It is often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It is the place where family members gather to cook, eat, and be together. At the center of the kitchen is often the rangetop or cooktop. But what is the difference between a rangetop and a cooktop? Both a rangetop and a cooktop are standalone appliances, as they are not connected to an oven like a standard range. This allows for maximum use of counter and cabinet space in your kitchen. Rangetops and cooktops are also very useful for kitchens with built-in ovens, or for installing on a bar top or island; however, they are not the same.
At a Glance:
What are the best rangetops available?
What are the best cooktops available?
Which is better, a rangetop or a cooktop? [Table]
Where can I buy rangetops and cooktops?
The largest difference between a rangetop vs cooktop is the installation method. A rangetop is installed by sliding into an open, counter-less spot. The front of the range sticks out from the counter space and has knobs on the front. A cooktop is installed down into an open cutout of the counter. This leaves a ledge of counter space in front of the cooktop and necessitates knobs on top of the cooktop.
What is a Rangetop?
Rangetops come in electric and gas forms. They are built very sturdily and often offer more cooking space than a cooktop; however, rangetops can be pricier and bulkier. Rangetops have control knobs on the front of the appliance. This is because they must be slid into the counter during installation and hang over the front. The control location of rangetops can pose a risk for households with younger children, as the knobs are more accessible.
What is a Cooktop?
Cooktops are available in gas, electric, and induction models. They take up less space in the kitchen and can give a cleaner overall feel. Induction and electric models often make cleaning easier. Cooktops have knobs on top of the appliance, as they are placed down into a cutout portion of the countertop. That means that there is a ledge of countertop in front of the actual cooktop. This design makes it more difficult for small children to get ahold of the controls; however, it also makes home chefs more prone to burning their own hands as they cook and change temperatures.
Rangetops vs Cooktops: Our Top Picks
With several models to choose from across both types of cooking surfaces, it can be difficult to make a choice; however, we’ve narrowed it down to the best overall picks.
3 Best Rangetops
1. Best Overall: KitchenAid 36” Stainless Steel Gas Rangetop (KCGC506JSS)
This 36” KitchenAid rangetop has six burners, giving your ample space for searing, simmering, frying, and sautéing. Two Ultra Power burners will give you the perfect high-heat settings at up to 20,000 BTUs. On the other hand, a simmer and melt burner will aid in lower heat cooking methods for more delicate dishes, sauces, and desserts. To further aid in perfect temperature control, this rangetop has removable inserts that allow you to get your pans closer and further from the flame as necessary. Leave the insert level for high-heat searing and sautéing, flip it over to lift your pan above the flame to simmer and melt, or remove it to nestle a round-bottom wok in the flame for stir-fry.
Features:
- Two 20,000 BTU Ultra Power™ dual-flame burners
- Three-level convertible grates
- 5,000-BTU Simmer & Melt burner
- Three 15,000-BTU burners
2. Best Electric: Fulgor Milano Sofia 36” Stainless Steel Induction Rangetop (F6IRT365S1)
This 36” electric rangetop embodies style and performance perfectly. The combination of solid materials and efficient technologies offers versatile and functional cooking capabilities. This induction system features a pan detection system, allowing your Fulgor Milano rangetop to find and heat the perfect size of your pan. Sturdy stainless-steel design, combined with the glass-ceramic induction surface, give you an elegant and highly powerful cooking space. Precision knobs give you full control over the temperature of each burner, empowering you to create delicious dishes.
Features:
- Digital controls
- Easy-to-clean ceramic glass
- Pan detection system
- Power Boost burner
- Residual Heat sensor
3. Best Luxury: Miele 30” Clean Steel Gas Rangetop (KMR 1124 LP)
Our choice for the best luxury rangetop is this Miele 30” steel rangetop. This piece features four burners nestled in a professional design, adorned with metal knobs featuring light rings. QuickStart gives you lighting capabilities without holding the control knob down. These control knobs give you the perfect temperature and even heat from simmering to searing. The fingerprint-proof finish will keep this Miele rangetop looking brand new with no special cleaners necessary. For heavier spills, cleaning is made easy. Simply remove the pot rests and wash the grates in the dishwasher.
