Canstar Blue’s 2019 cooktop review has seen Miele, Smeg, Electrolux, Omega, Westinghouse, Fisher & Paykel, Blanco, Bosch and Chef compared on customer satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Miele has brought the heat in Canstar Blue’s cooktop ratings, with five-star reviews on cooking performance, design, ease of cleaning, features and overall satisfaction.
With many of your breakfast, lunch and dinner meals being created on a cooktop, you’ll want it to be durable and well-designed. It’s not an everyday purchase and a lot has probably changed since you last installed one of these bad boys in your kitchen. In fact, nowadays buying a cooktop has become much more difficult, with traditional four-burner models almost resigned to the history books. From different types to various sizes, it’s important you do your research to find the right fit for your household needs and budget. So where should you turn for your next cooktop? Our customer satisfaction ratings are here to help answer just that.
As we do across multiple kitchen appliances, such as ovens and dishwashers, we’ve surveyed hundreds of consumers and asked for their opinions on cooktops they have in their home and have used in the last three months. We’ve asked respondents to rate their brand on several important factors, including its cooking performance & reliability, design, ease of cleaning, features, as well as their overall satisfaction with their cooktop. These ratings are designed to give you as much helpful information as possible before you make your next purchase decision.
In the second year of our cooktop ratings, Miele has earned five stars across all research categories, adding to its glowing reputation amongst Aussie consumers who have also rated the brand No.1 for its rangehoods, dishwashers, front loader washing machines and vacuum cleaners in 2019. This year, Miele replaces Smeg at the top of the standings for cooktops.
Canstar Blue’s 2019 cooktop review saw nine major brands compared and rated in the following order for overall customer satisfaction:
Smeg, Electrolux, Omega and Westinghouse scored four stars for overall customer satisfaction, while Fisher & Paykel, Blanco, Bosch and Chef were left with three stars apiece. It seems Aussies were fairly tough critics in this year’s review with no other brand besides Miele receiving any five-star review. But without further ado, let’s see what each brand has on offer in the cooktop department.
Miele is a high-end brand with many of its appliances made in the company’s home country of Germany, while others are made in the Czech Republic. It offers a wide range of cooktops including induction, gas, plus CombiSets in a variety of sizes to suit any kitchen. Its ProLine cooktops are said to be for ambitious cooking, featuring a Teppanyaki, Salamander grill, induction wok, deep-fat fryer, barbecue grill and more. Within the induction range, cooking is said to be particularly safe as the areas surrounding the cooking zone are designed to stay relatively cool. Plus, the size of the pan is automatically recognised, according to brand.
Expect premium prices from Miele starting from about $1,000 and maxing out at close to $6,000. You won’t find any Miele cooktops for less than $1,000, so if you’re on a budget you may like to consider another brand. But looking at our ratings, it seems Aussie customers are willing to pay more for what they deem to be a quality appliance.
Miele’s line-up features:
Miele was rated best for overall cooktop satisfaction, cooking performance, design, ease of cleaning and features.
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Italian appliance brand Smeg offers more than 90 models of cooktops including electric, gas, induction and domino style. Smeg generally leads in design, categorising its range by “Elegant Classic”, the “Avant Garde Linear”, and “Organic Newson” that incorporate different finishes, configurations and installation options. Smeg boasts various features such as vertical flame technology, claimed to guarantee optimum performance using minimal energy. Expect quality materials, eye-catching designs and cutting-edge technology across its full range.
Most Smeg cooktops are priced above the $2,000 mark, with the ‘SmartSense Plus’ induction models going up to about $4,500. Its cheapest option is a single burner cooktop (PBQ31GA), part of the Classic Aesthetic Natural Gas line, which has a retail price tag of $999.
Smeg’s range includes:
Smeg received four-star reviews across all research categories in our 2019 review, including overall satisfaction.
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For a slice of Sweden, Electrolux can bring you just that, boasting more than 15 models from a range of ceramic, gas and induction cooktops. Whether it’s residual heat indicators on the induction line up, or innovative wok burners with the gas options, Electrolux certainly aims to bring some well-designed models. Electrolux cooktops feature similar functions that you can find on the Westinghouse range such as pause cooking with the Stop and Go system, allowing you to step away from your cooking if the phone rings or the kids are in need of your attention. There is also a child lock designed for safety.
With slightly more premium prices, starting from $999, Electrolux’s most expensive model sits at $4,849 RRP. The rest of the range could be found for around $2,000. At these prices, you can expect a cooktop that offers you a stylish centrepiece, with trendy black glass models also available (pictured).
Electrolux’s range includes:
Electrolux was rated four stars for overall satisfaction and in every research category in this year’s ratings.
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Omega is a well-known name in most households, established in Australia for more than 30 years with its cooktops boasted to be made in Italy. It has a fairly small range separated into four different types including ceramic, gas, induction and electric. You’ll also find different sized options from 30cm all the way up to 90cm. Expect features such as child locks and flame failure systems for safety, cast iron trivets and wok burners.
