BTUs Vs Temperature : Rangetops & Cooktops

Unlike electric cooktops, where the power is measured in an industry-standard watts, gas cooktops are often measure in either BTUs(British Thermal Units/hour) and temperature interchangeably. Both measurements provide an assessment of the rangetop or cooktops performance but can be confusing for consumers.

Basically, a BTU is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid from 60 degrees Fahrenheit to 61 degrees Fahrenheit when the atmospheric pressure is constant. If all burners were the exact shape and size, BTUs would be an accurate measurement of the burners performance. There are several other factors, however, that contribute to a cooktop burners performance, including the size of burner and the distance from the burner to the cooking vessel. This means that depending on the burner configuration, a 1200 BTU burner can achieve a lower cooking temperature than an 800 BTU or even 300 BTU burner.