ApplianceAdvisor
The People's Cooktop Test
Have a kitchen thermometer, a large pot, and 10 minutes to
kill?
For years, we've been told that:
- sealed burners improve your sex
lives
- that
glass electric tops are the closest thing to Godliness
- that real cooking
performance only comes at high-cost, clad in a stainless steel box
- and to shun
and/or ridicule our neighbors with open burners or using propane.
Are
these truisms true? Have we ridiculed our neighbors in error? Can we
handle the truth?
Take 10 minutes and help us discover how your cooktop performs and if it lives
up to the high powered advertising.
A bunch of results are already in (see below).
What we are trying to accomplish:
What if all of our readers tested their cooktop burners using a
specific test procedure and we compared the many many thousands (maybe
millions) (OK a hundred) of the resulting data points? We could then compare Wolf and
Hotpoint, open burners and sealed burners, pro-style burners
or standard, coil or radiant or induction, hell let's include the ancient KitchenAid
daisy burner......let's test everything including antiques, and see who's still wearing pants
when its all done. The data might be a little ugly, but let's see.
Sure we're not all trained scientists, sure mistakes will be made, sure
your range, pots and temperature gauges are not calibrated laboratory
equipments, but so what, preparation and planning are not the stuff that
built this country (or destroyed Iraq for that matter).
No sir, we are a "Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead!" kind of
people. A "Test with the kitchens we got, not the kitchens we
want" kind of people. And we are proud to lead you blindly up
the next hill in our continued battle for truth.
Test Procedures:
A) Measure 1 gallon = 4 quarts = 128
oz of tap water
in large pot (uncovered)
B) Using cooking thermometer, take
temp reading of tap
water. This is the START TEMP
NOTE:
If possible, try to keep START TEMP between 55°F and 70°F, with 60°F to 65°F
being optimal.
C) Place pot "centered"
on largest burner, turn burner to maximum, start timer. Thermometer
remains in pot.
D) Calculate the end of test temperature,
END TEMP:
END
TEMP = START TEMP + 90F
E) Record the time it takes to raise
the water temperature to the END TEMP temperature
NOTE 1:
Don't fudge the numbers, measure water, temperature and time carefully.
NOTE 2:
Feel free to repeat test on your other burners, or with other pots, BUT allow cooktop
and pots to cool before repeating
DISCLAIMER: Attempt these tests at your own
risk. Fire burns. Hot water scalds. Must be over 18 years of
age.
Do not attempt if under the influence of alcohol, drugs or while operating heavy
equipment.
Test Data to send us:
Send to: advisor@applianceadvisor.com
Appliance:
Brand, Model and Age (years)
Temperature: Start Temp.
and End Temp.
Time:
Minutes and Seconds
Burner Type: See Footnotes, 1,
2, and 4
Cook
Pot: Brand, Diameter
and Material
(ex: Stainless, Aluminum, etc)
Thermometer: Digital
or Analog
Test
Dude: Name, handle, or
middle school nickname
Can't find all the information, Fine, Send what you have.
Test Conclusions:
SOME CONCLUSIONS (SEE
BOTTOM)
| ApplianceAdvisor.com's Donovan Stove Chart | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Test |
Appliance |
Test Results |
Notes |
Burner |
Cook Pot |
Temp |
|||||||||||||||
|
Dude |
Brand |
Model |
Age |
Temp (°F) |
Heat up |
Rating/hr 4 |
Units |
Fuel 1 |
Type 2 |
Donovan's Calculations |
Brand |
Material |
Diameter |
Gauge |
|||||||
|
Name |
# |
(yrs) |
Start |
End |
Delta |
Min |
Sec |
|
Energy used (in theory) |
BTU Actual = 8.345BTU X DT |
Effncy % |
Type 3 |
|||||||||
|
1 |
Advisor |
Bosch |
HGS255UC |
3 yr |
60 |
150 |
90.0 F° |
9 |
5 |
|
15,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
2270.8 |
751.1 |
33.1% |
Circulon |
Aluminum |
10-1/2" |
Digital |
|
2 |
Advisor |
Bosch |
HGS255UC |
3 yr |
62 |
152 |
90.0 F° |
9 |
0 |
15,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
2250.0 |
751.1 |
33.4% |
Farberware |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
|
3 |
Advisor |
Bosch |
HGS255UC |
3 yr |
60 |
150 |
90.0 F° |
9 |
5 |
15,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
2270.8 |
751.1 |
33.1% |
Polish |
Enameled steel |
10-1/8" |
Digital |
|
|
4 |
Advisor |
Bosch |
HGS255UC |
3 yr |
59 |
149 |
90.0 F° |
11 |
25 |
9,100 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
1731.5 |
751.1 |
43.4% |
Faberware |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
|
5 |
Advisor |
Bosch |
