Electric cooktops are installed in your countertop, unlike a range in which the cooktop is on top of an oven. They have electric heating elements that glow red hot when power flows through them, either exposed or under glass.
When shopping for an electric cooktop, find one that fits your space: sizes range from narrow two-burner models to big 5-burner units. It’s good to have elements in a range of sizes and power levels for different cooking jobs. “Hot burner” warning lights and control lockouts are also desirable features.
The two main types of electric cooktops are coils - which are bare coils that pots sit directly on - or smooth-top cooktops that have heating elements under a sleek pane of durable glass, making it a breeze to clean up spills and splatters.
Popular brands of electric cooktops include Bosch, Whirlpool and KitchenAid. We carry these and more than a dozen other brands at Coast Appliances.