Gas vs Electric Cooktop: Which Is Better for Australian Homes in 2025?
The gas vs electric cooktop debate has been a fixture of Australian kitchen discussions for decades. In 2025, it has taken on new dimensions with the growing popularity of induction cooktops, rising gas prices and policy shifts encouraging all-electric homes. This guide compares gas, ceramic electric and induction cooktops to help you make an informed decision.
Three Types of Cooktops to Compare
When people say "electric cooktop" in 2025, they usually mean one of two types: ceramic glass (radiant electric) or induction. Both use electricity but work differently. Gas remains the third option.
Gas Cooktop
Advantages
- Familiar cooking: Instant, responsive heat that many cooks prefer
- Works with all cookware: Any pot or pan works on gas
- Visible flame: Easy visual feedback for heat level
- Lower upfront cost: Gas cooktops are often cheaper than equivalent induction
Disadvantages
- Higher running costs: Gas prices have risen significantly in NSW in 2024–25
- Indoor air quality: Gas combustion produces nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and other pollutants indoors
- Harder to clean: Burner grates and caps require more effort to clean
- Future-proofing: Many new apartments are being built all-electric; gas infrastructure is not guaranteed long-term
Ceramic Electric (Radiant) Cooktop
Advantages
- Low upfront cost: Often the most affordable cooktop type
- Easy to clean: Flat glass surface wipes clean easily
- No gas infrastructure needed
Disadvantages
- Slow heat response: Ceramic glass heats and cools more slowly than gas or induction
- Less energy-efficient: Heats the entire zone, not just the cookware
- Hot surface risk: Zone stays hot after burner is turned off
Induction Cooktop
Advantages
- Fastest to heat: Induction heats magnetic cookware almost instantly
- Most energy-efficient: Energy goes directly to the cookware, not the air around it
- Coolest surface: The glass only gets warm from the residual heat of the pot, not from the element itself
- Easiest to clean: Spills don't burn on — they stay cool enough to wipe off
- Precision control: Excellent for tasks requiring precise temperature (tempering chocolate, simmering sauces)
Disadvantages
- Cookware compatibility: Only works with ferromagnetic (magnetic-base) cookware — cast iron, stainless steel; not copper or aluminium
- Higher upfront cost
- Electrical requirement: Requires a dedicated circuit in many installations
Running Cost Comparison (Sydney, 2025)
| Cooktop Type | Energy Source | Efficiency | Relative Running Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas | Natural Gas | ~40% | Medium-High (rising gas prices) |
| Ceramic Electric | Electricity | ~65% | Medium |
| Induction | Electricity | ~85% | Low (most efficient) |
Recommendation for 2025
For new kitchens and renovations in Sydney in 2025, induction is the clear recommendation from an efficiency and running cost perspective. The upfront premium is recoverable over several years of operation and the cooking performance is excellent. For buyers who strongly prefer gas for cultural or culinary reasons, gas remains a valid choice but with awareness of the indoor air quality and rising gas cost considerations.
See Cooktops at Oceania Appliances
We stock gas, ceramic and induction cooktops from all leading brands in 60cm and 90cm. Contact us at support@oceaniaappliances.com.au or visit our Wetherill Park showroom. Open 7 days 10am–8pm.