Many of Omega’s cooktops can be had for under $1,000, making the brand well worth a look into if you’re on a budget. While you won’t find many high-tech features with this brand, its cooktops are aimed to provide simple yet effective cooking. Its most expensive model is a 90cm natural gas cooktop, featuring a wok burner, which can be had for $1,699 RRP.
Omega’s range features:
Omega was a solid performer in our review, rated four stars for overall satisfaction and the same score across all other categories except for one – cooking performance & reliability where it got three stars.
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Westinghouse, a subsidiary of Electrolux, provides a solid line of home appliances including fridges and dishwashers, as well as ovens and cooktops, which are all typically at reasonable prices. It has more than 30 cooktops now available, separated into four types – ceramic, electric, gas and induction. Depending on your cooking needs and preferences, there are cooktops with two to five cooking zones, as well as knob and touch controls.
Prices start from around $600 for a Westinghouse 60cm natural gas cooktop and typically max out at $2,200 for a larger 90cm induction cooktop, boasted to be a “true centrepiece” to the kitchen with its graceful ceramic glass exterior and touch controls. With the pricier models, expect five cooking zones of varying sizes and innovative features such as a pause button, allowing the cooktop to halt the cooking and drop the cooking zones to the ‘Keep Warm’ function.
Westinghouse’s line-up includes:
Westinghouse got four stars for overall satisfaction and four stars in all other research categories except for features where it was rated three stars.
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Fisher & Paykel offers a variety of cooktop types – gas, electric, induction and combination models. With 35 cooktops available at the time of writing, features you can expect from the range include ‘Touch & Slide’ controls that are claimed to react immediately when you adjust the temperature, plus dual zone and ‘Smart Zone’ systems, which give you a “spacious” cooking area, ideal for entertaining.
The Fisher & Paykel cooktop range also entails a variety of sizes to suit different sized homes, as well as plenty of designs to suit your kitchen’s look. Fisher & Paykel is another premium brand, with most prices sitting above $1,000 and maxing out around $2,000.
Fisher & Paykel offers the following models:
Fisher & Paykel was rated three stars for overall satisfaction, cooking performance and features but scored four stars on design and ease of cleaning.
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Blanco is one of the major providers of home appliances and say
s to offer European styling with quality German craftsmanship. It has a fairly concise range of cooktops divided into three categories – induction, gas and ceramic. It claims to provide smooth designs and outstanding features to help add elegance to the kitchen. There are cooktops with two to five cooking zones alongside touch controls, wok burners and BBQ burners to suit the type of cooking you do in your household.
Prices start from around $700 for the ceramic units but for larger units, you’ll be paying close to $1,400. Gas burners can be had from as little as $549 for a two-burner option and go all the way up to $2,499 for its most expensive unit in the range, which is a 90cm five burner gas cooktop with touch controls.
In 2019, Blanco received three stars for overall satisfaction but got four stars in all other rated variables, including cooking performance, design, ease of cleaning and features.
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Bosch is a German brand synonymous with technology and innovation, and doesn’t fall short with its cooktops. Featuring induction, gas, ceramic and vented cooktops separated into four series, these are conveniently named Serie 2, Serie 4, Serie 6, Serie 8, so you’re bound to find a cooktop to suit your household. Each series has a characteristic to fulfil a specific purpose, such as the Serie 6 and 8 being equipped with flexible cooking zones for entertaining. While all series boast long-lasting Bosch quality, only the latest models are stated to be equipped with “cutting-edge” designs. Bosch cooktops are also boasted for nine adjustable power levels with the Flame Select technology.
Prices for the ceramic range start from $749 to $2,099, while the gas cooktops have retail price tags from $699, going up to $1,999. Its induction cooktops are the most expensive, sitting between $1,699 and $5,999.
Bosch’s range includes:
Bosch rated three stars for overall satisfaction in 2019, as well as for cooking performance & reliability, design, ease of cleaning and features.
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Chef, as the name suggests, specialises solely in cooking appliances, providing some of the cheapest cooktops around. The range starts at $500, but during a sales time, you might be able to score a Chef cooktop for even less. It boasts straightforward solutions with three types on offer including seven gas models, two induction and eight electric. Induction models are stated to provide modern, precise and high-speed cooking, with both models in the range being equipped with four cooking zones, similar to the electric range. Gas cooktops, however, are equipped with a few more burners – up to five in total – ideal for entertaining.
You won’t find many models priced above the $1,000 mark, with the range typically costing between $500 and $700. For a simple model, the Chef CHS642SA 60cm Electric Cooktop features the standard four cooking zones, rotary controls and a light indicator to indicate when the hotplates are still hot. The stainless-steel design can blend in with other appliances in your kitchen and won’t break the bank with a $549 retail price tag.
Chef’s range includes:
Rounding out this year’s review, Chef was rated three stars for overall satisfaction and all other research categories.
