Gas cooktops are ideal for individuals looking for a hassle-free cooking experience. Find out how to shop for the best product so you can show off your culinary skills!
This guide will take you through:
Gas cooktops feature different numbers of burners to suit individual needs. Determine which can cater to your requirements.

While 1 burner cooktops aren't sufficient for small families, they're ideal for single individuals.

2 burner cooktops are the standard for many families of 3-4 members. They're a great choice if you don't cook too many items or if you already have another cooktop.
A 3 burner gas cooktop makes clever use of space and is ideal for medium size households of 5 members that rely more heavily on gas cooktops than electric models.

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5 burner cooktops are ideal for large families of around 9-10 members or if you frequently cook many items at a time. You need sufficient counter space to accommodate such cooktops.

Some cooktops have gas burners and an induction cooktop rolled into one unit. Consider it if you don't want two different cooktop units.
Modern gas cooktops come with several features to make usage convenient. These are the key attributes you want to look for:
A gas cooktop should have a high heat and simmer function. This allows you to accurately control temperature, save gas and make sure food is cooked precisely as you want it.

Each burner should be accompanied by grates so pots and pans can rest on even, secure surfaces.

If you're going for a gas cooktop with a glass surface, make sure it's made of toughened glass that can withstand knocks and bumps.

Gas cooktops with wide bodies allow for larger cookware to be placed. This is important if you're purchasing cooktops with more than 2 burners.
Whether you're buying a 2 burner stove or a 5 burner one, keep the following in mind:
| Size of Burner | Unit of Heat Produced |
|---|---|
| Small gas cooktops | 3000-5000 BTU |
| Medium gas cooktops | 7000 - 9000 BTU |
| Large gas cooktops | 12000-15000 BTU |
| Professional gas cooktops | 22000 BTU and above |
Burners with very high BTUs may cook food quicker. This is an important point to note when buying a cooktop for home use.

Some gas cooktops feature specialised burners to work with certain cookware. Wok burners can help with stir-fried dishes while rectangular burners can work with grills.

The adjustable burners on gas cooktops offer good control of heat when cooking. Certain dishes need just the right temperature to be prepared, which is where gas cooktops trump.

Being able to see how high or low the flame is is reassuring and you immediately know if you need to intervene if something goes wrong.

Gas cooktops emit lower heat which leads to lower ambient temperature. This can make a significant difference to your comfort.
Gas cooktops distribute heat evenly and minimises burning of food, which makes cooking easier.

Gas cooktops produce instant heat at the level you want it, saving time and offering convenience.

Electricity failure has no impact as gas cooktops are not power-reliant.
Gas cooktops are very simple to use. However, a few important tips can make the experience more worthwhile.