Cooktops

Yes, absolutely. A gas cooktop is fantastic for cooking that requires quick heat changes, like stir-frying in a wok. Induction cooktops are brilliant for tasks that need precise, consistent low heat, like melting chocolate or simmering sauces, as well as high-heat searing. Ceramic cooktops are great all-rounders for everyday meals.

Not necessarily. The best cooktop is one that fits your benchtop cutout and suits your cooking habits. A 60cm four-burner cooktop is more than enough for most families. Only go for a larger 90cm model if you genuinely need five or more burners for entertaining or cooking complex meals regularly.

Four burners or zones is the sweet spot for most households. This gives you enough space to have a main dish, a side, and a sauce on the go at the same time. Three-zone models are a good option for smaller apartments, while five or more zones are ideal for large families or those who love to entertain.

A wok burner is a special high-powered gas burner, often with multiple flame rings. It’s designed to produce a very intense, concentrated flame that heats the entire base of a round-bottomed wok, which is essential for achieving the authentic 'wok hei' flavour in stir-fries.

A fish burner is a long, oval-shaped gas burner designed to provide even heat under elongated cookware like a fish poacher or a cast-iron griddle plate. A great modern alternative on induction cooktops is a 'bridge' or 'flex' zone, which lets you link two circular zones to create a larger rectangular heating area for the same purpose.

Gas and ceramic cooktops will work with almost any type of cookware. Induction cooktops are the only exception-they require your pots and pans to have a magnetic base. A quick way to check your existing cookware is to see if a fridge magnet sticks firmly to the bottom. If it does, you're good to go!

Yes, high-quality cooktops from reputable brands are engineered to deliver consistent and reliable power to each individual burner or zone, even when you're using all of them at once. This ensures all your dishes cook evenly without any unexpected drops in performance.

A flat induction or ceramic glass cooktop is by far the easiest to clean. Because the surface is completely smooth with no crevices or trivets, you can simply wipe away spills with a cloth and a ceramic cleaner. An induction surface is even easier, as spills don't bake on because the glass itself doesn't get scorching hot.

The most important safety features to look for are a Flame Failure Device on gas cooktops (which cuts the gas if the flame goes out) and a Child Lock and Residual Heat Indicators on electric and induction models. The child lock prevents the cooktop from being turned on accidentally, while heat indicators stay lit until a zone is cool enough to touch.

Portable cooktops are fantastic for specific situations like camping, caravanning, or as an extra cooking surface during a big party. However, they are not designed with the power, durability, or number of cooking zones needed for the demands of daily family cooking and are best used as a secondary or temporary solution.