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Buying Guide – Gas stoves and Hobtops




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We’ve been using stoves of all kinds since the dawn of time but gas stoves over the past 5 to 10 years have gone through a series of transformations. Gone are the bulky, ugly designs and clunky knobs, replaced with smooth, refined designs that could permit gas stoves to fit into an art gallery. Looks aren’t all, life is much simpler with these new models, they are safer and some of them are even built to last a long time. If you’ve just moved into a new place or just want to upgrade your old gas stove, there are a bunch of factors to consider before you buy one. We explore into some of the important ones.

How many burners do you really need?

Two burners was the norm for the longest and no one needed more, but with the increasing kinds of dishes and vessels we use, and the kinds of food we cook, there is always a need to be frying something, while boiling something, while warming something else. Multi-tasking reduces time spent, even in the kitchen. Today, you can find gas stoves with three and four burners. Try to figure out for yourself how many you really need. Remember that choosing a stove with more stoves need more space. A stove with 4 burners needs depth while 3 burner ones are longer. Measure how much space you have before you buy one. The size of vessels you’re going to be using is another component, and if they will all fit together on the 4 burners might be worth thinking through too.

Knowing what size of burners you get

The common assumption is that all the burners produce the same sized flame, but they don’t most of the time. When you are buying a large, 4-burner gas stove, make sure you check the options available. If you’re someone who needs two large flames and one small, maybe a three burner model might offer you that. Make sure you read the fine print. Another factor is the burner construction and the materials used. Aluminium alloy burners are considered to be more affordable, but tend to get corroded faster than brass burners. They cool faster though but some might claim them to deform over time.

Do you need an automatic ignition feature?

One of the biggest innovations in recent gas stoves is the ignition. If you’ve used gas stoves from the 80s and 90s, you know we were used to having a gas lighter around. Firing up a burner means using the trigger over and over again. Today’s gas stoves, even the ones at affordable prices, may come with a built-in igniter. A simple rotation of the dial and the stove lights up.

Choosing the format – stove or hobtop

Stoves these days come in two formats, one the standard desk stove we’ve seen for decades and the modern, hobtop. Gas stoves are the usual design and they sit using small stands under the frame. Hoptops are different before they can be built into your kitchen rather than be placed on a table. This just helps with the aesthetics of the whole setup and is particularly handy if you’ve designed your kitchen to have a certain look and feel. The dials and controls on hobtops are also mounted differently and they tend to be a little larger too. Make sure you know the dimensions and the design standards before going in for a hob-top.

Gauging build quality and finish
Gone are the days of plain stainless steel designs, today’s stoves can have glass and all kinds of fiber-glass. These not only look better but also are easier to clean and maintain. Of course, this adds a bit to the price and make sure you find models that use glass that does not shatter.

Insist on ISI certification
The ISI mark is a certification that the product is safe to use. This standard is defined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). This is a must, for practically all products such as stoves, heaters, motors, appliances, and many others. Make sure the stove or hobtop you purchase has it. Besides this stamp, also consider the warranty offered by some of these models.

There are two ways to buy gas stoves from us, one by ordering it from our product catalogue and the other by visiting one of the several stores closest to you. You get a chance to take a closer look at the product and our experts will offer you more insight and even advice you on choosing a model that’s perfect for you requirements.