Nick SteenJul 20, 2023
WTL
There's a discussion in my family about which stove top element / burner is our preferred one. What do you all have to say, good people of #Mastodon? Thank you all for your answers and comments!
Front Left
35.3%
Front Right
35.3%
Back Left
23.5%
Back Right
5.9%
Poll ended at .
Jul 20, 2023 at 12:51amWeb
Show threadWayne DixonJul 20, 2023
@WTL I cannot answer this because I have specific burners for specific pans, not a preferred burner.
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@waynedixon So … there's no one burner you default to when cooking in *general*? Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I use the same burner and pot for 80% of my cooking. 🤣
Show threadWayne DixonJul 20, 2023

@WTL nope, I don’t default to a single burner. It all depends on what I’m making and therefore which pan I use.

As an example I have a dedicated pan for pasta sauce and that goes on the left back burner. The cast iron pan is front right, most other pans are left front, which is also the “power boil” burner.

Show threadJohn FrancisJul 20, 2023
@WTL front left, that's the one where I've learned the exact profile for frying eggs. Using a different burner, or a different pan would require me learning the specifics of that combo.
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@johnefrancis Don't mess with success, right?
Show threadTonya Marie 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 20, 2023

@WTL Front right has generally been the largest one in my experience, and therefore the one I use most often for most things. Front left is next, for when I need to make a sauce while something else is occupying the larger burner.

Back burners are almost entirely for things that just need to stay warm while everything else gets done. (Hence the phrase, "put that on the back burner").

Show threadKelly's Shenanigans 🇨🇦Jul 20, 2023
@WTL we have a weird stove with one big burner in the middle, and then 3 smaller burners around. I like the big middle one.
Show threadQuenbyJul 20, 2023
@WTL I'm in the minority here where I'm picking back right. I think it's due to me always having little kids around for so many years.
Show threadJon JenningsJul 20, 2023
@Quenby @WTL Ahhhhhh! I came to read the replies thinking "who are these monsters who prefer the rear burners??" and now I understand. Very smart move
Show threadCycling StuJul 20, 2023

@WTL I too am a "depends what I am doing"

(We have a 5 burner stove)

So, the wok burner gets used if I am boiling pasta or rice (or something that requires a big powerful burner)

There is the little one at the front for the "careful" tasks - the ones you can burn too easily

Its not really a "favourite burner" so much as a what is the right one for what I am doing here..

Show threadchestasJul 20, 2023

@WTL

We have different sized rings.

Front left is biggest and most powerful, and front right is smallest. We tend to use these the most depending what we're cooking. Back rings are medium and we hardly ever use back left.

I prefer the smallest, though it's not always the most appropriate

Show threadTim RichardsJul 20, 2023
@WTL @stufromoz Ours are arranged differently! Left, right, front, back. Most used is the big one on the right.
Show threadMark WhybirdJul 20, 2023
@WTL mine has a 5th long one in the middle, which is actually my preferred one for most things. And the front left is double-ringed so it is preferred over the other 3.
Show threadI love this, so IJul 20, 2023
@WTL @franksting whichever one is the biggest, front left in our case
Show threadAlex von KitchenJul 20, 2023
@WTL They're all the same on my induction stove, so i use the front two interchangeably because they are easier to access depending on the mess around the stove
If i had a dedicated wok burner it would be that one
Show threadRuth O’DayJul 20, 2023
@WTL
Next, can you survey the righty/lefty distribution in each category?
: )
Show threadrhizomatic arcadeJul 20, 2023
@WTL front left for me is the small cute one that is perfect for my cooking needs
Show threadJL RobersonJul 20, 2023
@WTL you can't decide it by sight, it has to be by touch
Show threadSean GillJul 20, 2023
@WTL I feel like I can’t answer this, it’s like naming your favorite child. The burners on my stove are different sizes and each one serves a purpose. Except back right. F that guy.
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@guitarsean Okay, this made me chuckle. 🤣
Show threadAmiW Streetart ❄️Jul 20, 2023
@WTL With back, left, it has a lot of room to work with in the front.... But what do I know
Show threadJorge StolfiJul 20, 2023

@WTL

Instead of left and right, you should have asked "closest" and "farthest" from the kitchen sink.

For me, that is the main criterion why I choose "left" by default.

Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@JorgeStolfi Some might prefer which burner is closest to the compost. 🤷🏻 🤣
Show threadJorge StolfiJul 21, 2023

@WTL

Or closest to the fire extinguisher.

Show threadAmbient SpongeJul 20, 2023
@WTL I chose back right as that's what I use, but it would be front right if it wasn't garbage.
Show threadsmegJul 20, 2023

@WTL

Our stove designates a particular burner as the "power burner" that should be used for the highest heat jobs. It's front left.

