Cooktops – Buyers Guide

Size and capacity

Your ideal cooktop size depends on your cooking needs, countertop space and lifestyle to suit your household. Find a range of cooktop sizes at Harvey Norman to fit everything from small apartment kitchens to large islands for the whole family to gather around.

Compact

(1 - 2 People)

Compact-sized cooktops are ideal in small kitchens, apartments, outdoor kitchens or when adding an extra burner to your busy kitchen – featuring one - two cooking zones

Standard

(3 - 4 People)

The standard cooktop with three to four cooking zones suits most Kiwi households, providing ample room for cooking meals for your family.

Large

(5+ People)

Large or commercial-sized cooktops are best suited for households that do large-quantity cooking. Look for four to five or more zones for professional-style cooking at home to reduce prep time instantly.

Features

Once a decision has been made based on the fuel type and size, it's time to think about which features will take your cooktop to the next level and make your life easier, safer, and more enjoyable!

Consider features that are important to you or essential and which are a bonus.

• Flame failure safety precaution: this safety fallback feature protects you by cutting off the gas supply when the burner's flame goes out. It prevents the build-up of dangerous flammable gas.
• Flat continuous grates: flat grates cover the entire surface of the gas hob, making it easier to slide pots from one burner to another, and can handle a variety of cookware sizes.
• Touch control: they are becoming increasingly popular for their modern, sleek look and ease of cleaning compared to traditional knobs.
  
  Some ovens come equipped with the Touch Slide Control, which lets you instantly choose your desired temperature setting by sliding your finger across.
• Downdraft exhaust: some induction cooktops have integrated a downdraft rangehood to extract steam and odours straight from the source. Great for kitchen island cooktops or those who don't want a bulky range hood over their head.
• Hob2Hood the innovative Hob2Hood technology means the cooktop wirelessly communicates to your hood (must be compatible), activating and adjusting the fan speed automatically based on the steam and vapour generated by your meal, letting you focus on your food!
• Hot surface lights: a safety feature, the hot-surface indicator light lets you know which sections are hot. Remains on until the surface is safe to touch.
• Gas & induction combination cooktops: a dual fuel induction cooktop with a gas wok burner enables you to perform multiple functions and for ultimate cooking flexibility in the kitchen.
• FlexiZones, MaxiZone and FlexiBridge: : in newer models, the FlexiZone and FlexiBridge allow you to use two zones independently or combine them to create one big zone for big pans. Similarly, MaxiZone combines two or more zones to cater to extra-large pots and pans, such as paella pans.
• PowerBoost: rapidly boils a pot of water, quickly heats a pan or sears meat in less time, with precise control and a boost heating function for when you're in a hurry.
• Warm function: keep your food warm until it's ready to be served. Great for leftovers.
• SenseFry: some cooktops have sensors that accurately measure the temperature of your pot or pan and adjust the power as needed.
• Easy cleaning: look for smooth, flat, sealed heating elements in electric and induction models. Rounded depressions around burners, removable knobs, dishwasher-safe grates, sealed joins, and gaps make cleanup easier for gas options.
• Automatic switch-off: this safety feature turns off the heating elements on a cooktop after some time. It helps prevent the cooktop from overheating and causing a fire. There are different types of automatic switch-off features in cooktops, such as a timer-based feature that lets you set a specific time for cooking or a motion-based feature that turns off the heat if there is no cookware on the heating element.
• Child lock: prevents children from turning on heating elements and avoids accidents—a must-have for young families or households with pets.

In short, by considering your cooking needs, kitchen space, fuel preference, budget, and essential versus like-to-have features, you can choose a cooktop that meets your needs and helps you easily create delicious meals.

Need help?

We're here to help! If you have any questions or need advice, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can visit your nearest Harvey Norman store to speak with one of our in-house whiteware experts or chat via phone or our live chat tool on our website. We're always happy to help you find the perfect appliances for your home.