Looking to upgrade cooktop to gas

if your goal is just a gas -- you can just buy a gas drop in cooktop and not give yourself a huge headache (assuming a gas connection isnt too far)

https://www.lowes.ca/product/gas-cookto ... lsrc=aw.ds

milolai wrote: ↑if your goal is just a gas -- you can just buy a gas drop in cooktop and not give yourself a huge headache (assuming a gas connection isnt too far)

https://www.lowes.ca/product/gas-cookto ... lsrc=aw.ds

Noo I need the grill option. That’s the main goal. So I can bbq and make burgers during winter

The knobs do not have to be in front. You can get a cooktop with knobs on top too. Just make sure you buy the right width(30" or 36") to fit your existing counter top cutout. I think yours is 36" because the cook top extends wider than the range hood, but measure 1st.

You'll need an electrician to switch your 240V wiring to 120V wiring unless your existing cooktop is not hardwired then you can use an adapter.
You'll also need a gas fitter run new gas line and hook up the gas cook top. If your basement is unfinished or the wall behind the stove is an exterior wall then it might not be too much work.
With two different trades needed budget at least $750 just for the hook up.

Whatever you buy, make sure the main burner is a multi ring burner. Single ring burner will not heat the buttom evenly.

Like this one: https://www.canadianappliance.ca/HCT300 ... nuEALw_wcB

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Noo I need the grill option. That’s the main goal. So I can bbq and make burgers during winter

.
You can use a cast iron skillet grill. Staub has the enameled cast iron which should not damage the glass.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Noo I need the grill option. That’s the main goal. So I can bbq and make burgers during winter

there's 30 inch drop ins with grills



but like others have said just use a cast iron griddle pan

personally i would upgrade to induction and use a griddle pan for my indoor burgers.

bubuski wrote: ↑The knobs do not have to be in front. You can get a cooktop with knobs on top too. Just make sure you buy the right width(30" or 36") to fit your existing counter top cutout. I think yours is 36" because the cook top extends wider than the range hood, but measure 1st.

You'll need an electrician to switch your 240V wiring to 120V wiring unless your existing cooktop is not hardwired then you can use an adapter.
You'll also need a gas fitter run new gas line and hook up the gas cook top. If your basement is unfinished or the wall behind the stove is an exterior wall then it might not be too much work.
With two different trades needed budget at least $750 just for the hook up.

Why do I need to convert it baxk to 120V? The new cooktop would be gas, so can’t I just cap it off?

Also, from the look of lot of these cooktop, it seems like I might have to cut off the front of my granite, is that right?

bubuski wrote: ↑ .
You can use a cast iron skillet grill. Staub has the enameled cast iron which should not damage the glass.

I know but I always wanted a gas cooktop so I mihjt as wel upgrade the cooktop and get a grill one shot.

milolai wrote: ↑ there's 30 inch drop ins with grills



but like others have said just use a cast iron griddle pan

personally i would upgrade to induction and use a griddle pan for my indoor burgers.

That’s a good cooktop but only 2 burners. I would want 4 burners with a decent size grill in the middle.

For now, I take that I’ll need double ring burners. Just looking to make sure I get the criteria for the things I need to look for in a cooktop.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ 3-based on my current kitchen setup, do I need to do lotnof construction work to install it? I noticed these gas cooktop has a big front where the knob goes. I’m assuming I can remove that filler above the drawer and it will install there?

That's called a rangetop (knobs in front). That would require you to cut your counter, not just the cabinet, given your current layout.

To simplify, you could just get a drop-in gas cooktop with the knobs located on the cooking surface.

To simplify even further, as mentioned by others, just get a cast iron pan or grill/griddle. Many people believe a burger cooked on a flat surface (cast iron skillet or flattop) develops a better crust than a grill.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Why do I need to convert it baxk to 120V? The new cooktop would be gas, so can’t I just cap it off?

Electricity is required to create the sparks that ignite the gas. Otherwise, you'll need to light the gas with a match or lighter, like the olden days.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Why do I need to convert it baxk to 120V? The new cooktop would be gas, so can’t I just cap it off?

Power for the ignitors. Some gas cook tops won't work w/o power.

