A shout out to say good luck, am crafting my own query on similar topic as well (and seeing same things -- no brand seems to have terrific reviews). Just visited my local appliance place, where one salesperson commented that they did not like the quality of the KA gas burners (not the grates but the actual construction of the burners).

And I'm out of the loop enough -- apparently its like cars, one brand manufactures many other brands...there's a link that lists them here: http://www.appliance411.com/purchase/make.shtml

I have gas-on-glass and now realize why that may not be wonderful -- our glass chipped (and at 10 years old -- can't replace/fix). However, as you pointed out, the issues with keeping stainless clean are also a concern.

FWIW, there appears to be a sale on currently until mid-September (I can see it showing up at big box as well as my local place). Maybe new models are coming out after that, who knows!

ETA: they were not recommending Electrolux

Dang it, HB! I was hoping for an answer! My glass is in really good condition. I'm having an appliance guy come out and see if the burner ignition thing (sorry to be so technical...lol) can be fixed. Then I'd just need to find new grates and maybe I'll just keep it. I hope others will chime in here and help us. :-)

Apologies as this will probably not help much either -- I'll share my current is JennAir (original before they sold to Maytag or whoever it was, and it's not a downdraft) and only one of my five burners will still light itself (they all click like crazy but no light); after the miniumum to have the appliance fixit people come, its just not worth it (so my "accessory" is a lighter). Maybe that's just some of the reasons gardenweb seems focused on much higher end brands, (I don't have the budget). The JA grate pattern is lovely but just large enough that some of my favorite pots... tip over. Again .... good luck!

We have the same "accessory " :-)

Sharon,

Would you consider induction? What is your budget for a cooktop?

Well, it's set up for gas-and I have a lot of all-clad and other cookware. Don't you need special cookware for induction? I've never really thought about it.

Induction works with any cookware that's magnetic. Most current All-Clad is induction ready. Super easy to clean. No waste heat. Faster responding than gas and often more powerful.

We have gas as it works during power outages.

Do you folks have recommendations for a reasonably priced induction cooktop?

What is your budget?

In 30" a Bosch 500. AJMadison has good listings.

Sharon,

The only All Clad cookware that may not work on induction is the All Clad MC2 and the Copper Core. If your MC2 and Copper Core is newer, in the last 3years, it is induction capable. All other All Clad cookware for the last ten years have been induction capable except for the two models listed above.

I have a gas wok hob that I can use during a power outage. In retrospect, a portable gas burner would have been sufficient for the times when the power goes out. Power outages was one of the reasons I did not go full induction but we have had few outages and I have a charcoal grill outside that I can use in any weather.

Giving your budget for a cooktop will get you more targeted recommendations.

Good luck!

Thanks everyone! My All-Clad is not the copper core, and is close to 20 years old. Just the basic, stainless steel stuff. Budget? I really didn't want to budget for a cooktop at all. ;-) If I could keep it below $1500 I'd be happy as a clam. :-)

Bosch 500 or 800 in the 30". The frigidaire and Electrolux 30" units also fall into that price range, Bosch has more flexibility with the temperature selection on the cooktop. Do you have an appliance showroom that has induction units on display and hooked up? I would call around to confirm and take my pots and a quick dish to test out on the unit. If you can't find anyone, the Miele showrooms usually have a unit hooked up just to give you an idea of induction cooking.

Good luck!

Thanks HomePro! - Are the ones you mention above gas or induction?

So, are you looking for a gas cook top or an induction? We bought a Wolf brand gas cooktop several years back. It was used in a show room display and the grates were changing in the new model year. They knocked about $400 off.

In your price range, I'd opt for a new Bosch, but I would also spend some time on Craigslist. Over the past 8 months, I purchased a installed but not used 36" GE Profile Induction cooktop for $550, and a never installed, top of the line and gorgeous KitchenAid convection wall oven for $500. I set up a search and was patient and it paid off, as I paid less for both than either of them would have cost new.

In my previous home I had a Capital Precision closed burner range and while the oven was good, the burners were not great. Prior to that I had a KitchenAid Superba gas range which was fantastic. Good Luck!

Wow, that is brave. I wouldn't trust buying appliances on Craig's List, but that's just me. I went back to Consumer Reports and started looking all over again. I don't think I want to try induction; just too lazy or tired to try something new. I have the repair guy coming Friday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can fix my current one for now. It works just fine. I really don't want to shell out $1,000 for a sub par appliance. And it seems that they truly are not made the way they used to be and that's a shame. My dishwasher works great, but it's rusting out and the surface is peeling on the outside! (Yes, I'm replacing that...) ;-)

Sharon,

The items listed were Induction cooktops. If I were buying a 30" gas cooktop, the Bluestar would be my choice. They are close to your $1500 price point.

