Electric Smoothtop Cooktops

Electric cooktops with smooth ceramic glass are most popular

Smoothtop cooktops are the most popular choice. Electric burner elements are housed under a smooth ceramic glass surface, so the whole cooktop is seamless. Electric smoothtop cooktops are easy to clean (though special cleaners are recommended), and they cost much less than an induction cooktop. Reviewers do warn, however, that they stay hot long after power is turned off, and it's possible to crack the surface by dropping a heavy pot or pan on it.

Not all cookware is appropriate for a smoothtop cooktop -- your pots and pans need to have a perfectly flat bottom, without ridges or texture. If you notice the element cycling on and off frequently, it's a sign that your pan isn't conducting heat, and the glass cooktop is shutting off to prevent overheating.

The Kenmore 42732 (*Est. $630) gets top marks in reviews of electric radiant smoothtop models for cooking nearly as well as more expensive smoothtops. This 30-inch Kenmore has a ceramic glass top with four burners, one of which has a dual element to accommodate either a 6- or 9-inch pan. A 3,000-watt burner allows quick boiling, while the Simmer Select function keeps delicate sauces from scorching. Dishwasher-safe, removable knobs make cleaning easier, but you'll need to use a special cleaner, like Cerama Bryte, for the glass top.

We read one comment from an owner about the burner configuration -- that they would have preferred one of the larger burners in the back instead of both in front. A couple of owners say they had a hard time controlling simmering, but in professional tests, this wasn't a problem. This Kenmore cooktop also comes as the 36-inch Kenmore 42742 (*Est. $730). You get an additional 9-inch burner on this wider model, and the knob controls are placed in the lower center of the cooktop, rather than along the side. The 36-inch Kenmore also has a warming zone, which the 30-inch version does not. Both models come in four colors, including stainless steel. One caveat: We read more complaints about cracked glass for both Kenmore models than we did for most others (though this can happen to any smoothtop cooktop or range if a heavy pot or pan is dropped on it).

The more expensive Jenn-Air JEC9530BD (*Est. $800) performs well among electric smoothtops in reviews, and it is almost equal in performance to an induction cooktop. The few owner comments we found for this model were positive overall. Like the Kenmore above, this 30-inch cooktop has a 3,000-watt, 6- and 9-inch dual element, along with three other burners. However, unlike the 30-inch Kenmore, the Jenn-Air has a small 100-watt warming element, useful for keeping a small amount of butter melted or for keeping gravy hot without using up a cooking element. Other features include controls with ultra-high settings. These allow you to keep close control of high heat for searing, blackening and stir-frying, while ultra-low settings ensure that delicate sauces don't scorch. The Jenn-Air JEC9530BD has knob controls situated in the lower center portion of the cooktop and comes in three finishes: white, black and stainless steel.

The 30-inch GE Profile PP945BMBB (*Est. $1,050) is another glass smoothtop electric cooktop that gets good reviews for even heating. There's a 5- and 9-inch dual element, plus a high-power 6- and 9-inch burner. The digital touch controls are oriented along the side, as opposed to the knob controls on the cheaper Kenmore 42732 and Jenn-Air JEC9530BD cooktops. Cooking performance is good all around. The advantages here are the Profile's smooth controls and the two dual elements (most cooktops have one).

The 36-inch Jenn-Air JEC9536BD (*Est. $1,200) has a different configuration than some other 36-inch cooktops. The knob controls are lower on the panel, making room for a 2,700-watt, 9- and 12-inch dual burner in the center. People might prefer this center burner if they use large pots for braising or making soup. There's also a 6- and 9-inch dual burner (with 3,000 watts of power), a warming zone and two additional standard burners. This 36-inch Jenn-Air cooktop comes in white, black and stainless steel. However, the Jenn-Air brand has mixed repair ratings overall, according to owners.