired level.

Disadvantages of Cooking with Gas

Harder to Clean

Cleaning requires a bit more effort, as there are grooves and crevices around the burners. Including the removal and scrubbing of accompanying burner grates, cleaning a gas cooktop can be tedious.

Makes Your Kitchen Hot

Gas hookup ranges/cooktops emit a lot of radiant heat which will emanate throughout the space, making smaller kitchens hot and uncomfortable. This can be alleviated by purchasing a range hood.

Higher Utility Costs

Gas-fueled cooking is more expensive as compared to electricity. Especially true if the gas range is a pilot light model, which requires a constant flow of gas. However, the speed with which you can cook with gas may counteract this to a degree.

Our top pick for gas cooktops is this 36-in. KitchenAid unit. Continuous cast iron grates are sturdy enough to let you drag heavy pots across without lifting. Topping out at 20,000 BTUs on its power burner, this cooktop provides searing and boiling power comparable to those found in commercial kitchens. For gentler heat, the Even-Heat™ torch burner that easily switches between a small flame for delicate simmering and a wider one for more even cooking across a whole pan. It even comes with a griddle accessory for burgers, pancakes, and other favorites. Finally, its CookShield finish ensures spills and caked on messes are easily wiped away without the use of harsh chemicals and cleaners.

Electric Hookup

Typically, electric comes in two options, a smoothtop (usually ceramic glass) with concealed heating elements or a coil heating element on top. They reach your desired temperature slower compared to gas. Electric heating elements also take a while to cool down when turned off.

Advantages of Cooking with Electricity

Easier to Clean

The convenience of a smoothtop electric range/cooktop is they’re easy to clean with no indents or crevices present. Simple cleaners are usually enough to remove even the most stubborn, caked-on messes.

Keeps Your Kitchen Cooler

Electric heating elements do not generate a lot of ambient heat and will maintain a cooler kitchen, keeping you comfortable during longer cooking sessions.

Inexpensive to Use

Electric ranges/cooktops are also considerably less expensive compared to their gas counterparts.

Disadvantages of Cooking with Electricity

Affected by the Electrical Grid

In the event of an electrical outage, electric ranges/cooktops will not work, inhibiting all cooking functions until power is restored.

Retains Heat after Shutoff

Electric elements can get really hot and will retain high levels of heat even after they’re turned off. They won’t cool down as quickly as gas burners.

Easy to Damage

Although a smoothtop electric range/cooktop is easier to clean, it requires routine maintenance. Smooth tops are susceptible to damage from scratches, banging, and ceramic can possibly crack if cold water touches it while hot.

Our top pick for electric cooktops is this ceramic smoothtop 30-in. Frigidiare unit. With its easy-to-use Ready-Select® controls, you can switch the SpaceWise® expandable element to accommodate different sized cookware and distribute heat evenly. When you need quick, high heat, the Quick Boil element reaches a powerful 3,000 Watts to provide power comparable to a gas flame. A hot surface indicator lets you know when it is safe to touch the surface after cooking is complete.

Induction Cooking

You’re probably dying to know, “Are electric stoves induction?” No, but induction stove are electric. A derivative of smoothtop and coil cooking appliances, induction ranges/cooktops also utilize electricity as their fuel source. All induction units are smoothtop, with the heating element hidden underneath the cooktop surface. The major difference between induction cooking and traditional electric heating elements is electromagnetism. Induction cooking utilizes a metal coil to produce a transference of heat directly into induction cookware. Typically, any cookware that contains iron will work with induction.

Advantages of Cooking with Induction

Safe to Touch

The heating element emits no radiant heat except through appropriate metals, but transient heat will still culminate around the cooking area. The residual heat is little to none and will dissipate quickly but it’s never recommended to place your hands, limbs or bodily parts near any heat generating source.

Keeps Your Kitchen Cool

Similar to their traditional electric counterpart, induction elements produce no heat at all unless being transferred to magnetic cookware, so they are exceptionally effective at maintaining a cooler room temperature.

No Wasted Heat

Induction cooking wastes no heat and will operate more economically even compared to traditional electric heating elements.

Disadvantages of Cooking with Induction

Depends on Electricity

Similar to their electric cooktop counterparts, induction also relies on electricity to work. In the situation where there is no electricity being supplied to your home, induction ranges/cooktops will not be operational.

Expensive to Purchase

Induction ranges and cooktops are typically a little more expensive to purchase compared to the other options. However, their energy-savings over their lifespans can make them well worth it.

Requires Conductive Cookware

Induction cooking requires specific cookware to be used, such as stainless steel over aluminum, cast iron, and enamel on metal. It won’t work on any type of cookware made solely of aluminum, glass, or copper.

Our top pick for induction cooktops is this 30-in. Miele unit. Its digital control panel allows you to adjust settings with a simple touch of its EasyClean ceramic glass surface. The PowerFlex Zone combines two elements to accommodate oblong cookware, and with pan size recognition technology, energy is supplied only to where the pan meets the ceramic surface. With a compatible Miele range hood, the Con@ctivity 2.0 feature will lower or increase ventilation speed to accommodate the heat output of the cooktop. The keep warm function helps food remain at serving temperature until it is ready to be consumed. Once cookware is removed, the pan presence sensor will automatically shut the element off to conserve energy.

Related Questions

What is the difference between a cooktop and a rangetop?

Although both appliances serve the same purpose, they differ in design and control. A rangetop is a slide-in appliance fitted on the top of a kitchen counter with knobs in the front. On the other hand, a cooktop is a drop-in appliance placed into a cutout made on the kitchen countertop with knobs facing upwards. Rangetops tend to have higher heat outputs, enabling professional cooking performance. However, this also makes them more expensive than cooktops.

What is the standard size cooktop?

Although cooktops can range anywhere from 15-in. to 48-in., most cooktops correspond to common cabinet widths of 30-in. or 36-in.