If you are thinking of safety and time as essential elements in your kitchen, it would be best to choose the equipment that meets your needs and preferences. Please don’t freak out; we understand it is hard to know which one is great when comparing an electric range coil vs a smooth top.
By the end of this article, you should already have a decision on what suits your needs. The electric range coil appears as a spiral of flattened metal with an embedded electric wire that conducts electricity to heat the coil.
The smooth top has coil burners sitting underneath the glass and ceramic top surface. The wires inside the metal heat the coils, which in turn heats the glass surface. Maintenance, pricing, and technology differentiate them.
Smooth top-range benefits and reservations
Sometimes ceramic cooktops or glass cooktops are the latest. These appliances are more convenient and efficient and offer faster heating, more cooking power, and a sleek, low-profile design. They are excellent in easy cleaning, and high-tech safety features, and require simple installation. They feature heat indicators that show when the stovetop is hot. Induction cooktops don’t heat until a pan has been placed.
Pros of Smooth Surface Cooktops
- They are tempered and built to withstand heavy use
- Smooth surface cooktops have a sleek design giving a modern and updated look
- They have bridgeable elements that combine two side-by-side elements into one long element
- These come in a broader range of styles, colors, and feature packages
- These cooktops have more surface burners
Cons of smooth surfaces cooktops
- Scratched glass from rough-bottomed pans or even cracked glass
- They require careful and non-abrasive cleaning
- They need electricity to function
- Smooth surface cooktops take some time to cool down after use and it is difficult to determine if it is still hot
- They are prone to discoloration
Glass top stove vs coil efficiency
Coil burners conduct heat more efficiently than glass top stoves. The glass top stove tends to cool down faster as glass covers the coils while the exposed metal on the coil burners retains heat. The glass top stove also promotes even cooking because they are level while coil burners have some tilted elements.
Glass top stoves will automatically adjust the burner size to the pan size offering additional energy savings.
Types of Electric Stovetops
Choosing the best cooktop depends on your cooking habits and the needs of your lifestyle. There are three types of electric stovetops to select from, including coil cooktops, induction cooktops, and smooth cooktops.
Coil cooktops
As it sounds, coils sit on the top of the cooktop surface or in a recessed cavity. They are more vulnerable to spills. They are very affordable and durable, so you don’t have to worry about damaging them.
Smooth cooktops
They feature radiant elements, like coils, installed beneath a smooth and easy-to-clean glass surface. These cooktops heat evenly and quickly. These will blend perfectly and seamlessly into your kitchen.
Induction cooktops
They operate on electricity but utilize electromagnetic energy and offer superior temperature control. These cooktops produce heat when compatible cookware touches the surface. The technology installed helps the burners reach high temps in half the time other cooktops take.
Coil top range benefits and reservations
These electric ranges are affordable for tight budgets and easy to repair. These have a standard feature known as sensi-temp technology that keeps the pan from getting hotter. They have a choice of replacing the heating elements and drip pans if issues arise. They conduct heat efficiently.
Pros of Coil Top Range
- They are durable because they are not fragile
- Coils heat up quickly
- Special cookware is not required; they can use most materials even aluminum
- They feature four standard burners, some smaller some larger making them flexible
Cons of Coil Top Range
- Once they get hot it takes time to cool down
- They are hard to clean
- They do not work without electricity
- The coil connection hidden within the stove can loosen without your knowledge
Coil Electric Stovetop
They come in different inches so you have a variety to choose from. You have so many brands and colors to select from. The surface can either be a coil or a smooth surface. They have several features such as:
- Hot surface indicator lights
- Bridge elements
- Dual/ triple elements
- ADA compliant
- They have a timer and are smart-compatible
Coil Types Cooktops
Levels of heat are controlled by dials causing a variety of resistance. After that, temperatures will rise and fall accordingly but with a significant time lag.
Coil Type Ceramic-Glass Cooktops
Coils connect to the cooktop’s underside, formed from a particular type of tempered, semi-crystalline glass. They are much thinner than old coils. These are formed into a zigzag-shaped wire ribbon made from nichrome material.
Electric Coil Cooktops
Cookware sits directly on the coil. The material beneath does not oxidize, preventing the coil from burning out or breaking. Sometimes they can work loose from connectors.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing Cooktops
- The number of cooking zones and cooktop size.
- Elements depend on how often you cook or how large your family is.
- Your budget and aesthetics depend on the theme and color scheme of your kitchen.
- Kitchen design and amount of space available.
- Whether the cooktop is equipped with downdraft exhaust.
- Availability of hot-surface indicator lights to alert when a cooktop is hot to touch, hence providing safety.
- If you want to use the cooktop, for a baker you may choose one with a simmer element. This allows consistent heat flow for melting ingredients like butter or chocolate.
Differences Between Cooktops and Ranges
| Cooktops | Ranges |
| Knobs and buttons are on top of the counter | Knobs and buttons are on the front to avoid getting in the way of pans and pots while cooking. |
| Cooktops take up counter space but leave the base cabinet space available for storage | Ranges come in standard widths and fit into a cabinet opening |
| Cooktops allow the creation of separate cooking and baking zones | All cooking functions are in one location |
| With a separate cooktop and oven, you can replace them individually | If one component breaks, you must replace both functioning parts that is the oven and stovetop |
| They have only one power burner alongside 3 or 4 secondary burners | They have all power burners |
| Do not contain a built-in griddle or a grill | They feature a griddle or a grill |
Benefits of Cooktops
- They provide dual full-size oven capability
- Adaptability in kitchen configuration
- Flexibility in sizes
- They are easier to clean
- You can have different stovetop and oven widths
Benefits of Ranges
- The design statement is good for kitchens needing a focal point
- They are sturdy and can handle heavy use
- They are affordable
- More efficient in terms of space for small kitchens
- Ranges are easier to install and cost-effective
The cooktop range ultimately depends on your preference, kitchen design, and budget. Coil tops are popular and are still in use; however, some choose to upgrade to a smooth top range. Several ranges have distinguishing features that make them unique.
Understanding the differences between them can help you make better choices for your family. Long-wearing and durable ones should be the way to go instead of replacing them once in a while. Better handling, maintenance, daily use, and cleaning are ways to take care of them.