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Aside from the major brands rated in this year’s review, there are several other brands worthy of your consideration, including:
From cooking and laundry to refrigeration and dishwashing solutions, Turkish whitegoods brand Beko features more than 20 different cooktops in its line-up. There are gas, induction, ceramic and electric solid cooktops, with up to five cooking zones. Some of the models feature Beko’s IndyFlex technology, designed with two cooking zones that can instead be linked together to act as one larger cooking zone, giving you the flexibility to use larger pans and pots according to your needs. Prices for the Beko range start from around $400 and max out at about $1,400.
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The name DeLonghi might have you thinking of Italy, and that’s because it’s an Italian home appliance manufacture best-known for its coffee machines. It also has you covered with cooktops, giving you the ability to whip up some bolognese or perhaps some gnocchi for dinner tonight. From single burner to five burner models, you’ll also have the choice of buying a cooktop with wok support. There are gas, induction and electric cooktops in the DeLonghi line up, with price tags from $399 to $1,799 RRP.
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Another Italian appliance brand, Ilve covers both the home and professional cooks, with many high end ovens. There are gas, induction and electric cooktops available, boasting a number of different features and designs. Prices start from around $1,100, with most models sitting in this price range. However, for the master chefs, perhaps the Ilve 120cm Gas Cooktop HP125FDT (pictured) is one to opt for. This cooktop features six cooking zones, an elongated fish griddle burner and a cantered wok burner. But you’ll have to splash the cash for this one, being priced at about $5,500. It’s certainly not one for the amateur cooks.
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With numerous brands available, you might like to first consider the features that are most important to you in a cooktop. We’ll look at the types, size, power settings and features as key factors to keep in mind before jumping into a purchase.
There are three standard types of cooktops – gas, electric and induction – all with their own pros and cons. Gas cooktops are the most common (48%), according to our survey, but one in 10 Aussies (13%) now own an induction cooktop and the remainder use electric (39%).
Induction cooktops are relatively new to the scene of cooktop technology. This type uses magnetic fields to induce heat within cookware placed on the cooktop. They’re generally considered to be a faster, safer and more efficient way to cook. This type only works with cookware that is made of a ‘ferrous’ material, meaning it has a high iron content, which leads us to the next point of looking into compatible cookware for your cooktop.
Compatible cookware is particularly important for induction cooktops. With this type, you can only use induction-compatible cookware. To check whether your current cookware can be used on an induction cooktop, place a fridge magnet on the base and if it doesn’t stick, it won’t be suitable for an induction cooktop. Gas, electric and ceramic cooktops, on the other hand, allow any kind of cookware, including induction-compatible cookware.
Cooktops can be bought as a standalone unit or combined with an oven. According to our research, more than half of households that bought their current cooktop purchased their oven and cooktop at the same time (57%), while almost one in five (20%) purchased them at separate times. For the rest, their cooktop was part of a combined freestanding stove and oven. Separate cooktops are common for small apartments or studios where there’s limited space. When looking at different sizes, you also have the choice of selecting a cooktop by the number of burners. Available size options include:
Induction cooktops come with a number of power settings. These allow you to cook various dishes at different temperatures, at the same time. The more power settings you have on a cooktop, the more expensive the unit will be. On average, households spent $1,086 on their cooktop. However, it might be useful to have more settings if you regularly cook large meals for the whole family.
When looking at cooktops, you’ll need to think about what features are important to you and how these coincide with your budget. Some common features to look out for on modern cooktops are:
Portable cooktops are designed for kitchens with limited bench space. They’re also a handy option for those who enjoy entertaining and often require an extra burner to help speed up the cooking process. In addition, if you travel a lot, these cooktops are widely used in caravans or for camping trips.
Portable cooktops – whether they’re induction or electric – can be placed anywhere there’s a power outlet. The advantage of owning a portable induction cooktop is that it heats up immediately and is ideal for keeping food warm.
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Our 2019 survey on cooktops identified the following insights:
Since a cooktop is typically part of your everyday meal prep, it’s important to invest in a quality appliance. With many units costing more than $1,000, it’s not a decision to take lightly. We hope that this guide has provided a helpful insight for your next cooktop purchase. And while you’re here, you might also like to compare oven brands with our latest ratings, which can be found via the link below:
Picture credits: ImageFlow/shutterstock.com.au, doomu/shutterstock.com.au (infographic)
*Prices taken from retailer websites, correct as of January 2020
Our latest customer satisfaction research saw a number of brands rated best in different categories:
Canstar Blue surveyed 3,000 Australian adults across a range of categories to measure and track customer satisfaction, via ISO 26362 accredited research panels managed by Qualtrics. The outcomes reported are the results from customers within the survey group who have a cooktop installed in their home and have used it in the last 3 months – in this case, 929 people.
Brands must have received at least 30 responses to be included. Results are comparative and it should be noted that brands receiving three stars have still achieved a satisfaction measure of at least six out of 10. Not all brands available in the market have been compared in this survey. The ratings table is first sorted by star ratings and then by mean overall satisfaction. A rated brand may receive a ‘N/A’ (Not Applicable) rating if it does not receive the minimum number of responses for that criteria.
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