You probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that many wood stoves have flat surfaces on top that heat up nicely and can be used for cooking, but have you ever seen someone cook on a fireplace insert?
It's true that most inserts are designed to fit fully into the firebox, sitting flush with the surround, so there isn't space for a frying pan on top, but some manufacturers are offering inserts that stick out a bit, creating a shelf area on top, which you can cook on. This can be great if you want the option of cooking with a wood fire when the power is out (or if you just want to cut down on electricity usage and you're heating with wood already). You can have that added use without buying a stove that sticks out into the room (if you've got a fireplace and chimney anyway, it's a bit silly to stick a stove in front of it).
Here are some pictures of inserts with cooking surfaces:
The Lopi Republic 1750 fireplace insert comes with a cooktop and can completely heat a medium-sized home or provide zone heating in large houses.
Lopi StovesThe Regency I 2400 Wood Fireplace Insert also includes a cooktop space on top. It can heat up to 2,000 square feet, and can go 8 hours between load times, so have this puppy warming your home all night and then fry some eggs on the cooktop in the morning!
Does anyone have any other companies and models of fireplace inserts with cooktops that they'd recommend?
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