Range hoods come in all different shapes and sizes and can be placed in numerous locations within the kitchen setting.
However, not everyone likes seeing the range hood taking up space in the kitchen throughout the day. So is it possible to find a variety of range hood that won’t be an eyesore?
The answer to this question is yes.
If you require a smaller cooking area, consider the best 30” gas cooktop with downdraft.
A downdraft rangehood integrated into the cooktop is ideal for sucking away all the smoke, steam, and pollutants that can irritate you or have a negative impact on your kitchen.
Let’s take a look at some of the options available to you.
Best 30” Gas Cooktop with Downdraft Reviews
1. Frigidaire FGGC3047QS
Thirty inches is not a lot of space on a cooktop, so you need to make sure that the cooktop makes the best use of the space overall.
This option from Frigidaire does just that, with five burners available to use and distributed across the cooktop in such a way that it will not look cramped if you want to use at least three of the burners at a time.
Differentiation in burner power is essential, as there are numerous cooking techniques that require a different level of flame.
In the middle of the cooktop, you will find an 18,000-BTU burner. Such a burner is ideal for broiling in large pots or cooking stir fry food in a wok. Additionally, if you want to sear meat, this burner gives enough power for you to do so.
Equally important in a low-power burner so that you can simmer. With this Frigidaire cooktop, there is a 450-BTU burner, which will let you simmer delicate sauces or keep something warm while it waits to be served.
Highlighted Features
1. Made from stainless steel for a corrosion-proof cooktop
2. Five burners of differing power across 30-inches let you sear or simmer
3. Easy to use controls at the front of the cooktop, located safely to avoid injury
4. Cast iron grates can be cleaned in the dishwasher for a simple cleaning process
2. GE Profile Series PGP9830DJBB
GE has created a cooktop with a built-in downdraft.
This downdraft will pull in all the smoke and pollutants from the air as you cook. The downdraft itself sits between two sets of burners, which is an ideal location for it to work effectively. It also means that it does not have to be raised from the back of the cooktop, which can, at times, look unsightly.
This cooktop comes with four natural gas burners. Consider buying this cooktop if you are someone who doesn’t need a very high-intensity burner for the type of cooking techniques that need such heat.
The most powerful burner on the cooktop has 11,500-BTU and sits front right. To the rear right is a 5,500 BTU burner. On the left-hand side of the cooktop, bot burners are 9100-BTU.
Overall, the look of this cooktop may be the reason you go for it, rather than the range of cooking styles you can manage on it.
With a black design and glass surface, it would look fantastic in any kitchen that has a modern aesthetic.
Highlighted Features
1. Stylish looking glass cooktop with downdraft and cast-iron grills
2. Four sealed burners with plenty of space to use all four simultaneously
3. Knobs located in an easy-to-use potion on the surface of the cooktop
4. Electronic ignition to quickly light the gas
3. Frigidaire Professional Cooktop FPGC3077RS
When cooking with heavy pots and pans, especially with a lot of food or liquid in them, it can be easy to injure or burn yourself. For this reason, you need a cooktop that will help you avoid such a painful scenario.
This Frigidaire cooktop comes with iron grades with the perfect design to help you slide pots from one burner to another. No heavy lifting on pans is required.
Frigidaire has used the space on the 30-inch cooktop to perfection. The center burner has 18200-BTU power making it ideal for searing using a griddle pan and boiling in huge saucepans. On the left-hand side of the cooktop, you will find two burners of 9500-BTU. The right-hand side sees a 500)-BTU burner at the rear and a 12,000-BTU burner at the front.
If you want a cooktop that allows you the most professional experience, this is the one for you. It has everything you need to cook like a top chef in a professional kitchen.
Highlighted Features
1. Range of power from five burners make simmering, sauteing, searing, and boiling a possibility
2. A mix of stainless steel and cast iron make this a durable cooktop for the long term
3. Cast-iron grates aid the movement of heavy pans, allowing for a smooth glide across the cooktop
4. Electronic ignition system allows you to get the burners lit quickly
4. FOTILE GLS30501
Fotile has created a 30″, five-burner cooktop that really has everything the adventurous home cook needs to experiment with a range of cuisines.
