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KitchenAid. The Pro Line KGCV566R 36-inch five-burner gas cooktop sports two powerful 17,000-BTU burners, one topped by an InstaWok ring grate that supports a standard pan on one side and reverses to hold a large wok on the other. Available in fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and Meteorite, this versatile appliance also features continuous grates and the ability to maintain extra-low cooking temperatures. 800-422-1230. www.kitchenaid.com.

GE. Sleek, semi-pro styling distinguishes Profile's stainless steel five-burner built-in gas cooktop outfitted with an innovative 18,000-BTU dual-flame stacked burner—literally two burners in one capable of bringing water to a rapid boil and turning down to a low cooking temperature of 140 degrees F. Additional features include a safety lockout, said to be a first for gas models; sturdy dishwasher-safe knobs and grates; and a deep spillover. 800-626-2000. www.geappliances.com.

Kenyon. A functional solution to small and secondary kitchens, the two-burner Horizon Lite-Touch 2 ceramic electric cooktop boasts such state-of-the-art features as a dual 9-/5-inch element, safety lockout and automatic shutoff, heat and fault indicators with audible alerts, a hot indicator light, and durable infrared Lite-Touch controls said to be highly resistant to moisture and humidity. 860-664-4906. www.kenyonappliances.com.

Gaggenau. The new super-sized 15-inch Vario 400 modular cooktop system boasts pro-style capacity and power. Available in stainless steel or aluminum, individual units comprise electric, gas, and induction elements including the likes of a 12,000-watt induction wok and Japanese-style Teppan Yaki, a flat griddle-like stainless steel element. 800-828-9165. www.gaggenau-usa.com.

Morice. The luxuriously outfitted 71-inch Grand Veneur cooktop allows discerning home chefs to select from such custom options as an 18,700-BTU central gas burner topped by a cast iron French plate, high-powered gas burners or electric elements, an electric 18-liter steamer, or 3.5-liter deep fryer. Handcrafted in Lyon, France, each unit is made to order in a variety of high-gloss enamel colors and trim finishes. 800-998-8966. www.morice-usa.com.

Maytag. Comprising numerous attributes typical of more upscale models, the MGC5536 five-burner, 36-inch porcelain-enamel gas cooktop is geared for family-style cooking with its sealed surface burners, pilotless electronic ignition, continuous DuraClean cast-iron grates and lift-off burner caps, precision-set burner controls, 12,500-BTU Power Boost burner, and 650-BTU simmer setting. Color options include white, bisque, black, and stainless steel. 800-688-9900. www.maytag.com.

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Induction Reignites

After an all-too-long hiatus (according to devotees), induction cooking is about to re-enter our kitchen vocabulary.

Favored by professional chefs as a cool, clean alternative to commercial gas burners, induction elements utilize electromagnetic energy that reacts with the iron in ferrous metal cook-ware—which includes many popular stainless steel brands—transforming it into the actual heat source. The result: instantaneous gas-like performance, plus markedly reduced heat in the kitchen and on the cooking surface because heat is created directly in the pan and does not escape into the room.

“From a convenience standpoint, induction gives the responsiveness of gas,” says Sue Bailey, Viking lead product manager for major appliances, whose company is at the forefront of the new residential units. “They can boil and hold a true simmer, and the clean-up is phenomenal.”

In fact, Bailey adds, it is faster and more fuel-efficient than gas. “It takes about five minutes and fifteen seconds for a quart of water to come to a boil on one of our gas ranges with a 15,000-BTU burner,” she explains. “To bring the same quart of water to boil on a large induction element takes about two minutes and twenty-two seconds.”