| Countertop burners have become more popular | | | | there's nothing much you can do with a |
| than the conventional range these days, and it's | | | | low-power model. If you're going to opt for |
| easy to see why. Many households opt to get | | | | electric burners, you want to go for the ones |
| them because of practical and aesthetic reasons. | | | | with a maximum of 2,500 watts. For gas burners, |
| For one, a countertop stove can free up a lot of | | | | consider a maximum of 15,000 BTU's. |
| cabinet space so you have another area where | | | | If you're going to use a burner on your kitchen |
| you can store your pots, pans and other utensils. | | | | island but don't want an unsightly exhaust hood |
| You can install the additional cabinet on a kitchen | | | | overhead, you can just run a duct under your |
| island or peninsula, thus improving your kitchen's | | | | floor for downdraft ventilation. Opt for cooktops |
| utility and design. | | | | that come with vents built into the surface. |
| Ergonomics and Aesthetics | | | | Gas vs. Electric |
| With a countertop burner, you can have a | | | | When choosing countertop burners, you need to |
| separate built-in wall oven at the right height so | | | | consider such factors as color, cost, material and |
| that it is easier on your back. You don't have to | | | | the safety features. This varies from brand to |
| stoop down low when reaching inside the oven | | | | brand, so you should do your comparative |
| for your pot roast. When you have two people | | | | research if you want to get the most of your |
| working in the kitchen at the same time, they can | | | | money. When it comes to gas versus electric, it's |
| have easier access to the two separate | | | | all a matter of choice. Both varieties have |
| appliances - something you can't do with a range | | | | established their respective fan base among |
| oven. Finally, they are better because they are | | | | households, so you can't really go wrong with |
| far less visible than the typical ranges. Also, they | | | | either. Traditional homeowners usually choose the |
| often look better. They are definitely the choice | | | | gas burner because you can easily see the flame |
| for kitchens that open to adjacent rooms. | | | | and adjust it accordingly. You're also bound to get |
| Heat Output | | | | immediate responses for your heat adjustments. |
| When shopping for a good burner, heat output is | | | | Electric burners, on the other hand, will take some |
| also a consideration. For a lot of chefs, there's no | | | | time to heat up, although a lot of models these |
| such thing as too much heat. After all, you can | | | | days are already fine-tuned for a faster response |
| easily turn a high-power burner's heat down but | | | | to heat adjustments. |