First up, we need to talk about the center burner, which comes with 21,000-BTU power. That is an extreme flame for cooking. Combine it with additional support attachments, and you have the perfect burner for wok-based cooking.
Additional burners include two 13,000-BTU power on the left-hand side of the cooktop. The left-hand side can also be converted to use a griddle. Griddles are perfect for cooking burgers, breakfast items, and hot sandwiches. On the right-hand side are your simmer burners, one offering 6000-BTU and the other 3000-BTU.
Safety should always be of paramount importance, so we were delighted to find that this burner comes with flame failure detection. We have had pots overboil and put out a flame when we were away from a stove, so this feature would have averted the disaster of gas filling the kitchen. It will also prevent gas leaks from happening at night, which is always a scary thought.
Highlighted Features
1. Cooktop designed to allow a griddle option if desired
2. High power 21,000 BTU center burner lets you cook like a professional
3. Flame failure protection keeps you safe from gas leaks hurting you and your family
4. Wok support attachment adds to the number of cooking styles you can achieve
5. GE PP9830DJBB
Yes, we know that the article headline screamed that we are looking at gas cooktops. However, there are some occasions where we find an option so useful that we feel the need to bring it to you even though it may not have been part of your initial consideration.
This cooktop is electric, not gas. But it is as good as any of the gas cooktop we looked at in this article so far.
With four cooking elements available, there is plenty of space for your pans.
The downdraft on this cooktop is of particular interest. When we cook, the style we use will impact the amount of smoke, steam, and pollutants that come off our cooking.
If you are gently simmering a sauce, is there any need for a downdraft using full power? The answer to this question is no.
Therefore, consider this cooktop with three downdraft speeds. It lets you control the noise and power coming from the downdraft, and that is undoubtedly to your overall advantage.
Highlighted Features
1. Three-speed downdraft gives you options that can be adjusted depending on cooking style
2. Safety features include a control lock to protect against unintentional cooktop activation
3. Hot surface indicator lights let you know when the cooktop is too hot to touch
4. 3000-watt element lets cooktop heat up quickly and provides a lot of power.
30” Gas Cooktop with Downdraft buying guide
If you’re looking for the best 30” gas cooktop with downdraft, then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve found many cooktops that meet your requirements. In this buying guide, we’ll tell you about some of the features you need to look out for.
Number of heating elements
You should be looking for 4 to 5 heating elements on your cooktop.
However, be mindful that 30-inches is not a lot of space at all. Therefore, if you go for a five-burner cooktop, it is unlikely you will be able to use all five at the same time.
What you do with a five-burner cooktop is increase your cooking options. That extra burner will either be a very high power or a special burner for simmering.
Other things to look out for on a cooktop are the options to use a wok, by adding attachments, or the option to add a griddle.
Power of Burners
Your cooktop will come with burners offering different power. Ideally, you will want at least one very powerful burner and one low power burner as part of the setup.
A high power burner is necessary if you want to sear meats or cook with large saucepans. Try to find a cooktop that has at least an 18,000-BTU burner.
Low power burners let you cook more delicate cuisine. Some cooktops offer a burner option as little as 450-BTU that lets you simmer very lightly.
If you don’t have this option available on the cooktop you like, then the lowest burner power should be between 3000 to 5000-BTU.
Downdraft Options
Downdrafts either come with one speed or multiple speeds.
It’s better to have options, as not all cooking techniques produce equal smoke, steam, or pollutants,
Check the downdraft options available and the power they offer.
Overall Safety
Gas leaks do happen. Find a cooktop that will shut off if the flame fails. This way, you can guarantee that your house will not fill with gas while you are away from the cooker.
Disasters can occur very quickly, and gas explosions are devastating. This isn’t a safety feature to miss out on.
Bottom Line
The best 30” gas cooktop with downdraft isn’t challenging to find if you’re looking in the right places.
All the cooktops we’ve looked at are making full use of the 30-inches on offer, whether they have four heating elements of 5.
A downdraft helps remove all those unwanted gases and smells from your kitchen. This helps to keep it clean and smell fresh.
If you have a limited kitchen space, then a 30″ cooktop is ideal as it won’t dominate the kitchen but still provides you enough options for incredible home cooking.