Canstar Blue’s 2020 cooktop review has seen Fisher & Paykel, Electrolux, Miele, Bosch, Westinghouse, Smeg, Omega and Chef compared on cooking performance & reliability, ease of cleaning, features, design and overall satisfaction.
See our Ratings Methodology.
Fisher & Paykel was the hot favourite in Canstar Blue’s 2020 cooktop ratings, earning five-star reviews in all categories. These include cooking performance & reliability, ease of cleaning, features, design and overall satisfaction.
With the average Australian spending $1,083 on a new cooktop, it’s easy to see why we can feel a little fired up when things don’t go to plan. Whether it’s realising you need more burners than you originally thought, or discovered that none of your pots and pans work on your brand new induction cooktop, who knew purchasing a kitchen appliance could stir us up so easily?
To help you out, we’ve taken up the role as your sous-chef and asked more than 700 consumers for their thoughts on the cooktop they installed and used in their home in the last three months. Respondents rated brands on cooking performance & reliability, features, ease of cleaning, design and overall satisfaction. Manufacturers which received the minimum survey sample size of 30 responses are featured in our report. These ratings are designed to give you as much helpful information as possible before you make your next purchase decision.
Fisher & Paykel turned up the heat in our 2020 ratings, after being rated best in all categories. It was also the only brand to achieve five-star reviews in any category, including overall satisfaction!
Here are the best cooktops in Australia, as rated by consumers in our latest review.
Fisher & Paykel was the hot favourite in this year’s cooktop review, rating best in all categories as well as being the only brand to achieve five stars in any area. Electrolux, Miele, Bosch and Westinghouse landed on a respectable four stars overall, while Smeg, Omega and Chef rounded up the scores on three stars.
Fisher & Paykel offers a variety of cooktop types – gas, electric and induction and models. There are two types of aesthetic styles to suit different households, including minimal and contemporary.
Fisher & Paykel’s cooktops come in a variety of widths, including 30cm, 45cm, 60cm, 70cm, 75cm and 90cm. There are up to five cooking zones, depending on the model, with a burner also included in several gas on steel and gas on glass cooktops.
Prices are generally on the higher end, starting from just over $900 for the cheapest gas cooktop. But despite being one of the cheaper models, the Fisher & Paykel 60cm Natural Gas Cooktop (CG604CNGX2) still offers the same features added into the more expensive cooktops. This includes precise control, a stainless steel component for easy cleaning and a flame failure protection function. The most expensive unit will set you back $3,549 for the Fisher & Paykel 90cm Induction Cooktop (CI905DTB3). This will get you 90cm worth of cooking space with five cooking zones, including a dual zone and SmartZone which lets you fit bigger pans and griddles by connecting two regular-sized zones.
Here’s a sample selection of the Fisher & Paykel cooktops currently available:
Fisher & Paykel was rated best across the board, earning five-star reviews for categories such as cooking performance & reliability, ease of cleaning, features, design and overall satisfaction.
Electrolux brings a slice of Sweden into your kitchen, with a variety of ceramic, gas, induction and domino-style cooktops to choose from.
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.
Electrolux cooktops also come with a hefty price tag, usually ranging from $999 for a 60cm gas cooktop and reaching up to nearly $3,000 for a 90cm induction cooktop. Cooktop widths available include 30cm, 60cm, 70cm and 90cm. Most models have either four or five burners, although there is a single burner gas cooktop on offer.
A few Electrolux cooktops you can get your hands on include:
Electrolux earned four-star reviews in all areas, including cooking performance & reliability, ease of cleaning and overall satisfaction.
Miele works towards providing peak quality appliances, standing by its slogan ‘immer besser’ (which translates to ‘forever better’ in German). Many of its high-end models are made in the company’s home country, including its wide range of cooktops. There are plenty of gas, electric and induction cooktops on the list as well as several of Miele’s CombiSets and Induction Cooktops with Integrated Extractor units.
For people who prefer flexibility, Miele’s line of full-surface induction cooktops is made so you can use the whole surface instead of having specific zones. You can fit up to six pans and these types of models are available in different widths. The brand’s induction cooktops also feature various frying and simmer settings, which might make cooking up steaks and even fried eggs more convenient. Plus, it makes a pretty useful cheat sheet if you’re unsure how much heat you should be using.
