Now that we’ve cleared up the difference between a rangetop and a cooktop, it’s time to start considering the finer details, starting with what an electric cooktop is and why you should consider one in your kitchen. While we’re willing to bet most of you have encountered these cooking appliances before, knowing how electric cooktops compare to gas and induction models will ensure you equip your kitchen with a cooking setup suited for your cooking needs and your budget.
It all starts with this buying guide, featuring the best electric cooktop from eight categories, picked with every kind of buyer in mind. Discover the details below!
At a Glance:
Our Best Electric Cooktops Picks
What is an Electric Cooktop?
Often, cooktops are mistaken for the upper portions of ranges (which are more correctly referred to as stovetops). Other times, cooktops are used to describe any kind of cooking appliance installed into a countertop. But unlike rangetops, which also install into the counter, cooktops fit directly into a counter with their controls parallel to the surface.
By contrast, rangetops feature an exposed anterior lip panel with front-control knobs, and instead of installing into a closed cutout within a countertop, they slide in like a peninsula.
Electric cooktops come in three varieties:
- Electric coil: Ceramic coil heating elements use electricity to transfer heat directly to cookware. This is the most traditional electric cooktop variety, as well as the cheapest on the market.
- Smooth top: Ceramic glass spans across the entire cooktop surface for a sleek and modern look that’s also low maintenance.
- Induction: Although considered its own category, induction cooktops use electricity to power electromagnetic waves and heat up cookware.
Additionally, cooktops range in sizes from 15 inches all the way up to 36 inches, with anywhere between two to six heating zones.
Related: Our Best Electric Range Picks
Benefits of an Electric Cooktop
Compared to gas and induction models, electric cooktops are the more affordable and widely available option in the industry. Virtually every cooking appliance brand carries an electric-powered cooktop in its catalog, while not every brand might have a gas or induction option. That makes these appliances extremely brand-accessible, regardless of your budget.
Here are a few other perks that come with owning an electric cooktop:
✓ Newer glass top models are sleek, modern, and easy to clean
✓ Most models run on a standard 220-volt outlet
✓ No need to install a gas supply line
✓ Electric cooktops emit less heat than gas and therefore require less ventilation
Keep Learning: Exploring the Types of Range Hoods
Our Best Electric Cooktops Picks
Eight standout electric cooktops were chosen from our catalog. Here’s what each has to offer.
Best Overall: GE® 30" Stainless Steel on Black Electronic Cooktop (JP3030SJSS)
Two heating element sizes on this GE electric cooktop with four cooking zones provide the versatility for cooks both casual and curated to create memorable meals with ease. We recommend it for its clean design, standard space-friendly profile that fits in most kitchens, and GE’s trusted reliability with over 100 years of innovation to its name. Meanwhile, product testers give this 30-inch cooktop’s powerful heating options and precise controls an impressive overall 9/10 buyer recommendation.
Features:
- Power Boil elements
- Hot surface light indicators
- Keep Warm setting
- Melt setting
Best Value: Samsung 24" Black Radiant Electric Cooktop (NZ24T4360RK)
While this 24-inch Samsung electric cooktop is especially useful in tight kitchen spaces, its flexible cooktop design is convenient for virtually any size cooking space. The addition of a Dual Element burner gives you the flexibility to heat smaller and larger cookware up without having to switch burners. A completely flush, black-glass cooking surface with touch controls captures the spirit of modern edge in a presentation full of personality—just like your favorite dishes.
Features:
- Dual Element
- Hot Surface Indicator light
- Touch controls
- Integrated kitchen timer
- Child lock feature
Best Luxury: Wolf® Transitional 36" Stainless Steel Electric Cooktop (CE365T/S)
Splurge a little with this 36-inch electric cooktop from Wolf that satisfies your craving for a deluxe cooking arrangement. A chameleon of the kitchen, this model features five heating elements, but with expandable rings and bridging burners, there are up to nine different ways to prepare meals on this high-end electric cooktop. Paired with the gentle performance of true simmering and high-frequency pulsation technology with superior heat control, the only element missing is your passion for creating culinary masterpieces.
