Cooktops with range hoods have been around for as long as I can remember but it’s time they moved over because the 30” gas cooktop with downdraft has entered the chat, er, rather the market.
But choosing isn’t such an easy task for home-makers because, obviously, you’re going to ask which of these is the best 30” induction cooktop with downdraft worth spending money on?
Well, you’ve come to the right review because I’m going to try my best to enlighten you. So stick around and we’ll see what the perfect 30” cooktop with downdraft means for someone like you!
The Best 30-inch Gas Cooktop with Downdraft
Cooktops with downdrafts should be the new normal nowadays considering that this appliance has a better approach when it comes to ventilation. In contrast to range hoods, which suck the smoke up above, a downdraft is installed into the cooktop and simply sucks in the fumes and smoke from its position there, leaving you with smoke-free cooking.
Aside from a better way of ventilating, having a cooktop with downdraft also means that you’ll have more space in your kitchen because there wouldn’t be a range hood hogging the space that could be taken up by a cupboard. This means more storage space for you.
The market offers so many cooktops with downdrafts that you’re going to have to find out which one is the best fit for you. This article will narrow down your options into three so you won’t have such a hard time deciding what the best cooktop to cook your food and fit in your kitchen.
* GE 30” Gas Sealed Burner Cooktop-Downdraft
The ease of using electric stovetops or induction cookers has been quite a trend recently, but to be honest I personally think that nothing can beat a good old cooktop model.
Most of the gas cooktops that we normally see have an oven beneath and a range hood installed above to make sure the fumes get sucked out and won’t fog up your entire kitchen. Well, this one’s different.
This gas cooktop with downdraft ventilation sucks the smoke down under so you wouldn’t even have a chance to inhale it. The GE 30” Black Gas Sealed Burner Cooktop-Downdraft enables this. There’s so many other great things that this product offers you too.
If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen or wanting to replace that electric stovetop of yours with a brand new cooktop, then surely, this sleek black glass cooktop will catch your eye.
The modern design and contemporary appearance make it a perfect addition to your kitchen. But of course, beauty shouldn’t be the only determining factor. I’m sure the 11,500 BTU all-purpose burners are intriguing too.
The sealed cooktop burners are also dishwasher friendly, meaning the knobs and grates that it includes. You won’t have to worry about cleaning up or having to figure out a way to. It also comes with a propane conversion kit.
The edge to edge design of this product includes heavy cast grates which allow you to move the pots and pans easily. It also features LED lighting with durable knobs.
The LED lighting is meant to let you know when the burners are on and also add a sleek look which can be quite a stunning feature in your kitchen if you decide to go for this one.
It offers a controller lock that protects from accidental stimulation, with indicators to tell you if the surface is hot. One glance and you’ll know immediately whether or not the surface is safe to touch.
For me, that’s a really cool feature considering I’m such a klutz in the kitchen. Having an indication that the surface isn’t cool to touch keeps me from burning myself.
And if you love white like me, there’s also a white 30-inch induction cooktop version of this product.
Pros:
- 11,500 BTU all-purpose burner.
- Dishwasher safe knobs and grates.
- Powerful downdraft exhaust system.
- Comes with a propane conversion kit.
- Easy to connect and convert to LP.
Easy to clean surface even with the inevitable boil-overs.
Cons:
- Service may not include connection to the downdraft so you might have a hard time figuring out where you need to connect the downdraft.
- Hard to install without the help of a professional.
- Hard to thoroughly clean.
* Frigidaire 30″ Built In Downdraft Cooktop in Stainless Steel
If you prefer to have a stainless steel gas cooktop with downdraft, then this 30” Frigidaire product just might be the cooktop that you’re looking for, whether to replace your old one or add in your newly furnished or renovated kitchen.
It features a four burner system with a bridge which means that you have a lot more cooktops to use for those pots and can also cook them all together. You won’t suffer the hassle of having to wait for one pot to cook in order to add it tho another one.
The way this product is also built—by which I mean the continuous grates that it features—makes it easier to move heavy pots and pans to the side.
The Frigidaire also has a downdraft system that removes the need for overhead ventilation—aka the range hood. The downdraft system is extremely powerful and vents fumes and smoke with ease so you don’t have to deal with the smoke or any odor that might be emitted. This saves you from being covered in food particles. Nobody really likes having to walk around smelling like food.
The 17,000 BTU power plus technology is such a great feature to include. With 17,000 BTU, water boils water incredibly fast so you don’t have to lounge around in the living and come back to the kitchen to see if it’s boiled yet. With the 17,000 BTU this product features, water is boiled at lightning speed.
The Ready-Select remote also allows you to input the desired temperature you want to use. Whatever temperature you want is at your fingertips.
The low simmer option in the burners is also a great add-in feature that they have thought of. Whether you want to use a heating power of 5,000 BTU, 9,000 BTU, 12,000 BTU or 17,000 BTU, this cooktop offers all those temperature levels and more for you.
It also has a dishwasher-safe filter. This may be the easy to clean gas cooktop with downdraft you’ve been looking for because, let’s face it, stainless still is super easy to clean.
Although, there’s a teeny problem with this one. Since the downdraft ventilation system is so powerful, it has a tendency to draw the flame into it. But it’s not something that you need to worry too much about because nothing too bad results from it. It’s just annoying.
Pros:
- 17,000 BTU power plus technology.
- Boils water fast.
- Easy to clean.
- Strong downdraft exhaust.
- Comes with an LP gas conversion kit.
- Great heating power of different ranges.
Designed with continuous grates to make it easier to move heavy pots and pans.
Cons:
- Due to the powerful downdraft, it may draw in the flame which might cause issues with certain users.
