We love cooking with gas and many tell us you love it too! We highlight the pros and cons of gas cooktops, as well as the electric-powered options of induction, ceramic and hotplates.
Most chefs prefer to cook with gas and for good reason. Its combination of speed, power and precision helps you to master any culinary dish, whether you're whipping up a one-pot wonder or a multi-course masterpiece.
On the hobs, boil times have traditionally been faster with gas than with electric (although induction now rivals gas) and you get an immediate response when turning the heat down. Gas can cope with high temperature wok cooking just as easily as a gentle simmer for poaching the perfect eggs.
Why gas?
Cooking with gas is a popular and traditional choice with many preferring the responsiveness and direct flame of a gas hob. The ability to control how much gas you burn and the heat distributed to your pot or pan is another reason many choose gas for their home.
Consumer NZ recommends looking out for a flame-failure protection feature if you purchase a gas cooktop, as well as making sure you consider its gas connection type.
Why electric?
Electric covers your induction cooktops, ceramic and hotplates. Induction has been receiving high praise for fast and precise control, but we reckon nothing beats being able to see the flame and have that feeling of control as you adjust the gas up or down. With induction on the pricier side, some choose to stick with a ceramic cooktop or an even cheaper hotplate to keep budgets out of the red.
What cooktop is best for me?
What cooktop you choose for your kitchen comes down to personal choice and what will work best for your home.
When considering what cooktop option is best for you and your lifestyle, we suggest keeping the following in mind:
Renovating or replacing your gas appliances? Or perhaps considering the change to gas? Use our hot water comparison tool to see what options are best for your family and home.
Are you based in Wellington, Taranaki, Manawatu or Hawke's Bay? You may be able to connect your home to gas for free with The Gas Hub.
Enter your address in our gas checker for an instant result on whether you're within the free gas connection range!
We also have a very useful hot water cost comparison tool that compares upfront and running costs within our natural gas network regions. Find out whether a natural gas, electricity, LPG, or solar hot water system could be the right solution for you. Try our hot water cost comparison tool now.
Submit your natural gas connection application today. Our customer team will then ring you to confirm a few more details and progress your application.
If you've had a good look around our website and still have questions let us know what you'd like more information about.
Embrace the power of natural gas in your kitchen and become the culinary guru you’ve always dreamed of being. Gas hobs are fast, hot, and precise. Cook at low temperatures for the perfect melted chocolate, or crank it up instantly to sear a succulent steak.
