topic Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop? in Community Chat

Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Gabby1_1 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:06:43 GMT

I'm wanting to change out my electric cooktop for a gas type. I hate electric and after 6 years can't stand cooking on it anymore. My electric cooktop is 36" wide so I've been looking at 36" wide gas cooktops. I'm thinking I like the one that have the center burner that takes up the center so I can use a griddle or a wide pan. If you have one, how do you like it? What types of burners do you have? Any ones to steer clear of?

I have to have the plumber come and extend the gas line from my water heater to the cooktop so I want to be sure I'll like it before I lay out the money for the extension. I thought about a gas range but I'd have to move my wall oven & take out a cabinet and then build around the range to fill in the space. This would be too expensive right now so I think I'll use the gas cooktop and an electric wall oven.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

JJsMom — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:13:06 GMT

I have a gas range, not cooktop. I love gas and would never go back to electric. Are you looking for input on various brands?

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

kdgn — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:16:54 GMT

I have a standard 36" gas stovetop. I do not like the burner configuration on this one. Two burners on each side, even with each other. If I need to use large pots/pans on the burners it's a struggle to keep them centered. One of the burners is intended for use with a small pan/pot and I don't like that either. I rarely use it.

I much prefer the one I used to have, same 36" but the burner configuration was so much different. They were angled in such a way that large pots/pans used together were not a problem.

It may sound crazy, but take a couple of your largest pans and try them out on the different range tops!

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Gabby1_1 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:19:10 GMT

What a good idea. I'll take my griddle and large pan to see how they fit. I'm looking at ones that are continuous so you can just slide the pans over without having to lift them.

JJs mom, I am looking for input on various brands. I find that people can tell me more about how something works, ease of cleaning, etc. than the reviews on the websites.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

cody2 — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:19:22 GMT

I love gas ranges. Hate electric for cooking. The worst one we ever had was a Jenn-Aire that was very popular at the time. It had a grill in the center for barbeque. I used it once, lol. Smoked up the whole house and was a bear to clean after. It also had a plate attachment to go over the grill for pancakes etc.

We now have a Thermador gas cooktop with five burners. I love that thing. It is stainless and easy to clean. We don't have the big center burner that you are talking about though. I hope you find the advice that you need. We have a double oven wall unit too. Love that. Both ovens are at eyelevel.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Azcowgirl — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 22:57:17 GMT

On 1/13/2014 cody said:
I love gas ranges. Hate electric for cooking. The worst one we ever had was a Jenn-Aire that was very popular at the time. It had a grill in the center for barbeque. I used it once, lol. Smoked up the whole house and was a bear to clean after. It also had a plate attachment to go over the grill for pancakes etc.

We now have a Thermador gas cooktop with five burners. I love that thing. It is stainless and easy to clean. We don't have the big center burner that you are talking about though. I hope you find the advice that you need. We have a double oven wall unit too. Love that. Both ovens are at eyelevel.

My cabin up north has that same Jen aire that you describe, and I hate it too ! I want to replace it .I love gas, but that grill ...ugh ! Used it once, and the smoke was terrible, just from trying to grill two steaks ! Your Thermador sounds great.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

scotttie — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:06:23 GMT

I don't have a gas cooktop but I have a gas range and I love it. My dd has the center burner that you can put a griddle on and she loves that too.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

JJsMom — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:10:45 GMT

On 1/13/2014 Gabby1 said:
What a good idea. I'll take my griddle and large pan to see how they fit. I'm looking at ones that are continuous so you can just slide the pans over without having to lift them.

JJs mom, I am looking for input on various brands. I find that people can tell me more about how something works, ease of cleaning, etc. than the reviews on the websites.

Gabby, I have a GE Profile gas range, and I love it (the GE Profile refrigerator is horrible though, and I'd never recommend it). My grates are all connected. I don't have a center burner or a grill in the middle.

Appliance shopping is frustrating because there are SO many options these days. Good luck to you!