Features:
- Ceran ceramic diamond glass surface
- High-frequency pulsation technology
- Bridge zone elements
- Melt setting
- True simmer setting
Best 24 inch Electric Cooktop: Whirlpool® 24" Black Electric Cooktop (WCE55US4HB)
Squeeze a compact cooking solution into your smaller kitchen’s mix with this 24 inch electric cooktop from Whirlpool. The simple setup is ideal for the occasional home cook, featuring four heating elements, including a FlexHeat Dual Radiant zone that expands up to 10 inches. When dinner prep is done, simply wipe the easy-to-clean surface for cleanup that’s quick and easy on the elbows.
Features:
- FlexHeat Dual Radiant element
- Easy-Wipe ceramic glass
Best 30 inch Electric Cooktop: Frigidaire® 30" Black Electric Cooktop (FFEC3025UB)
At under $750, this Frigidaire electric cooktop is a bargain with a cool, modern design that says luxury. Its 30 inch electric cooktop size fits most kitchen layouts, complete with four burners, including a SpaceWise expandable element and Quick Boil technology, for a versatile bundle of function and style home cooks of all levels can appreciate.
Features:
- SpaceWise expandable element
- Quick Boil element
- Ready-Select controls
- Hot surface indicator
Best 36 Electric Cooktop: Samsung 36" Stainless Steel Electric Cooktop (NZ36K6430RS)
Upgrade to a 36 inch electric cooktop like this sophisticated model from Samsung to unlock even more space for getting creative with your cuisine. Enjoy a variety of heating zones, including a triple burner heating element that expands to heat cookware up to 12 inches, low-heat melt burners, and a warming zone that keeps side dishes ready while you finish the rest of your feast. In total, five heating elements allow you to multitask with ease, while an easy-to-clean glass surface and dishwasher-safe knobs make cleanup a breeze.
Features:
- Triple burner
- Dual burners
- Rapid Boil technology
- Wi-Fi compatible
Best 2 Burner Electric Cooktop: KitchenAid® 15" Black Electric Cooktop (KECC056RBL)
Looking for a little more cooking freedom? Free yourself from constant pot swapping and overcrowded cooking zones with the addition of a 2 burner electric cooktop to your kitchen. We recommend this KitchenAid electric cooktop to fulfill all your supplementary cooking needs, featuring a duo of multi-size heating elements on a slim 15-inch frame. Crafted with a sleek look and a low-maintenance glass surface, this compact cooking appliance will fit right in with your kitchen’s contemporary design.
Features:
- Hot surface indicators
- Frameless ceramic-glass surface
- Color-coordinated color knobs
Best 5 Burner Electric Cooktop: LG 30" Black Electric Cooktop (LCE3010SB)
Staying ahead of meal prep is as simple as cooking on this 5 burner electric cooktop from LG. While this model comes in a 30-inch frame, five heating elements give you the liberty to cook even more in less space. Whip out your favorite skillet or pan and delight in Steady Heat technology that makes cooking easy, precise, and intuitive, while a combination of triple and dual ring heating elements accommodate cookware of practically any size.
Features:
- Steady Heat technology
- Triple heating element
- SmoothTouch controls
Our Selection Process
With so many options on the market, how did we make our picks? It all comes down to these three major factors.
Cooktop Elements
It’s pretty standard for 30-inch cooktops to use four burners, while 36-inch models feature five and sometimes six heating elements. It’s tempting to opt for the most cooking zones possible, but there’s an art to the configuration. Bad design leads to overcrowding, which is not only an inconvenience but a potential danger, too. For our picks, we heavily considered how the elements are arranged to ensure minimal traffic jams (if any) during cooking.
Cooking Flexibility
Flexible heating elements are essential for reducing cooktop cramming, so much that we’d go as far as to say full-size models should always have the option. Dual-zone heating elements are the standard, but triple-zone heating elements are especially convenient.
You can also take a cue from the bridging element on our luxury electric cooktop choice. This pairs two adjacent burners into a “heat landing strip” that accommodates oblong cookware like roasting pans.
Cooktop Features
Electric cooktops are sparse when it comes to features, but every once in a while, they’re surprising. Along with bridge elements mentioned before, we tend to prefer no-touch controls over knobs since they’re the easiest to clean. Otherwise, dishwasher-safe knobs are a huge plus. And while not a necessity, we enjoyed smart cooktops with Wi-Fi connectivity like the one featured on our best 36-inch electric cooktop, making it possible to monitor the appliance remotely and activate a range hood.
