Benton Harbor-based KitchenAid has released a line of six professionally inspired gas cooktops for the at-home chef.
“Just as automotive companies design specific models for car enthusiasts, our goal with these newest cooktops is to catch the eye and raise the pulse of cooking enthusiasts,” says Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid.
Designed to meet a wide range of cooking needs, the latest cooktops are equipped with a variety of burners ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 BTUs. Depending on the model, a cook can utilize a single burner to go from a boil to a simmer without changing burners.
Robinson says for more control of the flame at the lowest setting, a diffuser plate incorporated into an “even-heat” simmer burner allows for more precise simmering and melting of sauces, butter, and chocolate.
The cooktops, available in 30-inch and 36-inch models, also offer a number of practical touches, Robinson says. “The kitchen may be the heart of the home, but it’s the cooktop that’s the heart of the kitchen, which for cooks makes it the single most important vehicle for expressing their passion and creativity.”
To help protect the cooktops from spills and stains that may occur with high-temperature cooking — and to ensure they will look clean longer — the new models feature CookShield, a permanent finish that makes it easy to wipe surfaces without harsh chemicals.
All models, carrying suggested retail prices of $1,100 to $1,900, feature full-width cast iron grates, electronic ignition, and LP conversion kits for use with liquefied petroleum gas. Two models offer a removable, non-stick griddle.
