Tips for buying a new cooktop…

With safety, efficiency and clean energy in mind

By Mark Eglington

Home chefs delight in having very best cooking appliances in their kitchens. With plenty of different options, lots of research and concerns about safety, it’s time to clear the air when it comes stoves, ranges and cooktops. 

To be clear, a cooktop is an appliance that is built into an island or countertop. It faces upwards and is can be powered by induction, electric burners or gas. An oven or range, on the other hand, has a built in cooktop and an enclosed area where food can be baked, grilled, warmed up or defrosted. An oven can be installed either underneath a cooktop, next to it or as part of the cabinetry in a tower.

Introducing induction  
Fifteen plus years ago AEG invented induction cooktops using electromagnetic energy to produce currents that can only react with metal. There are no open flames, yet a single burner can boil a litre of water in less than two minutes. Special pots and pans are recommended and cooktops are installed, flush to countertops with attractive, smooth stainless steel side and corner edges.

Flexible and powerful
The flat surface allows pans to easily slide on and off. AEG offers three sizes: 24, 30 and 36 inches. Each has DirekTouch™ slide design—allowing for single finger control of burner temperatures. Home cooks can adjust the timer, press stop and go buttons, use child safety locks and power boost to direct power to a single, or two opposing burners, for a total of 14 power levels 

A good choice
Fast: Induction cooktops’ claim to fame is their efficiency and ease of use.  
Clean: For soups, stews or breakfast eggs, it’s a clean, energy efficient way to cook.
Safe: There are no open flames, a feature that families with young children often prefer. Not only is the area around pots and pans cool to the touch, but the controls lock burners.

Pair your induction cooktop with an AEG steam oven, a Galley workstation and a Liebherr fridge and you’ll have one of the most family-friendly kitchens around. 

euro-line-appliances.com

For over 15 years, Mark Eglington has been passionate about European-manufactured best- in-class appliances. By day, he is the President of Canadian-owned Euro-Line Appliances; by night he’s perfecting his cooking skills.

Get our newsletter

Get monthly updates with unique HomeFront updates and stay up to date with tips and trends

The joy of play

Often framed as the territory of childhood, the magic of play doesn’t have to expire when adulthood comes around. At any age, play can foster new energy, new interests and new connections. Especially true in a world of deadlines, work

The art of letting go

There are places in the world that impress more than the eyes—they soften the shoulders, quiet the mind, and slow everything down to a kinder pace. Villa d’Este, resting gracefully on the shores of Lake Como, is one of those

Bella Cucina turns up the heat

A kitchen marriage In a harmonious blend of innovation and tradition, Florense, Brazil’s premier high-end furniture brand and Pininfarina, the legendary Italian design studio come together in the kitchen. arcokitchen.com Too many cooks may spoil the broth so stake your

Bella Cucina turns up the heat

Best of Italy Kitchen designs that bridge old and new worlds with innovation and timeless quality thanks to Renzo Rastelli. rastelli.com Too many cooks may spoil the broth so stake your claim and make sure the kitchen is your most

The Dylan

Housed in what was the city’s first stone theatre, designed in 1638 by Jacob van Campen, The Dylan Amsterdam is a 41-room canal district boutique hotel nestled along the Keizersgracht. Led by Amsterdam-based Studio Linse and Format Furniture, the Dylan’s

The fine art of “Grilling and Chilling”

There’s something timeless about the sound of a grill sizzling on a warm afternoon. The smell of the barbecue drifting through the air, stylishly-iced cold drinks and laughter bouncing across a patio spells summer. Whether, it’s a long weekend, a