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Mominohio — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 00:56:29 GMT

I have a gas range and love it. I grew up learning to cook on electric, but never liked it. Since I've been on my own (30 plus years), I have had gas, and I'd never go back. I like the more direct and immediate control over the heat, and I think it makes baking easier and more successful.

I have the standard old four burners, and I get by just fine. I've never had extra burners or griddle space, so I guess I just don't know what I'm missing.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

SouthPaw — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 01:35:21 GMT

I love my gas cook top. We have the griddle also that can be interchanged into another long burner. I love it!!!!!! We use it all the time.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

deeva — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 01:46:41 GMT

In the past ten years I've had a GE Monogram 36" gas cooktop with the grill in the middle. I liked it. However, every time I used the grill, the house would fill with smoke even though I would have the exhaust fan going.

Then, I had a GE Profile cooktop with a black glass surface, also gas. Grease spatters showed on this surface.

Now, I have a Jenn-Air, 36" five burner cooktop. This one is my fav, I like having five burners. And it's easier to clean.

I like the gas cooktops and electric ovens.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Gabby1_1 — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 03:25:02 GMT

Southpaw, what kind of cooktop do you have (brand).

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

Luv2Decorate — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 03:38:57 GMT

We have a dual fuel range. Gas Cooktop with an electric oven. I'd never go back to an electric stove top. I use the All-Clad double burner griddle on the stove and it works great. What I really like is the simmer settings on all burners. The simmer goes high to low and when it's on low I could put a piece of paper on top of the burner and it would not catch fire, however it keeps the food hot, not boiling. It's a Wolf.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

CouponQueen — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 03:49:59 GMT

I have gas and would use nothing else. I had electric when we were first married and hated it..

I also have the middle burner you are talking about and never have used it...I had all good intentions when I bought the stove (just this past April..) and will one of these days.

Was thinking the whole griddle thing myself when I bought it lol.

I also have grates for the top and not in love with them..I don't think I would go that route again - while I would always go with gas..everybody who comes over loves the grates etc..they work fine and all but you know sometimes change and all lol..

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

croemer — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 03:52:31 GMT

I had a gas cook top for many years. My best friend talked me into an electric one this time around and I regret listening. I am going back to a gas cook top as soon as it is feasible for us.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

sylviahomeatlast — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 03:58:50 GMT

I have a gas top and electric oven on the same machine

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

~moxie~ — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 04:18:53 GMT

I love my gas stove. I will never cook on an electric one again.

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

JustJazzmom — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 06:56:53 GMT

Grew up with electric and first place we lived in when married had gas. Once you have a gas range you never go back to electric. You have more control over the heat when cooking with gas vs. electric.

I have a GE Profile 30"" slide in self cleaning range and have had it for over 5 years. Works quite well and has 4 different sized burners. The range is black in color. I do not have a center grill and would never consider one as we would not use it enough to justify the extra expense. This particular model has a spill proof surface (spills won't drip below the range surface) and the grills that the pots sit on are in two pieces and quite heavy to move when cleaning the range surface of those spills. I would look if I was replacing the range with a not so heavy grill set up if the current one was to break.

Floor needed refinishing a few months ago and the range got moved out so the wood floor could be done properly. The 50 year old turn off valve handle broke off and the entire valve with the short pipe got replaced with new flexible hose by my contractor after it got moved back into place. No more gas smell when the oven now gets turned on. I guess the valve was going and we didn't know it!

Re: Does anyone have a gas cooktop?

coldlake — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:50:37 GMT

You might want to check the code in your area--here gas appliances must be vented to the outside with a vent over the cooktop . You also need good clearance between the cooktop and any upper cabinets. We have a gas cooktop with an electric wall oven. The microwave is over the cooktop and has a vent to outside. It's very loud and it must be run every time we use the stove, so that can be a bit annoying. I do much prefer cooking with gas but am always leery of the open flame, I don't like leaving anything simmering on the stove unless I'm in the kitchen.