Converting electric cooktop to gas on slab home (licensed, garage)

[ciciria]

I concurred with msooner about the induction cooktop. I had been using induction for years and love it.

[Telegan]

Induction is nice unless you've invested in a ton of cookware already that won't work with induction. Now that I'm trying to escape the techno-nerd era of my life, I'm trying to get more into cooking and induction may be the choice for my next home. Still need to research.

I think the choice made among induction, electric, and gas is more personal preference. Some people do it based upon cost, others on aesthetics, and still others based upon wanting to be "pros".

[mSooner]

Induction is nice unless you've invested in a ton of cookware already that won't work with induction.

Cast iron and stainless steel are fine. It's mostly cheaper stuff that wont work.

[synchronicity]

Originally Posted by mSooner

Cast iron and stainless steel are fine. It's mostly cheaper stuff that wont work.

Calphalon (anodized aluminum*) and copper won't work, either (well, they would work IF you stick a steel disk between them and the induction surface). As you likely know, both of those can be very expensive.

That said, I am surprised that induction cooktops are not far more common in the US. My understanding is that they are in many other countries, as they are more efficient than standard electric cooktops, allow for heat control similar to that of gas, and are much safer in not being a traditional "heated element" design.

*- Calphalon also has a stainless line, IIRC, and that obviously would work.

[Lowexpectations]

Originally Posted by mSooner

Cast iron and stainless steel are fine. It's mostly cheaper stuff that wont work.

Not all stainless have magnetic bottoms fwiw

[sericrafter]

Originally Posted by Eesh

Looking at homes in Plano and see most with electric cooktops on center island. We've moved from a home with a crawlspace so conversion wasn't so daunting. Any experience with converting to gas? Costs? Is it prohibitive?

We did exactly this about 10 years back in our old house in Plano. Had to bust open the slab to add the gas line. It costed about $3000.. to trench about 12' of slab and gas line.

Couple of things to note; we were replacing tiles in the kitchen floor and building a new island, so did not have to worry about matching the floor or the island. Your cost will be much higher when you add these. Second, our water heater was just on the other side of the kitchen wall, so was not a big deal in locating nearby gas line. Finally, do it as per city codes.

[Grainraiser]

My house was built in 1996 by Highland Homes. They added a gas stub for the stove and dryer as standard. Paid them to add one for a gas grill. It is cheap do on a new build but can very expensive for a retro fit.

Reggie

[BLDSoon]

Precisely why when i looked at homes, anything with an island cooktop was an automatic fail.
It seems hazardous to me and any conversions and bound to be more expensive with that set up. I don't get that concept or why thats a thing. To each his own i guess.

[Telegan]

Originally Posted by BLDSoon

Precisely why when i looked at homes, anything with an island cooktop was an automatic fail.
It seems hazardous to me and any conversions and bound to be more expensive with that set up. I don't get that concept or why thats a thing. To each his own i guess.

Maybe people want to watch tv while cooking or talk to people in the family room while cooking or not face a wall while cooking or ... heck, I dunno. lol.

[ParkerPal]

I prefer my cooktop facing a window which also serves as an exhaust.