HGS255UC |
3 yr |
57 |
147 |
90.0 F° |
22 |
8 |
|
5,500 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
2028.9 |
751.1 |
37.0% |
Faberware |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
6 |
Cookie |
Jennair |
SVD8310S |
10 yr |
70 |
160 |
90.0 F° |
9 |
30 |
10,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
1583.3 |
751.1 |
47.4% |
Arcosteel |
Stainless |
9-1/4" |
Analog |
|
|
7 |
Mike |
Thermador |
SGCS304R |
9 yr |
Incomplete:burned finger, chucked gauge, broke gauge |
12,500 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
n/a |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Analog/ finger |
||||||||
|
8 |
Reddart |
Monogram |
ZGU36N4RHSS |
1 yr |
67 |
157 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
56 |
by DCS |
17,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
2531.1 |
751.1 |
29.7% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
11" |
Digital |
|
9 |
Sonny |
De Dietrich |
308XE1 |
1 mo |
73 |
164 |
91.0 F° |
6 |
27 |
|
3.2 |
Kwatt |
Electric |
Induction |
1,174 |
759.4 |
64.7% |
All-Clad |
Stainless+alum |
10" |
Digital |
|
10 |
Marya |
Blue Star |
RGTNB484GCBSS |
8 mo |
65 |
155 |
90.0 F° |
6 |
23 |
22,000 |
BTU |
LP |
Open |
2340.6 |
751.1 |
32.1% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
10-1/2" |
Digital |
|
|
11 |
asolo |
KitchenAid |
KECS100SBC-3 |
14 yr |
72 |
162 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
35 |
power burner |
KW |
Electric |
7.5" Coil |
751.1 |
Chantal |
iron/enamel |
8-1/2" |
Analog |
|||
|
12 |
asolo |
KitchenAid |
KECS100SBC-3 |
14 yr |
68 |
158 |
90.0 F° |
10 |
14 |
reg burner |
KW |
Electric |
7.5" Coil |
751.1 |
Chantal |
iron/enamel |
8-1/2" |
Analog |
|||
|
13 |
Anne |
Dacor |
PGM304 |
2 yr |
62 |
152 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
48 |
|
15,000 |
BTU |
LP |
Sealed |
2200.0 |
751.1 |
34.1% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
8" |
Analog |
|
14 |
Charles |
Dynasty |
DGRSC-48-5G-W |
4 yr |
65 |
155 |
90.0 F° |
6 |
51 |
20,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
2283.3 |
751.1 |
32.9% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
8-1/2" |
Digital |
|
|
15 |
Charles |
Dynasty |
DGRSC-48-5G-W |
4 yr |
65 |
155 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
23 |
15,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
2095.8 |
751.1 |
35.8% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
8-1/2" |
Digital |
|
|
16 |
Charles |
Dynasty |
DGRSC-48-5G-W |
4 yr |
65 |
155 |
90.0 F° |
12 |
20 |
10,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
2055.6 |
751.1 |
36.5% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
8-1/2" |
Digital |
|
|
17 |
Ken |
Wolf |
RT366 |
1 yr |
66 |
156 |
90.0 F° |
7 |
34 |
|
16,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
2017.8 |
751.1 |
37.2% |
All-Clad |
Stainless |
10" |
Digital |
|
18 |
Peter |
Glenwood |
Model C |
90 yr |
60 |
150 |
90.0 F° |
17 |
30 |
moderate fire |
Wood |
Sealed |
751.1 |
Farberware |
Stainless+alum |
10" |
Analog |
||||
|
19 |
Peter |
Blue Star |
RCS30 |
2 yr |
55 |
145 |
90.0 F° |
7 |
0 |
15,000 |
BTU |
LP |
Open |
1750.0 |
751.1 |
42.9% |
Farberware |
Stainless+alum |
10" |
Analog |
|
|
20 |
Andy |
Magic Chef |
31HN-92DKX |
17 yr |
61 |
151 |
90.0 F° |
10 |
48 |
9,000 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Open |
1620.0 |
751.1 |
46.4% |
Farberware |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
|
21 |
Susan |
Jennair |
???? 30" |
11 yr |
61 |
151 |
90.0 F° |
12 |
40 |
|
front rt single |
KW |
Electric |
Radiant |
|
751.1 |
|
Farberware |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
22 |
DH |
Diva de Provence |
DDP5 |
3 mo |
69 |
160 |
91.0 F° |
6 |
10 |
3.6 |
KW |
Electric |
Induction |
1,262 |
759.4 |
60.2% |
Volrath |
Stainless |
12" |
TBD |
|
|
23 |
Steve |
Thermador |
SGCS304R |
5 yr |
66 |
156 |
90.0 F° |
11 |
10 |
9,100 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
1693.6 |
751.1 |
44.3% |
Ekco |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
|
24 |
Steve |
Thermador |
SGCS304R |
5 yr |
60 |
150 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
40 |
12,500 |
BTU |
Nat. Gas |
Sealed |
1805.6 |
751.1 |
41.6% |
Ekco |
Stainless |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
|
25 |
Diane |
Diva de Provence |
DDP-5 |
4 yr |
63 |
153 |
90.0 F° |
8 |
16 |
|
2.8 |
KW |
Electric |
Induction |
1,316 |
751.1 |
57.1% |
All-Clad |
Stainless+alum |
10-1/4" |
Digital |
|
26 |
Test Error |
Removed |
|
|
|
|
|
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