DW loves cooking on gas. We were pretty well set on BS gas cooktop for our new build, but as we have a 10yr old daughter that is more and more interested in cooking (already makes her own scrambled eggs, etc).... DW has been recently leaning towards induction cooktop for the safety reasons.

That's awesome to know! Thank you both.

Gas! I love it but have to say I've never used induction.

The "BEST" is so very subjective. The worst is not - electric coil, including flattop coil. So that leaves induction which is super-responsive cook-by-numbers and efficient, but an electronic appliance so you have to deal with reliability of electronic 'stuff', and gas, which is fire, fumes, and combustible gas in your house, BUT you see the flame, cook by feel, and it's more a visceral experience. Between the two, there are pros and cons - don't let anyone tell you either is better - you should find a showroom or a friend with the class of cooktop of each and get come hands-on experience cooking on them, decide for yourself. If induction is your choice then keep in mind that you may need to replace some of your non induction compatible pans.

I like cooking with fire. Gas for me!

Call your local appliance store, not a big box but an independent that's been there for decades and ask if they have any input or if they can recommend a place where you can go and try one.

Cooktop or rangetop? You have more choice in gas burners with a rangetop and the possibility of more depth front to back so you have more room for bigger pots. You also have more room because the knobs are on the front. It easier to replace if you need to. Sizes 24-60".

I would search induction in this forum and also over on the cookware forum on Chowhound. There are many discussions on induction, pro and con. Agree with stevep, Look at how you cook and try to get a feel for what you are comfortable with. Try what you are considering if possible. Read the manual.

https://www.chowhound.com/cookware

What type of cooking do you do?

I just cook for my family but I love to cook. I have a electric coil now and my mother in law has a electric glass cook top. I haven't has in the past and like it the best. If induction is the way to go over gas that would actually be the best for me. To have gas I would have to install a propane tank when we build our house and my husband and I would rather not do that if we could get away from it. I am not a fan of the electric coil type cooking.

Induction! And cooking on it is really nothing like cooking on the radiant electric cooktops, so don’t let anyone who has the regular electric kind of cooktops turn you off induction because the only thing they have in common is they’re both electric. Otherwise, cooking on them is completely different & cleanup is much easier on the induction, from my experience having used both.

I'm sorry... I meant to say I have had a gas cooktop in the past

thanks for all the response it really helps!

Induction. So much safer for young cooks and for lack of fumes from gas.

Much easier cleanup as nothing bakes onto the surface. Very precise control. Easy to go from high heat to simmer on the same hob within seconds. You turn the hob down, and it immediately turns down to the correct temperature.

I went from gas to induction. I tried a portable induction unit first, but still I couldn't believe how much better it was than I expected. Love the control, super easy clean-up, timers that shut off the hob (think rice, pressure cooking, oatmeal, etc.) and if there is no pan, it shuts itself off. I did have to get some new pans, but my cast iron and Le Creuset work beautifully on it.

Sherri, I love gas but currently have an electric cooktop that has four settings. I want to put in a gas line and switch to a gas cooktop, so my question is: Does induction give you the same flexibility as gas?

I think a lot depends on how you cook and what type of cooking you do as wekick mentioned. I char peppers on the flame about once a week, so that would be out with induction. I'm also a pan flipper, and with induction, that will both cycle the hob every time I lift off, and would get dicy with the glass surface. So I'd have to change my cooking style, and I frankly have way too much fun cooking to do that. But you might not cook that way, and induction may be hands-down the best choice. That's why the definitive RIGHT answer drives me nuts - there is no best, it is about what fits with YOUR style, preferences and budget.

That's very true. Everyone is different. I am just going to have to try some things on induction and see if its right for me. Thanks to everyone for all the help.

Costco has an 8 piece Tramontina cookware set on sale this month. Here. It is often recommended for induction. $70. I also like Chantal non-stick. Here. The mixture of titanium, copper and stainless is very responsive.

The only problem I have with done cookware...I hate the rivets on the inside of the pans. I love my cast iron and LeCreuset type except for the weight. LOL

Carolina, I don't know what flexibility you are looking for.... I can't char peppers peppers on my induction cook top, for example. but I couldn't set a timer on my gas cook top that would shut it off after a certain length of time. I have better heat control on my induction than I did on my gas, but there are folk here that do have that ability with gas.

I am always confused by the statement that induction will cycle the hob every time. the pan is lifted. I'm really not sure what that means. If it means that the hob shuts down and you have to turn it on again, then no, my cook top does not do that (but my portable does) In fact, I have about 4 minutes in which to return a pan to the hob without switching it on again. I do "pan flip" occasionally, but I'm not the type to smash my pans around, so it really isn't an issue for me. I also have some very small pans which work much better on my induction that they did on my gas.

I hope this helps.

How do you cook tortillas on induction? I need gas. We currently don't have gas available, so it's electric. We replaced the coil with a flat top electric. Hate it. It scratches and has stains we cannot get off.

I think induction is awesome, however we have gas as it works in power outages.

" with induction, that will both cycle the hob every time I lift off, and would get dicy with the glass surface."

Not with my induction -- my "burner" takes about 2-3 minutes to shut off after the pan has been removed. As for the glass surface, if you bang down your pan every time you lower it, then that would be a problem.

I also don't understand how someone can't char things.......I have a cast iron griddle that does it just fine (I've charred veggies; I don't know anything about making tortillas)

I'm also curious about tortillas as they aren't cooked directly over a flame as far as I know.

I'm going with induction because of the ease of cleaning.

And objectively, there are tasks that even "electric" stoves do better than gas such as simmer - not that I'm suggesting a regular electric. But induction combines the best of gas and electric.

How do you cook tortillas on induction? I need gas.

I've always cooked them in my cast iron pan. I didn't know any other way of doing it until I googled it just now!

Is the broiler an option for charring peppers?

Induction is the best, hands down.

Makes gas look like the poor second cousin. Once you use induction, you'll never go back

I am in similar situation. Currently I have gas stove an decided to go with gas cooktop and built in oven/microwave combo. Still haven't decided on conventional vs convection oven.

ovens....I love a convection that's for sure

I also love having a convection option in my oven -- I wouldn't want an oven without it. I use it frequently for roasting, and some baking.

Electric induction because it is much safer than gas because of the carbon monoxide, a flat surface is much easier to clean.