How Do They Compare? | Gas vs. Electric Cooking Appliances
Top Electric Cooktop Brands
There are many home cooks that have made the transition to alternative cooking methods, but these three electric cooktop brands show why radiant heating is still a contender.
KitchenAid Electric Cooktops
Besides being known as a leader of small appliances, the KitchenAid brand is also a formidable producer of electric cooktops crafted exclusively with low-profile designs to match modern aesthetics. Notable features include Even-Heat Technology for some of the most precise electric heating on the market, flexible heating elements for a cookware-friendly cooking setup, and downdraft electric cooktops for a completely sleek look in the kitchen.
Whirlpool Electric Cooktops
As one of the more affordable electric cooktop manufacturers on the market with four-burner cooktops starting at $779, Whirlpool is a benchmark brand recommended to shoppers looking for reliability that doesn’t break the bank. You might be surprised to know Whirlpool is KitchenAid’s parent brand, meaning fans of KitchenAid’s sleek style might appreciate Whirlpool’s similar look at a lower price point. For the best use out of these cooking appliances, look for models with FlexHeat radiant heating technology that creates a dynamic cooking surface for pots and pans in a variety of sizes.
Frigidaire Electric Cooktops
Three distinct cooktop series can be found from the Frigidaire family: Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, and Frigidaire Professional. Core models feature a clean design with expandable element rings, while upgraded electric cooktops showcase more with quick-boil features, precision knobs, and bridging elements for a new-age cooktop experience crafted to keep up with your growing cooking skills.
Electric Cooktop FAQs
Q: How does an electric cooktop install?
A: A cooktop is inserted into a cutout made in a countertop. The appliance simply drops in, and all that’s left to do is plug into a power source to start cooking.
Q: How can I tell the difference between induction and electric cooktops?
A: On traditional electric coil cooktops, the difference is pretty obvious, but determining an electric cooktop versus an induction cooktop is harder with smooth top models. In terms of mechanics, both use electricity to heat coils beneath the surface, but the difference will be that electric models produce ambient heat, whereas induction cooktops are virtually cool to the touch.
Additionally, many inductions feature touch controls, but this isn’t exclusive to the category since many newer electric options are starting to integrate the design, too.
Q: How do I clean an electric cooktop?
A: The first rule to remember is to clean messes as they happen. On coil models, we recommend waiting until the element is fully cool before removing and cleaning the burner plate. Ceramic glass cooktops cool down quicker, but for safety, wait until the heating zone is cool enough to handle. The key is to handle messes before they become stuck on.
For glass top cooktops, avoid abrasives, cast iron materials, or sharp objects when cleaning. Typically, a special cleaner is all that’s required, while some users suggest natural buffers like baking soda and vinegar to break down stuck-on messes.
Why Trust Us?
It wasn’t easy, but we’re proud to be able to say we’re Washington’s largest independent appliance dealer. The secret to our success? Unlike big-box stores, Albert Lee Appliance counts on something even big money can’t afford: time and experience. While the other guys can count on maybe 60 years in the business, our family-owned company spans over 80 years (and going strong), adding new and valuable insight to our day-to-day operations with each new generation.
In other words, we don’t just supply home appliances. We deliver, install, and even service what we sell, allowing us to confidently recommend the right products for our buyers’ needs. Our presence in the Puget Sound area since 1939 has also made us neighbors in your communities, meaning we’re committed to providing the best deals around with quality service on a person-to-person level.
Our product reviews are always conducted with you in mind. So, whether you’re shopping on a budget, are seeking the latest in innovation, are all about style, or just want something reliable, we hold true to the qualities our shoppers value in order to recommend top-performing appliances from our catalog.
Shop Electric Cooktops at Albert Lee Appliance
Your answer to reliable cooking appliances starts at Albert Lee Appliance. Whether it’s an electric cooktop or otherwise, we’re stocked full of quality appliances suited for your home’s unique needs.
Shop online or by visiting one of our appliance showrooms throughout the Puget Sound, including locations in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, and Lynnwood.