Jade Cooktop

[CRUZMISL]

Hi All,

After much deliberation I decided to replace my old Dacor cooktop with the 36" 5 burner from Jade. This is not a well known company (what Lexus is to Toyota, Jade is to Maytag) so availability is an issue and I had to buy mine sight unseen. Hopefully this post can help others in a similar situation.

The unit went in without a hitch. I had to make the cutout larger but that was no big issue. I dropped it in, hooked up the gas, plugged it in and I was done.

The unit is very heavy with the grates probably weighing in as much as the cooktop itself. All burners have extra low simmer capability (see photo) and the most powerful burner is 18,000 btu. The knobs are stainless and the unit has a quality about it that my Dacor didn't possess. So far I am very glad I chose to go with Jade. I haven't cooked on it yet but I'm sure I'll be satisfied.

I'll eventually change the vent to a stainless model when the budget allows. I also noticed that the grates REALLY hold the heat. After I boiled a pot of water on the big burner the grate was still pumping out a good amount of heat even though the gas was turned off. I'll surely have to adjust my cooking style.

Joe

PS. Some cabinetry is missing below the cooktop. Didn't have time to reassemble after I was done cutting

Picture of cooktop with vent.

All The heaters on

This is the lowest setting available on all burners. Can't wait to melt some chocolate

[snowangel]

It looks beautiful! Be sure and let us know how you like it once you've broken it in.

[jsolomon]

Dude, showing those pictures to me is like waving crack in front of an addict.

[BryanZ]

I usually don't like cooktops but that thing looks sweet.

[ChryZ]

Amazing!

[CRUZMISL]

Thanks for the kind words.

I like to slow cook steel cut oats for oatmeal. I find they are really creamy when cooked slowly. On my old cooktop, I would stack 2 burner grates, put the simmer burner as low as it would go and I would still be too hot. It always created a burnt center and cooked too fast. The Jade allows me to cook as slow as I want without fear of scorching and no theatrics with grate stacking.

I also did some glazed carrots and I find the heat distribution very good. So far I am really satisfied. I had to post it here because only other foodies would appreciate it

Joe

Edited January 13, 2006 by CRUZMISL (log)

[UnConundrum]

I've had a Jade range for about 5 years now, and just love it. Build like nothing else on the market. I can open the oven door, and stand on it Highly recommended.

[NancyH]

CRUZMISL - I notice that you have a downdraft. We are planning to install a Bluestar cooktop with a 22,000 BTU burner, and hadn't even considered that a downdraft could work with a high BTU stove. How is yours working out and what kind is it?

[elfin]

Really neat! What kind of counters do you have? It looks like a stainless but hard to tell. Also, when one burner is on at a high level, does the heat conduct to the ajoining grate?

[CRUZMISL]

Nancy, the Bluestar is a professional cooktop and I wouldn't try the down draft system. Many makers of these systems specifically instruct not to use with professional ranges which is one reason I didn't buy one. I'm not too sure on their reasoning though. Mine is a Dacor which rises 9" and has a 1000cfm remote blower (located at the rear of the house).

My plan this summer is to upgrade to a Thermador UCV (or UVC-not too sure) which rises 15" out of the counter. This will catch more steam and odours. As it is it's extremely functional and blends in well with my decor but if I had a Bluestar I'd want a hood with a remote blower. This way it won't sound like an airplane is in your kitchen.

Elfin, I wish they were stainless but it's just plain old Formica. I hadn't checked the heat transfer but I am sure it would to some extent since the only single burner grate is the center burner. The other 2 are one piece.

[bunny]

is there a website i can look at to see there products for the home

[CRUZMISL]

is there a website i can look at to see there products for the home

←

here you go

Edited January 15, 2006 by CRUZMISL (log)

[NancyH]

Nancy, the Bluestar is a professional cooktop and I wouldn't try the down draft system. Many makers of these systems specifically instruct not to use with professional ranges which is one reason I didn't buy one. I'm not too sure on their reasoning though. Mine is a Dacor which rises 9" and has a 1000cfm remote blower (located at the rear of the house).

My plan this summer is to upgrade to a Thermador UCV (or UVC-not too sure) which rises 15" out of the counter. This will catch more steam and odours. As it is it's extremely functional and blends in well with my decor but if I had a Bluestar I'd want a hood with a remote blower. This way it won't sound like an airplane is in your kitchen.

Elfin, I wish they were stainless but it's just plain old Formica. I hadn't checked the heat transfer but I am sure it would to some extent since the only single burner grate is the center burner. The other 2 are one piece.

←

Is the Jade not also a professional model? I thought it was - sorry about that! We are planning a hood (probably a Vent A Hood) for our Bluestar. But if you are getting 18,000 BTU out of the Jade - how can a downdraft be adequate (that's what made me post in the first place - I had thought that we shouldn't even consider a downdraft with big BTUs)? What is UCV/UVC?

[CRUZMISL]

I don't think it's the burner output as much as the design og the unit. Going by memory, most "professional" units require the full 24" of cabinet. The downdraft vents take up about 3 inches or so. If you wanted to use it your cabinet would have to be at least 27" deep.

My vent works well but I don't stir fry etc so there isn't too much smoke. I'm happy with it for my needs but a hood would be better (obviously). It's a good balance between functionality and aesthetics.

Thermador Go here and see what I am talking about. It's th emodel of the vent that rises an extra 5 inches above mine.

Joe