In today's kitchens, induction cooktops and gas stoves seem to be widely used in every household, becoming indispensable assistants in cooking tasks. Both types of stoves have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the choice depends on the preferences and usage needs of each individual. To help you better understand the characteristics of induction cooktops and gas stoves, let's explore the comparison information in the article below.
1. 7 criteria for comparing induction cooktops and gas stoves
1.1 Design
Infrared cooktops feature a sleek, elegant design with premium glass surfaces that are smooth, shiny, and durable, made of various types of glass like ceramic, heat-resistant, Schott glass... The control system, whether electronic buttons or eye-catching touch sensors, is designed on the glass surface, making it extremely convenient and modern for the kitchen space.
On the other hand, gas stoves typically have traditional designs with small flame slots. Gas stoves utilize natural gases such as butane, propane, or liquefied gas as fuel sources. Gas stoves are usually bulky, large, and heavy, with cooking zones equipped with stove grates for placing pots, so their aesthetic appeal is not as high as infrared cooktops.
Gas stoves are often large, heavy, and bulky.
1.2. Cooking Time
For conventional gas stoves, you need to place the pot on the grate before you can start using it. It takes time to heat the air underneath the pot before reaching the pot, so the cooking time is quite long, with only 40-50% efficiency. Therefore, it takes about 4-5 minutes to boil 1 liter of water.
In contrast, infrared cooktops operate based on the heat radiation principle of infrared rays. The electric current heats the internal heating elements to generate heat, which is then transmitted to the top surface of the cooktop, directly heating the bottom of the pot to cook food. Because it does not heat the surrounding air, heat loss is lower than with conventional gas stoves.
As a result, the cooking efficiency of infrared cooktops is high, reaching about 60-65%, taking only 3-4 minutes to boil 1 liter of water. Additionally, the cooking power of infrared cooktops is quite high (1800 - 2200 W), allowing for fast cooking while saving energy.
1.3. Operating Costs
Between infrared and gas stoves, infrared stoves are usually more cost-effective despite their higher initial investment. With long-term use, they are extremely durable and have a high lifespan if regularly maintained. Generally, for a family of 4 cooking on a gas stove twice a day, the monthly cost is about 350,000 Vietnamese Dong. With equivalent usage frequency, the cost for an infrared stove is around 300,000 Vietnamese Dong per month.
Infrared stoves are more cost-effective than gas stoves.
1.4. Utility when Using
In terms of convenience, conventional gas stoves typically have 1-3 cooking zones depending on the type of stove, allowing you to cook soup, fry, and stir-fry simultaneously. Additionally, adjusting the heat level to your preference on a gas stove is extremely easy.
For some high-end gas stoves, they are equipped with many features to increase usability and ensure safety: automatic gas shut-off, flame extinguishing when there is no pot, water overflow alarm, cooking timer... However, cleaning becomes more laborious due to too many components, and when the gas runs out, the gas cylinder needs to be replaced, causing inconvenience for users.
In contrast, infrared cooktops usually have 1-2 cooking zones and many preset cooking modes such as stir-frying, grilling, steaming, hotpot, frying..., users only need to adjust the suitable function on the touch button panel to flexibly change according to their usage needs.
Infrared cooktops support multiple convenient cooking features.
Infrared cooktops can also adjust the temperature like gas stoves but are difficult to adjust for dishes such as braising, stewing... Due to their convenient design, cleaning is easier and quicker after use. However, infrared cooktops cannot be used when there is a power outage or in places with unstable power supply.
1.5. Safety when Using
Using gas stoves requires attention to the risk of gas leakage and explosions. In fact, gas itself does not cause explosions; it is the combination of leaked gas with oxygen in the air that forms a combustible mixture. The risk of explosions is high if exposed to high temperatures or sparks from objects such as light switches, matchboxes...
Using gas stoves requires precautions against the risk of gas leaks causing explosions.
Infrared cooktops do not emit gas, odor, or smoke while cooking, ensuring user health. Therefore, the cooking environment of infrared cooktops is perhaps safer and more comfortable than gas stoves, but ensuring a stable power source is necessary for operation. Additionally, due to the high external temperature, caution is needed as direct contact with the hot cooktop can cause burns.
1.6. Durability
Overall, both gas stoves and infrared cooktops are durable, with components readily available and easy to repair at low cost. However, issues with heating resistors in infrared cooktops often occur and require proper cleaning to maintain product durability.
1.7. Product Pricing
In terms of pricing, gas stoves are cheaper than infrared cooktops, with prices ranging from 300,000 to 5 million Vietnamese Dong, suitable for all consumer groups.
Meanwhile, due to its many modern features and sleeker design, the price of infrared cooktops is somewhat higher, ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million Vietnamese Dong.
2. Choosing the Right Type of Stove for Your Needs
Choosing to use infrared cooktops or gas stoves entirely depends on individual preferences and usage needs. If you prefer fast cooking, modern technology, and many supporting features such as frying, grilling, stir-frying, and baking, then an infrared cooktop is a suitable solution. However, the downside of infrared cooktops is the difficulty in adjusting the temperature to your liking, so they may not be suitable for certain cooking methods such as braising or stewing. Additionally, since cooktops rely on electrical energy to operate, they cannot be used during power outages or in areas with unstable electricity.
The Sunhouse SHD6017 infrared cooktop is equipped with many cooking conveniences.
A drawback of infrared cooktops is that the cooking surface generates high heat when in use, which can cause burns if accidentally touched, especially by children, so caution is needed to ensure safety.
On the other hand, gas stoves come in a variety of designs and cooking zones. They can produce delicious meals even with multiple cooking zones, thanks to easy temperature adjustment for flexible cooking methods like stewing, frying, and braising. Therefore, gas stoves are favored by many professional chefs.
The Sunhouse SHB203MT gas stove is suitable for versatile cooking and meets high-quality standards.
However, using gas stoves also has the disadvantage of consuming a large amount of energy due to heat loss into the air. Additionally, regular inspection and maintenance of the gas cylinder and connections are necessary to ensure safety and prevent the risk of gas leaks and explosions.
Hopefully, through some comparison criteria between infrared and gas stoves, you will be able to choose the right type of stove for yourself to use.