Show threadartisanroxJul 20, 2023

@WTL

I'm also a "depends on pan/food" thing. But most times I use front right. I use front left for some breakfast items...and that stat I can easily discount because I prefer to not have breakfast most times.

Show threaddownpunxxJul 20, 2023
@WTL Front Right Gang what what
Show threadCara BruarJul 20, 2023
@WTL only because it's the biggest.
Show threadblackbeard 🇪🇺Jul 20, 2023
@WTL I also got a central one and that's actually my favourite.
Show threadSeitansbratenJul 20, 2023
@WTL middle. My stove is: left front, left back, middle, right side one big top, but can be used separately front & back
Show threadschuelermineJul 20, 2023
@WTL on my stove they're all different sizes so which I use depends on what pot or pan I'm using
Show threadfukawi2Jul 20, 2023
@WTL Centre
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@phs I did try to go add an option for centre on the poll, but it appears it isn't possible to add a choice once it starts. I’ve never seen a five element stove before. Mind you, I don't pay that much attention to stoves in general. 🤣
Show threadRonald vd W.Jul 20, 2023
@WTL I have to add that I'm left handed so the left hand burner is easier to reach.
The front right one has more oompf so I primarily use that for one pot dishes.
Show threadAlan TrapulionisJul 20, 2023
@WTL Is front the one that's closer to you. I'm confuse
Show threadhelplessduckJul 20, 2023

@WTL

All five of the burners on my stove are drastically different. I prefer to work from the right front, but that sucker puts out some serious BTU's. It's not correct for a lot of things.

Show threadRichardJul 20, 2023
@WTL Front Right as it is the nearest and 1 of 2 bigger ones.
Show threadBen ZaninJul 20, 2023
@WTL I must tag in @kat for opinions here 👀↑↑
Show threadKrisJul 20, 2023
@WTL our conventional electric stove has an oven vent coming out of the rear right burner so I use it by default because, if there happens to be something in the oven, you get a some bonus heat. It’s free energy!
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@krssctt Good thinking! I think @TAV does that too.
Show threadTAVAloniaJul 21, 2023
@WTL @krssctt yes- it’s our back left burner- always take advantage of it for softening butter as the oven preheats when baking…
Show threadEric JenningsJul 20, 2023

@WTL the different burners have different outputs. And the layouts vary by range model.

So I think we need a reference to which model to pick for the poll.

Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@HitokiriEric It's a generalized question, all started by a meme one of my aunts sent the family.
Show threadKevin  Jul 20, 2023
@WTL Front right because that’s closest to my cutting board.
Show threadTAVAloniaJul 20, 2023
@WTL the fridge placement on the right of the stove features strongly in this choice, but so does being right handed ( as @WTL commented IRL)
Show threadMarielle QuintonJul 20, 2023
@TAV @WTL You can probably tell who has kids and who doesn't by the front vs back choices.
Show threadLadybugspicnicJul 20, 2023
@WTL back left.
I used to be all about front burns until little hands were around the stove...
Show threadPete Anderson 🚲Jul 20, 2023
@ladybugspicnic @WTL Front left here. No idea how none of the littles have been burned given how in to cooking they are.
Show threadLadybugspicnicJul 20, 2023
@dairpo @WTL I may just be overly paranoid. 🤷🏻‍♀️
Show threadWTLJul 20, 2023
@ladybugspicnic @dairpo My grandmother got a horrible burn from boiling water on the stove before I was born.
Show threadKirkJul 21, 2023
@WTL front left simply because it can be a large burner or small (electric)
Show threadDan Portales 🇲🇽 Jul 21, 2023
@WTL With a 6 burner stove the answer is a no brainer.
Show threadVeadaJul 21, 2023
@WTL My front right burner died years ago, the back left burner was next, then the back right. The front left works when IT wants to. So, I have a Farberware double burner, and a counter single burner that I use now. I can't afford a new stove, plus, I need to remodel my kitchen, but I can't afford that now, so this will have to do. For now.
Show threadLily LoweAug 24, 2023

@Vai Does your stove have electric heating elements that are basically spirals? If so, you can buy new elements for like $10-$15. You just unplug the old ones and plug in the new ones.

Not-a-Pro tip: Unplug the stove when you replace them. The first time I replaced one, I forgot to unplug the stove, and when I was removing the old element, I saw an electrical arc, then the kitchen power went off. I stood there blinking in the dark, scared, but grateful I didn't electrocute myself.

Show threadVeadaAug 24, 2023
@lilylowe It does have replaceable elements, but I honestly need a new stove. We've had it for a VERY long time. I'm happy you didn't injure yourself.
Show threadLily LoweAug 24, 2023

@WTL Whichever one is the most powerful. For my current and 2 previous stoves that's the front right. The two smaller, less powerful ones in the back are basically trivets. I set things that have been cooked on the front burners on them.

Now I feel sorry for the back burners. I've neglected them all these years, and being the inanimate objects they are, they obviously they feel it.