Gas Cooktops for Australian Kitchens
Gas cooktops remain a popular choice in Australian kitchens, valued for their instant heat, visible flame control, and compatibility with all cookware types. If your home has a natural gas or LPG connection, a gas cooktop gives you the responsive, intuitive cooking experience that many home cooks prefer. At Everyday Home Living, we stock a range of gas cooktops in 60cm and 90cm widths from trusted brands, with fast delivery across Australia.
Why Cooks Choose Gas
The appeal of gas cooking comes down to control and feedback. You can see the flame, adjust it immediately, and the response is instantaneous. Moving a pan off the flame stops the heat transfer at once, which is important for delicate sauces and precise cooking tasks. Gas is also compatible with all cookware types including copper, uncoated aluminium, and carbon steel woks, which do not work on induction cooktops. For high-heat cooking styles like wok cooking, the direct flame and radiant heat of a high-output burner is difficult to replicate with any other cooktop type.
Natural Gas vs LPG
Most gas cooktops are supplied configured for natural gas (reticulated town gas) but can be converted to LPG (bottled gas) using a conversion kit, which is typically included or available as an accessory. If your home runs on LPG, confirm the model you choose includes an LPG conversion kit or that one is available separately. LPG burns at a slightly higher pressure than natural gas and requires the appropriate jets to be installed for safe and correct operation.
Key Features to Look For
Number of Burners and Layout
Standard 60cm gas cooktops have four burners. 90cm models offer five or six burners and a larger cooking surface suited to high-volume cooking. Look for a layout that includes at least one high-output burner (typically 3.5 to 5 kW) for fast boiling and wok cooking, and one simmer burner (around 1 kW or less) for gentle heat on delicate sauces and melting chocolate.
Wok Burner
A dedicated high-output wok burner is a worthwhile feature for households that cook Asian-style dishes requiring intense, direct heat. Most 90cm gas cooktops include a central or front wok burner with output of 4 kW or above. Some 60cm models also include a triple-ring wok burner as one of the four zones.
Continuous Cast Iron Grates
Continuous cast iron grates span the full width of the cooktop, allowing you to slide pots and pans between burners without lifting. This is a practical and safety-conscious feature compared to individual star-shaped grates where cookware must be lifted to move. Cast iron retains heat well and is durable under heavy cooking use.
Auto Ignition
Auto-ignition (electric spark ignition) allows you to light the burner by turning the control knob without a separate lighter. Most modern gas cooktops include auto-ignition on all burners. Flame failure safety devices that automatically shut off the gas supply if the flame is extinguished (such as from a boilover) are an important safety feature worth confirming is included.
Ventilation
Gas cooktops produce combustion byproducts including water vapour, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which should be removed from the kitchen by a well-matched rangehood. Browse our rangehoods range for canopy, slideout, and undermount models to suit your kitchen layout. For a complete kitchen setup, explore our full cooktops range and freestanding ovens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert a natural gas cooktop to LPG?
Yes. Most gas cooktops can be converted from natural gas to LPG using a conversion kit that replaces the burner jets. The conversion kit is often included in the box or available as an accessory from the manufacturer. LPG conversion must be carried out by a licensed gasfitter in Australia. Never attempt to convert a gas appliance yourself as incorrect installation is dangerous and illegal.
Do gas cooktops need a rangehood?
Yes. Gas combustion produces water vapour, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of nitrogen dioxide. In an enclosed kitchen without ventilation, these accumulate and affect air quality. A rangehood removes combustion byproducts, cooking steam, and grease from the air, protecting your cabinetry and maintaining a comfortable cooking environment. In Australia, most building codes require mechanical ventilation for new kitchen installations with gas cooking appliances. Browse our rangehoods range for compatible models.
Are gas cooktops being phased out in Australia?
Some Australian states and territories are introducing policies to reduce new gas connections in homes, particularly in Victoria and the ACT. However, gas cooktops remain widely available and are fully supported in homes with existing gas connections. If you have a gas connection and prefer gas cooking, there is no requirement to switch. For new homes without a gas connection being planned, an induction cooktop is worth considering as the all-electric alternative.
