Kitchen Products Review: CooktopsHot Tops: Manufacturers fuel their latest cooking surfaces with a powerful dose of gourmet features.

In a survey conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, more than 40 percent of its responding members cited that product innovation combined with a more knowledgeable consumer were driving forces in their business. Indeed, these statistics would appear to be as relevant for new-home construction as they are for remodeling, where the kitchen and its appliances have become a priority in the selection and design process.

“Home buyers are becoming more sophisticated every day,” says U.S. Home's Las Vegas design studio manager, Vivian Narssa, whose customer base ranges from move-ups to empty nesters. Influenced by the increasing popularity of television's Food Network channel in addition to the wealth of information available on the Internet and in the latest design and cooking publications, she notes, “They're more interested in commercial-type applications only found in restaurants a few years ago.”

Not surprisingly, beefy pro-style ranges are de rigueur at the extreme high end. However, Narssa—whose company has a national partnering agreement with GE—finds that most of her clients prefer cooktops for the extra cabinet space they provide as well as for their unique designs and easy-care surfaces that eliminate the notorious dirt-catching crevices—inevitable where ranges meet counters. In particular, “They like flat glass tops, high-output burners, precise simmers, and dishwasher-safe grates,” she adds.

Taking their cues from this growing appetite for style, power, and convenience, manufacturers have enhanced their offerings—both gas and electric—with numerous user-friendly features. According to Jerry Wolff, GE marketing manager of cooking products, “The trends we're seeing today are intensifying in terms of style and the consumer demand for versatility. They want to be able to boil faster, get great simmer performance, and use bigger cookware.”

To that end, aesthetics and utility are the focus of the new GE Profile offerings, which include a 36-inch stainless steel five-burner gas model equipped with an 18,000-BTU dual-flame stacked burner capable of bringing water to a rapid boil then turning down to a low cooking temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It also features a gas safety lock-out, deep spill pan, and dishwasher-safe die-cast knobs and continuous grates.

Its electric equivalent in black glass has a 3,000-watt 12-/9-/6-inch tri-ring element and melt/simmer options essential for delicate preparations such as softening chocolate.

“Our core customer wants an appliance to make their life easier,” says Whirlpool's director of public relations Audrey Reed-Granger. To comply, the company's new electric lineup features glass ceramic surfaces with dual-ring and bridge elements, and touch controls for ease of use and cleaning. Gas models in porcelain enamel feature full-width cast iron grates for pot maneuverability.

Maytag has taken a similar approach by incorporating such high-end attributes as cast iron continuous grates, precision burner controls, a Power Boost burner, and 650-BTU simmer setting into several basic gas models in both 30- and 36-inch glass and porcelain enamel.

Deluxe maker Miele, meanwhile, is catering to small spaces with an efficiently designed four-burner gas unit in high-grade stainless steel that measures a neat 23 1/16 inches by 20¼ inches. Dacor, too, brings top-of-the-line features down to size with its 30-inch all-gas four-burner cooktop that boasts the same SimmerSear burner as its popular larger model.

For the tightest installations where electric is the fuel of choice, Kenyon's diminutive two-burner Horizon Lite-Touch 2 glass ceramic cooktop is packed with one 9-/5-inch dual-ring and one single element, along with advanced infrared controls that are not affected by moisture and humidity.