Westinghouse Induction Cooktop
WHI643BC
Product information
$2,599
Finance Options
Long term interest-free available
Interest-free available
4 cooking zones
PowerBoost, Hob2Hood and Pause functions
Residual heat indicator
Touch control
Electronic timer
Automatic switch off
Child safety device
H 46 x W 590 x D 520 mm
Manufacturer's Warranty:
2 year warranty.
There are pros and cons for both, it depends on personal choice and budget.
Most modern or minimalist kitchens have built-in appliances as part of the design. They offer space-saving benefits and a sleek, seamless appearance, yet they do tend to be more expensive to both buy and repair. Plus they are permanently installed in the kitchen so can’t be relocated.
Free-standing appliances are better suited to a more traditional or industrial kitchen design. These appliances require more floor space, but are generally more affordable and easy to install. Access for repairs is simple and if you move, you can take your favourite appliances with you.
There is no easy answer as people are motivated by different things.
A brand promotion with cost-savings may prompt a purchaser to buy only that brand’s appliances. One brand may have a particular type of refrigerator, another offers certain oven and cooktop functions, or there’s a type of dishwasher required, so the discerning buyer may choose to mix and match.
If opting for integrated or built-in appliances, different brand choices don't matter from a design perspective as many of the appliances will be hidden within kitchen cabinetry. With free-standing appliances, the look of different brands is more obvious particularly the stainless steel finishes or handle styles, so check these out before you buy.
The obvious benefit to a gas cooktop is that you’ll always be able to cook food, even in a power outage. Gas cooktops offer instant controllable heat (most professional chefs use gas) are very affordable and you can cook using any type of pot or pan on this cooktop. The downside is that if you are not connected to mains gas, you’ll have the hassle of bottled gas, and these cooktops are difficult to clean.
Induction cooktops, while more expensive to buy, offer the fastest, most precise heat. They are safer to use, more energy efficient than gas and because the surface never gets hot, are really easy to clean. However you won’t be able to use these cooktops in a power outage and you will have to make sure your pots and pans are induction-compatible.
Ceramic and induction cooktops look similar as they both have a flat surface made from glass-ceramic, which looks and feels like glass, but is much harder to break and withstands extreme heat. The fundamental difference is in the way they provide heat for cooking.
Induction cooktops have no flame burners or heating elements under the glass surface, instead electricity runs through coiled copper wires heating the pan, not the cooktop. Induction cooktops are higher priced but offer additional ‘safety’ and energy saving benefits & precise temperature control.
A ceramic cooktop contains heating elements under each control zone. The cooktop heats up first and then the pan. Induction cooktops use less energy, but certain pots and pans cannot be used on an induction cooktop. Ceramic cooktops are a more affordable, equally stylish option and have no restrictions around the pots and pans to be used.