I'd consider redoing the wall cabinets each side of the proposed cook top area. Heat from the gas cookers may damage your cabinets (I've seen it happen). If you have a 30" cook top if is said you want a 36" space for the vent hood so space between wall cabinets should be 36" RIght now the gap between your wall cabinets are the same width as the cooktop.

If you want something fancy you could always look at modular cooktops (such a Miele). Not cheap however (though there is/was someone selling a 3-set in Ottawa Kijiji for a good price.

I have a Jenn-Air range that has the option for grilling on the one side (slide in cartridge). We used it for years but after buying the outdoor gas grill, it was more of a hinderance because it wasn't used that frequently, was a bit of a mess to clean up and also only gave you two elements to use the rest of the time. We have since replaced the grill cartridge with a regular one (same as the other side) and do all our bbq'ing outdoors. I think the enamelled cast iron grill pan option is a good idea.

I wanted a gas stove as well but....code requirements prevented us from getting one. There is a difference between electric range top and gas top. The distances to combustible materials are quite different and for us, the range hood was too close to the surface, ee would have had to remove the cabinet above the range and the upper cabinetry beside the stove was no high enough either.
Before you buy, best to check out if you can even do it.

Mars2012 wrote: ↑ I have a Jenn-Air range that has the option for grilling on the one side (slide in cartridge). We used it for years but after buying the outdoor gas grill, it was more of a hinderance because it wasn't used that frequently, was a bit of a mess to clean up and also only gave you two elements to use the rest of the time. We have since replaced the grill cartridge with a regular one (same as the other side) and do all our bbq'ing outdoors. I think the enamelled cast iron grill pan option is a good idea.

Is this what everyone is talking about?

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Is this what everyone is talking about?

Yes that will work nicely. Once it gets hot it does a good job retaining its heat for a nice grilling.

Stay away from the Made in China cast iron cook ware (even from the larger brands like Le Creuset) as there have been questionable use of hard metal like lead and Chromium a few years ago. Stick to the products Made in EU and North American factories.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Is this what everyone is talking about?

Yes, although Staub also makes them.

bubuski wrote: ↑ Yes that will work nicely. Once it gets hot it does a good job retaining its heat for a nice grilling.

Stay away from the Made in China cast iron cook ware (even from the larger brands like Le Creuset) as there have been questionable use of hard metal like lead and Chromium a few years ago. Stick to the products Made in EU and North American factories.

Could you recommend a brand please. I don’t mind spending up to $300 for a reallllyyy good one.

snipe2014 wrote: ↑ Could you recommend a brand please. I don’t mind spending up to $300 for a reallllyyy good one.

No pressure eh.

I'm not a chef but personally prefer Staub to Le Creuset simply because they are owned by zwilling which is why I threw in the brand name earlier in the thread. My main pot sets, knives and cutlery are all zwilling.
That said I have a Le Creuset french oven which was given to me as a wedding gift almost 15 years ago and still use from time to time.

The Le Creuset link you posted is a Made in France so it is a good set to buy but I'll suggest buying one with a press like this.
https://www.lecreuset.ca/skillet-grill- ... s-set-sage

For Staub, here is the link to zwilling's website. Get the panini press lid too.
https://www.zwilling.com/ca/staub/cast- ... rill-pans/

Both are also sold at various resellers but are two of the bigger names in the industry..

bubuski wrote: ↑ Stay away from the Made in China cast iron cook ware (even from the larger brands like Le Creuset) as there have been questionable use of hard metal like lead and Chromium a few years ago.

Lead? Hard metal? It'll mostly boil off by the time iron is ready to melt.

As far as chromium goes, what do you think your stainless steel stuff has in it?

thriftshopper wrote: ↑ Lead? Hard metal? It'll mostly boil off by the time iron is ready to melt.

As far as chromium goes, what do you think your stainless steel stuff has in it?

SS from a reputable manufacturer tested lower then enameled cast iron for chromium after cooking a meal.
https://naturalbabymama.com/leach-testi ... vy-metals/

The lead detected was in the enamel of bright colors, both of the cooking surface and exterior. For example detected in yellow/red enamel sets but none in blue of the same model line. Low enough amount but the company claimed it was lead free and did free exchanges when caught. https://tamararubin.com/2019/02/made-in ... arcinogen/

Contact with carcinogens can’t totally be eliminated in daily life but I’ll gladly cut back on my intake where ever possible.