Certain Miele cooktops also feature a down-draft extractor that can be pulled out when you’re working with high heat. There’s usually a function which runs the fan for 15 minutes to neutralise any vapours and reduce any odours in the air, before automatically switching off. This feature is said to be suitable in all homes, for extraction or re-circulation.
Miele typically has a collection of cooktops with up to five burners, and offers a larger range of widths compared to other brands. These include 57cm, 60cm, 62cm, 63cm, 65cm, 75cm, 77cm, 80cm, 81cm, 90cm, 93cm and 94cm. Expect premium prices from Miele’s high-end cooktop collection, with costs starting from just over $1,000 and reaching close to $7,000.
Here’s a taste of Miele’s cooktop range:
Miele achieved a solid four stars in all categories, including cooking performance & reliability, features, ease of cleaning, design and overall satisfaction.
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 and 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 ceramic models range from $749 to $2,099, while gas cooktops start from $699 and go up to $1,999. Its induction cooktops are the most expensive, sitting between around $1,600 and just over $6,000.
Bosch’s cooktop range includes:
Bosch maintained a consistent four-star sweep in all categories, including cooking performance & reliability and overall satisfaction.
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 $700 for a Westinghouse 30cm ceramic cooktop and typically max out at $2,249 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 cooktop line-up includes:
Westinghouse was a solid performer, earning four-star reviews in all categories.
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 cooktop range includes:
Smeg received four-star reviews in most categories, including cooking performance & reliability, features and design. The only exception was overall satisfaction, where it finished on three stars.
Omega is a well-known name in most households, established in Australia for more than 30 years. Made in Italy, the brand 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 retail for less than $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 $1,299.
Omega’s cooktop range features:
Omega was rated four stars in majority of the categories, such as ease of cleaning. Although it landed on three stars for cooking performance & reliability and overall satisfaction.
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 sale, 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 and fairly inexpensive model, the Chef 60cm Electric Cooktop (CHS642SA) 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.
Expect to see a few of these cooktops in Chef’s kitchen collection:
Chef rounded up this year’s scores with a consistent three-star review across the board, including for overall satisfaction.
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.
The name DeLonghi might have you thinking of Italy, and that’s because it’s an Italian home appliance manufacturer 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.
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.
Blanco is one of the major providers of home appliances and boasts 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.
A few Blanco cooktops currently available include:
With plenty of options available, there are a few things to think about to make sure you’re buying the best cooktop for your kitchen. Here, we’ll look at a few of the different types, sizes, power settings and features you might come across.
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 (46%), followed by electric (37%) and induction (13%). A small pinch of those surveyed also own a combination cooktop containing multiple types of cooking zones, such as a wok burner in addition to the four other zones.
Induction cooktops are relatively new to the scene of cooktop technology. They use magnetic fields to ‘fire up’ heat within the cookware placed on the cooktop. These are generally considered to be a faster, safer and more efficient way to cook.
Our 2020 survey on cooktops also identified the following insights:
It’s usually free reign when it comes to choosing what type of cookware can be used on a cooktop, except induction cooktops. These work exclusively with magnetic cookware, such as pots and pans made from stainless steel or cast iron. You can check if your current cookware is compatible with an induction unit by placing a fridge magnet on the base of the cooktop. If it doesn’t stick, it won’t be suitable. Otherwise, there aren’t any limitations on what you can use on gas, electric and ceramic cooktops.
Cooktops typically measure 60cm or 90cm wide, and can include a single burner or anywhere up to six burners. There are also wok burners and fish burners available for certain combined cooktops. Available size options include:
Our research shows nearly one in four (23%) bought a cooktop as part of a combined freestanding stove and oven unit, while 49% of Australian households we surveyed similarly purchased their cooktop and oven at the same time. Alternatively, 23% of people kept their eyes on the prize and picked up their cooktop separately.
Induction cooktops come with a number of power settings. These allow you to cook various dishes at different temperatures, at the same time. If you have a large family or regularly cook a few things on-the-go, it might be worth considering if having a couple more settings will be useful. But keep in mind that the more power settings you have, the more expensive it will be.
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. These are 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, portable 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.
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.
This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.
Picture credits: ImageFlow/shutterstock.com.au, doomu/shutterstock.com.au (infographic)
*Prices taken from retailer websites, correct as of September 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 three months – in this case, 766 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.
2019
2018
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