If you're looking for a gas cooktop, rangetop, or range, you have a wide choice of burner materials
If you're looking for a gas cooktop, rangetop, or range, you have a wide choice of burner materials available to you. However, are aluminum burners or brass burners better for cooking? Which type of burner lasts longer? The experts at Appliances Connection are comparing the two burner materials so you can make an informed decision when you buy your next appliance.
While you can find gas cooktops, ranges, and rangetops in a wide variety of materials, including cast iron, copper, and stainless steel, the two most common types of burner are aluminum and brass. Aluminum is an element that is found in the earth's crust, and brass is an alloy of zinc and copper. These burners are heated by the gas vents in your cooktop, distributing heat evenly to your pots and pans.
In general, if you want a more durable burner material, you should look for brass burners in your gas cooktop. Aluminum burners tend to deform in extremely high temperatures, causing them to need replacement more often than brass burners. Brass, meanwhile, has a melting point of 1600° to 1700° F, much higher than even the hottest cooking temperatures in professional kitchens. This means it can stand up to extended heat for a longer period of time without bending or breaking. Brass is also less likely than aluminum to corrode and stain with time. Aluminum burners, on the other hand, require less maintenance and tend to be more cost-effective over time in terms of operating cost.
Because of the density of brass and the relative lightness of aluminum, the two burner materials have very different heating properties. Brass burners are very dense and heat up slowly. This can make your cooking slower (which can be a good thing, as cooking more slowly avoids scorching your food). They also retain heat for longer after your cooking is finished, which may be a burn hazard if you have young children or pets in the house. Aluminum burners, however, are lightweight, and they heat up and cool down very quickly. This enables you to cook foods that require quick temperature changes without having to move your dishes between burners.
This is the first difference most people notice in brass vs. aluminum burners, and it's important to note that the difference will be very visible in nearly any gas cooktop, rangetop, or range. Brass burners almost look like gold, and have a very striking appearance that may not coordinate well in kitchens that have a lot of silver. Aluminum looks like silver and is very shiny, allowing you to polish it to a perfect gleam, and can easily retain its color after use.
When it comes to price, there's a stark difference between brass burners and aluminum ones. Brass burners are nearly always more expensive than aluminum burners. This means that if cost is your primary consideration, you should consider aluminum burners. However, if you can afford to pay more for long-term durability, it may be worth it to make the investment in brass burners instead.
Are brass burners worth it?
In general, we find brass burners to definitely be worth the expense. Their durability and tolerance of high temperatures means that brass burners are ideal for cooking nearly any food. Brass burners don't need to be replaced or repaired as often, meaning you will generally spend less overall than you would to repair aluminum burners.
Do brass burners change color?
Yes, brass burners change color with time and exposure to heat. This can look like tarnish, but is in fact a harmless natural consequence of the material's exposure to air.