Choosing Cooktops

Cooktop Grates

Moving Heat
A cooktop's grates play a big role in cooking, through heat dispersion (distribution) and dissipation (release). Heat must be evenly distributed and escape the grate easily when it is decreased or cut off.

While many people like continuous cast iron grates because the even surface allows for easy pot shifting, continuous grates on gas cooktops dissipate heat more slowly. If you choose continuous grates for a gas cooktop, simmering may require moving dishes to another burner, just as on an electric model.