- The old standby of cooktops is an electric model with coils. Pots or pans sit on top of the coils, which heat food evenly and steadily. If you're looking for a trendy cooktop with a hip appeal, this isn't it. But if you want a dependable and inexpensive appliance, coil cooktops are a good option. They do have a couple of drawbacks: It takes more than just a swipe to clean these cooktops, especially after a pot has boiled over, but drip pans can be removed and cleaned in the sink or dishwasher. Also, the heating elements do burn out on occasion, and new coils must be purchased.
- Electric smoothtop cooktops are becoming more common in today's kitchens. These cooktops have a ceramic glass surface, with the radiant elements underneath. Because they are flat and smooth, they are easy to clean, although they require a special cleanser formulated for ceramic glass. The surface is not fragile, but it is vulnerable to scratches and even breakage from heavy pots and pans.
- Induction cooktops also have ceramic glass surfaces, but they use efficient electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans. This type of energy heats only the cooking vessel, leaving the cooktop itself much cooler. Induction elements heat up quickly, boiling water faster than a conventional cooktop, and they also cool down quickly, which makes them safer. This feature is appealing, especially to parents with small children. The technology, however, has a high price tag and also may require the purchase of new cookware, since induction cookware must be magnetic--iron or steel--to create heat.
- Gas cooktops tend to be favored by professional chefs and serious cooks, because temperature changes are quicker and more exact than with electric cooktops. When cooking with gas, chefs can simply look at the flame to make their adjustments. Gas cooktops are more energy-efficient than electric ones. They are not as easy to clean, although a model with sealed burners helps by preventing spills and boil-overs from getting underneath. With gas cooktops, there are no worries about fragility or periodic replacement of parts.
- The least expensive option is an electric coil cooktop, which can be purchased for several hundred dollars, as of 2009. Ceramic glass smoothtops are more expensive, with prices beginning at about $500. Gas cooktops in general are more expensive than electric ones, and those of the highest quality rival induction cooktops in price. Induction cooktops cannot be had for less than four figures.
