Photo Courtesy of Dacor

The rangetop is where gas ranges truly shine. Gas flames react immediately to changes in temperature settings, giving you fairly precise control over the temperature when you're searing meat or simmering sauces. Most gas rangetops will have between four and six burners, and some models have one burner with more Btus to get hotter than the others (for searing) and a different burner with a low power level and low heat, optimal for simmering.

Something to Consider: Gas burners will either be sealed or unsealed. A sealed burner (see photo to the left) means that the area where the gas is ignited is covered. A rangetop with sealed burners is usually easier to clean, because food and dirt cannot fall into the ignition area.