Good luck with your search.

I was looking at the Blue Star but I know nothing about the open burners, or really anything else about them. Are they just like any other cooktop or do they have special needs? Thank you again, I appreciate the input. :-)

People who have Bluestars love the open burners the most of all. But this brand is expensive; a 30" Bluestar cooktop is about $1,850. Bluestar burners also have very powerful high btus which will need a good exhaust hood, and so what kind of hood do you have over the cooktop?

I think in your situation, induction would be your best option. You may have to have an electrician add wiring though, since you've been on gas.

I have to comment on jisgren's pictured 5-burner Samsung cooktop above. I would not recommend a 30" 5-burner cooktop of any brand. The space is just not enough for 5 burners. What you will find is if you have a pot on the center burner, you won't be able to fit anything on the other burners than a very small pot. If you decide to stay with gas, just get a 4-burner cooktop, and not the 5-burner style.

Open burners are generally easier to maintain as long as you don't insist on a "fresh from the showroom" look. They have drip trays underneath so the drippings go down and any spilled food on the burners gets caramelized and wipes off. You can line the drip trays with foil so cleaning is just a matter of changing the foil. friedajune is correct about the exhaust and make up air. You need both. I went for induction.

Do you worry you'll crack or damage the surface? I would worry about that...

No. Not worried. It will be tempered glass and so pretty tough.

I want to say another thanks to everyone weighing in here. It's very much appreciated. I'm not sure induction would be good for us. We're kind of stuck in our ways. But I may look into it a bit more. For gas, this looks interesting - anyone use a Bertazzoni? I prefer the knobs to the side like this one, too.

http://bit.ly/2vscmd2

You might want to read the excruciatingly long thread on how unhappy people are with Berta and how much of a nincompoop their customer surface seems to be.

There is no magic perfect.

Unless you're willing to upgrade your ventilation, stick with a plain consumer grade gas cooktop. Like a GE, which always gets good reviews. Or, if you can find one on Craigslist, an old Maytag/Jennaire gas module before they were bought out by Whirlpool.

Oh brother. I will do that. Thank you. That is why these forums are so valuable! What a bummer though because I really liked that one! As an aside, Sophie, my current cooktop is an old Maytag. I'm now hoping it can be fixed, although not sure it won't look odd as all of the other appliances will be new. <sigh>

If you live where it gets warm (e.g. below the arctic circle), Induction keeps the kitchen much cooler because it's way more efficient, also you don't need nearly as much ventilation or makeup air. I use a 600 CFM Vent-a-Hood and passive makeup air and it easily takes everything I throw at it. If I had gas I'd need 1200 or more plus active makeup air. It takes about a week to get used to it.

Good points, Jerry... do you ever worry about the electronics going haywire?

Here's another benefit of an induction cooktop. This unit is installed flush with the counter. Easy clean.

Here's the reveal thread.

Thanks Dan - I commented over on the linked thread. Beautiful kitchen! Did you go with baffled trims on your canned lights? My guys installed white reflector type lights and I'd asked for baffled. That was a mistake, but then the lighting gal told them that "everyone" is moving away from baffled lights in kitchens. I wonder if that is true. I think it's OK if I hijack my own thread? lol!

I worry about the electronics in the cooktop about as much as I worry about the electronics in the TV. In general, electronics either fail very quickly (infant mortality) or last a very long time--barring power spikes from the electric utility.

Do you worry about the electronics in your dishwasher, washer, dryer, cell phone, computer, etc?

Just an update: got a sale price on the Bosch 800 series 30-inch gas cooktop. I just don't think my husband And I have the energy to mess with a new way of cooking. We're a little far into the process to research and change course. I'm sure induction is fabulous, but it is what it is. Thanks everyone!

The Bosch 800 series 30" gas cooktop is a 5-burner. I warned you above about 5 burners not fitting on a 30" cooktop. Well, it's your $800.

Do you know whether the Bosch's dimensions willl fit in your current cutout?

Fridajune,

You are correct that you will not be able to use all 5 burners at once but the configuration still has some advantages. The high btu burner in the middle is very nice for wok cooking. - it is very stable in the middle. You can easily use the middle burner to get the pasta pot up to a rolling boil then slide it over to another burner to keep it bubbling.

Thanks friedajune. I simply could not find a 4-burner gas range that appealed to me. And I never have 5 things going at one time, so I don't think this will be an issue for us. Will be getting a new counter top so the cutout will not be a problem.