* KitchenAid 4 Burner Stainless Steel Gas Downdraft Cooktop
If you’re looking for a stylish cooktop to add to your kitchen appliances or for a replacement for your current cooktop, then KitchenAid is here to offer you its best easy to clean gas cooktop with downdraft.
It has four burners that heat up to about 17,000 BTU which means that you can boil water quickly and even cook quickly if you’re in a rush. This is a great feature included for all of its four burners.
If you don’t need all the 17,000 BTU that it offers, you can turn it down a notch and use 5,000 BTU which guarantees you precise simmering and melting. And with the 300 CFM exhaust evaluation, the ventilation can manage it all.
It has a powerful downdraft ventilation that quickly sucks in the fumes or smoke of whatever it is you are cooking, ensuring that you have a smoke-free environment as you cook dinner for the family. You’re not going to have to worry about a smell or smoke filling the entire kitchen. The downdraft ventilation is designed to handle exactly that.
This stainless steel cooktop is also easy to clean. You no longer have to worry about stains or splashes of whatever you’re cooking hitting the grates.
Pros:
- 17,000 BTU.
- Fast and powerful downdraft ventilation system.
- Easy to clean grates.
- Stainless steel is durable
Cons:
- The finish may cause a pit to develop from splashes of liquid.
Do You Need a Downdraft Gas Cooktop
Now, you might be wondering, why should I even bother to get a cooktop that includes a downdraft? Why can’t I just get the normal cooktop with a range hood installed above to suck out the smoke and fumes? What is the difference?
The thing with the range hood is that it sucks the smoke from above which means that you’re still going to have to inhale the smoke and fumes one way or the other. And how sure are you that the range hood won’t leave any odor or smoke after it ventilates? If you think about it, if it sucks from above then you’re still going to have to inhale some since some of the smoke will have already dispersed.
That’s where the downdraft differs from the range hood.
It’s going to suck in the smoke or fumes on the spot so you’re not going to have to worry about any smoke surrounding you. Besides, if you want to have more space in your kitchen, then adding a downdraft gas cooktop is the right choice for you.
There’s a bunch of these cooktops on the market. Whether it’s a propane cooktop with downdraft or a 5-burner cooktop with downdraft, you can always find one perfect for you. But what about space?
If you have a smaller kitchen space in your house that’s well ventilated, this is the most practical choice for you since the downdraft is built inside the cooktop.
You’ll no longer need to install an exhaust fan or range hood above your cooktop to have it to suck out the smoke, fumes, odors or heat coming off from the cooktop. This leaves you with more kitchen space that can be used for more storage.
You can use that extra storage part to add a new cupboard or to simply let it be if you’re going for a minimalistic look in your kitchen.
Pros and Cons of Getting a Gas Downdraft Cooktop
Compact and Stylish
As mentioned throughout the entire article, the main advantage a downdraft cooktop offers is that it provides you with more space when compared to installing a range hood or exhaust fan. There’s no need to make adjustments to accommodate a hood. Downdraft cooktops are compact and stylish and can be a great addition to your kitchen, especially if you’re going for a minimalistic or modern feel.
Easy clean-up
This type of cooktop requires minimal cleaning and, to be honest, that’s a really good advantage to have.
Since the fumes and smoke are sucked downward, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up the built-up smoke that would otherwise accumulate in your hood or extractor fan. You also won’t need to climb a ladder just to clean up. The only cleaning that needs to be done is on the stovetop and that’s an easy task to handle for anyone.
Cheaper
It is also a cheaper option than its counterpart. You won’t need to hire people to install it so no extra work regarding the installation needs to be done. It’s also inexpensive considering that it’s already built-in. Because the exhaust and the extraction system are already included inside you won’t have to buy them separately.
Hooded cooktops can be quite expensive, plus you have to think about paying people to install it for you. With the cost of installation, pipe work and ventilation fees so you’re going to end up spending a bunch of money.
Not suitable for small kitchens
Okay, so here’s the thing, although this appliance won’t take up as much space as its counterpart, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the first choice if you have a small kitchen, especially if your small kitchen isn’t as ventilated as you might hope.
The downdraft works by sucking the fumes and smoke downward into a pipe with a powerful fan built inside. So to make sure that this appliance does its job, there needs to be adequate airflow.
Small kitchens sometimes don’t offer adequate airflow which can pose a problem because if there isn’t enough airflow or air circulation, then the downdraft cooktop might not work.
You’ll end up with a smoky kitchen and a lingering food smell, both things you were hoping to avoid. But if you have a small kitchen that is well-ventilated then this won’t be an issue. There will be adequate airflow involved and a downdraft cooktop will work just fine.
Construction and installation concerns
Before purchasing yourself a downdraft cooktop, you should make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. There are several concerns that you have consider before making your purchase. Since this appliance requires air to be vented out of the house using a downward pipe, you have to consider the ductwork that needs to be present to accommodate the piping and venting.
This means that there might be extra construction needed which would mean you’re going to have to spend extra on the work that needs to be done. It could not only be quite expensive but also leave you with quite a headache.
Conclusion
A gas cooktop with downdraft is an efficient choice for any home-owner. You’re going to eliminate the issue of smoke, fumes, and the undesirable scent that fills your kitchen space when you’re cooking, frying or grilling on your stove.
You will no longer have to consider installing a range hood or extraction fan above your cooktop because of the built-in ventilation system that it offers.
And not only is it compact, leaving you with more space to add in another cupboard or shelf, it’s also stylish and will leave you with a great looking kitchen. Hopefully, you’ve found the best 30” gas cooktop with downdraft possible for your kitchen. Thank you for reading!
You may also be interested in this post: https://onthegas.org/major-appliances/best-electric-cooktop-with-downdraft
1 Comment
The link the the GE cooktop is incorrect.