Empava Built-in Glass Gas Cooktop 36 in

Overview

The Empava 36 inch glass gas cooktop carries five Italian made Sabaf sealed burners on tempered black glass: a 12,000 BTU dual ring, a 10,000 BTU, two 6,500 BTU and a 4,000 BTU. Overall size is 35.43 by 20.67 by 2.4 inches, dropping into a 32.83 by 18.66 inch cutout.

Two details separate this from a generic drop-in. It ships with both natural gas and LP nozzles, so propane conversion is a parts swap rather than a special order, and the burners light and burn without electricity once lit, which matters in a power outage or an off grid setup. The heavy cast iron grates run edge to edge and are dishwasher safe.

• 35.43 in wide, 32.83 by 18.66 in cutout
• Operates manually without electricity
• Mounts above Empava 24 or 30 in wall ovens
• Two year US based manufacturer warranty

Who it's for

Aimed at anyone replacing a 36 inch gas cooktop who wants a glass surface and a mix of burner sizes at a fraction of a name brand price. Skip it if your cooking depends on very low, finely metered simmer control or if your existing countertop opening is at the wide end of the 36 inch standard.

Pros and cons

Performance notes

Each burner has a flame failure thermocouple that shuts the gas off if the flame goes out, which is the safety feature most often missing at this price. The sealed burner design keeps spills on the glass surface instead of inside the burner box. Real world flame behavior varies by unit and by fuel, since LP and natural gas orifices meter differently, and glass tops also radiate less heat back at the pan than a stainless deck.

Specifications

Closest rivals on specs

Frigidaire Professional FPGC3677RS Gas Cooktop 36 in

AMZCHEF 5-Burner Gas Cooktop with Griddle 36 in

GASLAND CH905BF34A 5-Burner Electric Cooktop 36 in

• Voltage 110 vs 220 volts (-50%)