Features:
- ComfortClean dishwasher-safe grates
- Burners w/ up to 19,500 BTUs (5.7 kW)
- Automatic re-ignition for all burners
- Clean Touch Steel™ front
- Fingerprint resistant finish
- Backlit precision knobs
- QuickStart flame ignition
- Continuous simmer
- ComfortClean dishwasher-safe grates
3 Best Cooktops
1. Best Overall: LG 30” Stainless Steel Gas Cooktop (LCG3011ST)
Our choice for the best overall cooktop is the LG 30” gas cooktop. It features five burners, including a smaller, lower BTU burner made for simmering and melting delicate sauces. The SuperBoil™ burner generates up to 17,000-BTU, bringing water to a boil quickly and giving you plenty of heat for the perfect sear. You’ll be able to easily move pots and pans across this LG cooktop with continuous cast-iron grates. The flat design and stainless-steel finish give this cooktop an overall clean look that will fit perfectly in any kitchen.
Features:
- SuperBoil™ 17,000-BTU burner
- 5 cooktop burners
- Stainless steel cooktop
- Heavy-duty cast-iron grates
2. Best Electric: GE Profile Series 30” Black with Stainless Steel Electric Cooktop (PP9030SJSS)
Our choice for the best electric cooktop is this GE 30” model. With five electric burners, your food will cook quickly and evenly on the smooth glass surface. Each burner has individual timers that allow you to precisely control heat with a single swipe. The flat design of this induction cooktop will give your countertops a clean, seamless look with no protruding knobs. This allows the GE Profile cooktop to blend in with your kitchen without creating a cluttered countertop.
Features:
- Five radiant cooking elements
- Cook foods quickly and evenly on this sleek, glass surface
- Glide touch controls
- Precisely control heat instantly and easily with one swipe
- 9"/6" Power Boil element
- Use different pan sizes on this single, 3,100-watt flexible element that produces rapid powerful heat
3. Best Luxury: Monogram 36" Stainless Steel Deep-Recessed Gas Cooktop (ZGU36RSLSS)
This 36” Monogram gas cooktop is a great choice for the best luxury model. With five burners and electronic ignition, you’ll be able to cook any dish with high temperature control. You’ll find complete simmer to rapid boil flexibility on all burners. The burners are also sealed to the cooktop for easy cleaning and reignite automatically upon extinguish.
The controls feature embedded sapphire glass, illuminating each knob and making it easy to view and select heat settings. The continuous grates on this Monogram cooktop are designed for easy, simple movement of your pots and pans. The large, versatile burner creates 20,000 BTUs of intense heat, perfect for searing, frying, and sautéing.
Features:
- Precision knobs
- Dual-flame stacked burners
- Simmer-to-rapid-boil flexibility on all burners
- High-output cooking
- Delivered by a 20,000-BTU tri-ring burner; total of 62,000 BTUs
- Tri-ring burner
- Continuous grates
- Electronic ignition
- Heavy-duty, cast-iron griddle
- Designed to fit the Monogram gas cooktop
Which is Better?
When considering the rangetop vs cooktop pros and cons, there is no one clear winner. There are conveniences and downsides to both, so selecting the best option will ultimately depend on your household and your needs. When deciding, you should keep the following in mind:
- Small children in the house (safety features)
- Ventilation
- Preferred kitchen aesthetic
- Counter mount preferences
- Gas, electric, or induction preferences
- Spatial limitations
Rangetops vs Cooktops: Best Products Comparison
Here is a side-by-side comparison of the top models from each product type:
|
Product Attributes |
Best Overall Rangetop (KitchenAid KCGC506JSS) |
Best Overall Cooktop (LG LCG3011ST) |
|
Fuel Type |
Gas |
Gas |
|
MSRP |
$3,349 |
$1,149 |
|
Dimensions (in.) |
35-1/2 (W) x 7-7/16 (H) x 27-7/8 (D) |
30 (W) x 3-3/4 (H) x 21-11/16 (D) |
|
Number of Burners |
6 |
5 |
|
Highest BTU Output |
20,000 |
17,000 |
|
Control Type |
Knobs |
Knobs |
|
Control Location |
Front |
Top Front |
Shop Rangetops and Cooktops at Aztec Appliance
At Aztec Appliance, we provide high-quality, brand-name appliances for great prices. Shop rangetops and cooktops online today or visit our store in San Diego, California.