Do you have a Gas Cooktop - Where are your controls?

[Kelemvor]

So we're doing a remodel and will bet getting a gas cooktop with 5 burners. We've never had a gas cooktop before and are just wondering, for those that have one now, where are the controls on yours.

Some of them have the controls across the front like this.
Some have them in an arc in the front middle like this.
Some have them in a row on the right side like this.

It seems the ones that have them in the "arc" configuration then just have 5 burners that are all the same size in an upside-down "U" shape. The ones that have the control in a row on the front or side seem to have the larger burner in the middle of just a different configuration of where the burners are.

So, for anyone that has a gas cooktop now, what style do you have and how do you like it?

Thanks,
Kel

 

[lxskllr]

I have a 4 burner, controls on the right. I see no way of improving the setup. The arced controls in the middle look more intuitive, but it doesn't take long to learn a stove setup. I'd choose based on burner space, and what your needs are in that regard.

 

[DrPizza]

Well, not a cooktop - the whole stove. But my controls are on the right. Unlike in that picture though, the largest burner is front left. And 2nd larger burner is front right. Back left and center are medium burners and back right is a smaller burner. It would be annoying to try to cook with the largest burner in the center; I really don't like that configuration in your picture, because it limits what pots you can have on the stove if you're using the center burner. I.e., something large on that center burner, and you'd have trouble getting other cookware to fit.

 

[Kelemvor]

Well, not a cooktop - the whole stove. But my controls are on the right. Unlike in that picture though, the largest burner is front left. And 2nd larger burner is front right. Back left and center are medium burners and back right is a smaller burner. It would be annoying to try to cook with the largest burner in the center; I really don't like that configuration in your picture, because it limits what pots you can have on the stove if you're using the center burner. I.e., something large on that center burner, and you'd have trouble getting other cookware to fit.

I just picked random ones from lowes. not actually looking to buy any of those specific ones...

 

[bononos]

Get an infrared gas range which is great for broiling. Its more efficient and saves gas as well.

 

[vi edit]

Cooktops are one of the largest ripoffs out there. I can buy a full friggen convection range for less than that.

 

[Kelemvor]

We have a double wall oven so just need a cooktop for cooking. But yeah, might be cheaper to buy a whole extra oven. heh.

 

[vi edit]

Yeah that was my dilemma when planning our kitchen. I *initially* wanted a cooktop. Then I started shopping around and seeing the pure retardation of their pricing.

And then if you are doing a high end granite or quartz that is $50 a sq/ft you are spending another $300 in countertop just to cut hole in it. We ended up going with a 27" wall oven and a microwave above it then a stand alone range with a real vented hood instead a dual wall oven + cooktop and a microwave stashed somewhere.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've only seen gas cooktops in motorhomes/campers but all the ones I've seen the controls were at the front. Come to think of it, why arn't electrics like this too? Not safe having to reach over a pot of boiling water to adjust the heat.

 

[vi edit]

I've only seen gas cooktops in motorhomes/campers but all the ones I've seen the controls were at the front. Come to think of it, why arn't electrics like this too? Not safe having to reach over a pot of boiling water to adjust the heat.

If you don't have a 2 year old in the house you wouldn't understand.

Having those knobs up high is nice.

 

[Imp]

Knowing nothing about gas stoves (electric user), the only things that come to mind are carbon monoxide and kaboom! Because it happens so often...

 

[HomerSapien]

I just replaced a gas cooktop and still in the process of replacing the single wall oven that was underneath it.

1.5 months later and three ovens (third on its way), it might have been cheaper to cut out the counter top and make a spot for a stove.

We replaced a 30" GE cooktop where the controls were on one side. You really could only have 2 pots on at a time. Poor configuration and not big enough,plus a burner had died and we wanted an excuse to replace it.

We endedup with a bosch 500 series that has them in the "u" formation. Great looking, works well! but when the power-burner (front right) is on high, a large pot could cause the flames to heat up the controls. Not good, but livable as we almost never turn it on high.

Dont even ask about the oven. A large store that has great prices and ryhmes with pears has screwed up everything under the sun in getting an oven. They were great for everything else, but failed miserably on the stove.

Good luck

 

[OverVolt]

You better be cookin breakfast lunch and dinner on that thing to recoop the cost

 

[mikeford]

Four burner, front middle, now, not sure what next, depends some on how we rearrange kitchen.

 

[slag]

A large store that has great prices and ryhmes with pears has screwed up everything under the sun in getting an oven.
Good luck

Trying to figure out what store rhymes with pears (pairs)...

Sears? (seers)... no, that doesn't rhyme
Best buy? nope..
lowes? uh uh.. not even close.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Separating the units = more money spent

I wouldn't just get a cook top, get a range.

PS. My controls are on the front

 

[Scarpozzi]

I have a Kenmore gas range with the knobs on the front. They do this so you don't have to reach over the flames in you need to kill the fuel. **Kind of handy when dealing with grease fires.

If you have kids, they sell those knob covers that make it difficult to turn the knobs. You remove the knobs to install them so they go behind and in front of the knobs... Most people recommend saving money and just removing the knobs altogether. That's typically enough of a deterrent for small kids until they learn how wondrous fire really is!

 

[rh71]

it's on the face, not the top. I guess top would be better for child-proofing, but kids knew never to touch it once we took the gate off the kitchen entryway.

 

[Anubis]

mine is kinda like the first one however they are not all in a line they go 2-1-2

this one

http://www.frigidaire.com/products/Kitchen/gas-electric-ranges/FPDF4085KF.aspx

 

[Legios]

Have a 5 burner cooktop, our Controls are on the front.

 

[Pantoot]

6 burners, controls on the front, like this:

Kids are not an issue, but I did bump into one once turning up the gas.

 

[Puppies04]

Mine are across the front like pic one although I wouldn't have a problem with the ones in pic 3. The ones in pic 2 take up way too much space IMO.

 

[Clinkster]

4 burners, controls on the right side, no issues.

http://www.sears.com/whirlpool-30inc...REDIRECT=false

 

[Midwayman]

If you have top mounted controls you want the front or center ones. They give you the largest burner spacing for big pots. Arc vs long edge is mostly how big the center burner can be. I'd think the front ones a bit less risky to adjust if you have the stove really loaded up. I have the side ones and its like having a 30" top in the form factor of a 36" top.

 

[JulesMaximus]

We have a 5 burner gas stove with the controls across the front. A friend of mine is a total control freak so when he and his wife had their first child he went out and replaced a perfectly good stove because the controls were across the front. I just taught my son not to mess with the stove and he is 11 now and hasn't managed to burn down the house or kill himself or us yet so I guess we're doing something right.

The cooking surface has four burners, one in each corner, with a large central burner and a griddle top that is removable. We use it for pancakes sometimes but you could put a large pot over the grill insert and cook lobsters or a huge pot of pasta or soup or something I suppose.

Like this one:

I'm pretty happy with it and I prefer to cook with gas so it is perfectly fine for our needs.