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DISCLAIMER:
Whilst all care is taken to provide accurate information with respect to the item described, the Independent Living Centre (ILC) is not involved in product design or manufacture, and therefore not in a position to guarantee the accuracy of the information provided. Selection of equipment, which is both suitable and appropriate for individual needs remains the responsibility of the person(s) considering requisition, and no responsibility is taken by the ILC for any loss or injury caused through use of the equipment or alleged to have arisen through reliance upon information provided. As information is subject to change any enquiries should be directed to the manufacturer.
Item Details
Buyers Guide - Cooktops
ILC Reference NO 81:20:004
Item sourced from ILC NSW database
Short Description
Cooktops are generally used in conjunction with wall or under bench
ovens and can be gas or electric. A cooktop positioned in the bench, when the bench is at the desired height, allows use at a manageable level and also the possibility of installation to allow an under bench space for wheelchair access.
Price Guide
Approx Price: $0.00
Price Date: 14/03/2008
More Details
Points to consider:
. Location in the kitchen area and the space available. Hotplates should be positioned away from high traffic areas within the kitchen.
. The size and therefore bench space required is determined by the number of burners or plates and their arrangement. Standard units come in 2 or 4 plates or burners in parallel or staggered arrangements. Larger units and combination units are also available.
Note: Hotplates in a parallel arrangement (square with 4 plates) are
generally smaller, taking up less space. Staggered or crescent shaped arrangements tend to be larger but allow the rear plates to be
accessed without reaching over the heat of the front plates, this is
particularly important for safety if sitting to cook.
Note: Cooktops should be flush or as close to flush as possible with
adjacent benchtops, they should have adequate heat resistant work
surfaces. This limits the need to lift hot saucepans. By cooking on
the rear hotplates, space is available at the front as benchspace and
boiling liquids can be pulled forward off the heat more safely than if
at the front.
. Installation depth of the cook top varies and will affect the space
available under the unit.
. Size required is determined by the amount of cooking regularly done on the cook top, keeping in mind the use of other appliances such as the microwave or electric frypan. Consider the amount of food prepared and the number of saucepans generally used.
. If gas or an electric cooktop is a choice, then consider the following:
. Gas is preferred by people with a visual impairment as it produces
instant heat that gives an immediate indicator that a burner is
operational. The burner can be heard and located as soon as the
supply is switched on. There is little residual heat when a burner is switched off and pans can be left without the same risk of boiling
over as there is with an electric hotplate.
. Burners should have an automatic ignition - this does require an electric outlet.
. Electric cooktops do not have the hazards of naked flames and poisonous gas. From an overall safety point of view, electric plates are generally recommended. Moving full saucepans from flush electric plates is easier than from typical gas rings.
Ceramic glass tops on electric cooktops and trivet fittings on gas cooktops the hazards are reduced on both. Some electric cooktops have a hot surface indicator light.
Induction cooktops: use a magnetic field to heat up the pan, which then heats the contents, while the cook top itself stays relatively cool. It's the fastest cooking method and is just as controllable as gas. It's expensive, though, and you can only use certain types of cookware.
Controls:
.They can be positioned at the front (especially with staggered arrangement or on smaller 2 plate / burner style), either side mounted or separately mounted on the wall, drawer front or in cupboard beside or under the hotplates.
. Controls should be able to be turned or pushed easily -
. Large or small dials
. Touch pad controls
. Crossbar style switches.
. Controls should be clear to read and understand, some light up or have indicator lights when they are on.
.Etched labels are best, as other kinds, such as painted-on ones, can come off with cleaning over time. Run your finger over the labels: etched ones are lasered and you can't feel them.
. Ease of cleaning, so that components can be removed easily and then replaced. Ceramic glass tops on electric cooktops eliminate the need to remove components.
. Preference for a particular type of cookware: Stainless steel, enamel or toughened glass. The weight of each varies and their stability for a
particular style of cook top should be clarified with the manufacturer /
supplier.
. The need for a rangehood or other exhaust system above the hotplates.
. Length and conditions of warranty.
Features:
Electric
- Elements -
Solid - slow to heat and extremely slow to cool down but easy to clean. Coiled - In fact you won't find these as a separate cook top nowadays - they're limited to low-end stovetops. They heat quickly. They're the most energy-efficient of the common electric types; only induction cooktops and gas are better.
Halogen - Some ceramic cook top elements use halogen bulbs to create heat. These may increase the price of the cook top, but they generally don't cook any better or faster than regular ceramic radiant elements. Dual element - allows you to use the whole large element or just the smaller element in its centre, giving more versatility.
Ceramic radiant- These are coiled metal elements under tempered ceramic glass. The cook top is fast, energy-efficient and has a continuous surface with few or no dirt traps
- Automatic sensors which maintain a selected temperature.
- Removable spill bowls under elements.
- Hinged lid that covers the whole cooktop to provide additional
bench space when not in use.
- Light indicators that warn of residual heat after the elements are off.
- Automatic over-heat shutdown.
Gas
- Automatic ignition when gas is turned on and a flame failure device if the flame goes out.
- Pots will be less likely to tip with a continuous trivet top. Suitable for natural or cylinder gas, made of stainless steel.
. Combination units are also available for bench top grilling / frying with
different elements and burners.
Factors To Consider
Some ceramic radiant cooktops have touch-sensitive controls rather than knobs, so the surface is completely flush, with no joins to interfere with cleaning.
Knobs with a crossbar are easier to grip and turn than smooth, round knobs. Make sure they don't require too much force to turn them.
Symbols and markings should be easy to understand: words (off, simmer, high, etc) may be easier to understand than symbols. They should also be bold, easy to read and in a colour that contrasts well with the background (preferably black on white).
A ceramic radiant cooktop may be ideal for someone lacking strength in their wrists, because its flat surface means you can easily slide the saucepans on and off the element although manufacturers recommend you don't do this because you may scratch the surface.
For further information check Choice magazine, the Yellow Pages of the telephone book or talk to a retailer.
We are pleased to receive feedback on the information we provide. If there is something we should add or need to change, please let us
know.
These are general suggestions - if you experience considerable difficulty in performing activities of daily living, consult an occupational
therapist at a community health centre or aged care assessment team,or make an appointment with the ILC.
Supplier Information - click to supplier for contacts details
Additional /images
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