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Are you a gourmet cook that demands the finest in kitchen appliances, or a gadget junkie that has to have the latest thing, no matter what it is? Cooktops are one type of kitchen appliance that is seeing a lot of innovation recently. Read on to find out the latest and greatest.

Induction cooktops are one of the newest trends in home appliances. These cooktops use electricity, but are much more efficient and offer much more control than traditional electric cooktops. Fans say it has the control of gas with the convenience of electricity. Basically, the cooktop creates a magnetic field with your cookware and transfers the heat directly to the cookware and the food inside it. The result is that much more of the heat goes into the cooking instead of being lost to the air around the cooktop, so food heats up faster. Induction cooktops also cool faster than traditional electric cooktops, almost immediately, which can mean a safer kitchen as well. You will pay for being the first on the block with an induction cooktop, though. Prices start around $1500 for a 4 element unit. In addition, your pots and pans have to be magnetic, so if they're not, you'll have to buy new.

If you want new options, but affordability is an issue, many companies now offer hybrid cooktops with more than one cooking method available. You can get an electric cooktop that is half induction, half radiant (or traditional electric). That cuts the price in half, too. There are also new gas ranges with more power and electric warming elements in the same cooktop.

If your decorating style is modern, the 'honeycomb' cooktop from Kuppersbusch will get the neighbors talking. You can choose from 3-6 cooking zones and an endless combination of layouts. All the cooking zones and the control panel are hexagon, or honeycomb, shaped. It is a flat, electric cooktop that fits flush to your countertop.

Want to make omelets to order in the dining room? Or maybe you want to make more room in your kitchen for friends and family to pack up leftovers after Thanksgiving dinner? There are portable cabinets available with cooktops, microwaves and refrigerators that have wheels on the bottom to maximize your cooking possibilities.

No matter what your taste or style, whether you're remodeling the whole kitchen, or just replacing your stove, there is a cooktop trend for you.