Glass-Ceramic Kitchen Range - Reliability and Durability

[Marc]

I've started to remodel my kitchen and I'm looking at ranges. I don't have natural gas (it's across the street and would cont over US$1200 just to get a line to the house), and I really don't have a place for a propane tank (as you might guess, I really prefer cooking with gas...) - So, I'm looking at electric ranges.

I went to a very high priced place to look at kitchens (believe it or not you have to have an appointment to talk to a sales person...). In part I stopped by there (you can browse any time) because a stove I was researching on the internet was cheapest there when I called around (cheaper than Sears, Home Depot and Lowes). I didn't see even 1 electric range there with coils.

Anyway, I've spoken with a lot of folks and most are really anti- glass-ceramic range tops, but most of the people are citing anecdotal information from others. Most are saying get one with standard 'coil' burners.

Do any of you have a glass-ceramic topped kitchen range? If so, your thoughts?

[Al Rosen]

Originally Posted by Marc

I've started to remodel my kitchen and I'm looking at ranges. I don't have natural gas (it's across the street and would cont over US$1200 just to get a line to the house), and I really don't have a place for a propane tank (as you might guess, I really prefer cooking with gas...) - So, I'm looking at electric ranges.

I went to a very high priced place to look at kitchens (believe it or not you have to have an appointment to talk to a sales person...). In part I stopped by there (you can browse any time) because a stove I was researching on the internet was cheapest there when I called around (cheaper than Sears, Home Depot and Lowes). I didn't see even 1 electric range there with coils.

Anyway, I've spoken with a lot of folks and most are really anti- glass-ceramic range tops, but most of the people are citing anecdotal information from others. Most are saying get one with standard 'coil' burners.

Do any of you have a glass-ceramic topped kitchen range? If so, your thoughts?

Have you considered the $1200 amortized over the life of the range as well as the cost and operation of gas vs electric ranges?

[Marc]

No, I haven't. Actually, I'm planning on rehabbing the whole house but have been sorta forced to start with the kitchen. If I was going to do it all at once like I originally planned, gas would less of an issue because a lot would be torn up anyway so plumbing in gas wouldn't be such a pain. I considered gas for a new furnace (currently have baseboard heat and like it OK)/central air unit. And I've considered a gas generator backup - Which is what first got me to investigate gas several years back.

The negative is natural gas (and I assume propane) has gone up a lot in price. I looked back at almost 10 years of electric bills from this house and electric has only gone up about 6% (I draw from Cinergy's Zimer coal fired plant east of Cincinnati). So - With my family and friends telling me their gas price increase woes over the last couple of years I've sorta stayed away from thinking about gas.

I prefer cooking with a gas range over an electric range.

[Claes Gefvenberg]

Originally Posted by Marc

Do any of you have a glass-ceramic topped kitchen range? If so, your thoughts?

Yep, I do, and it never entered my mind to even consider a "coil burner" when I bought it. Nobody, and I mean nobody buys anything but glass-ceramic tops around here these days.

I have not heard about one single mishap with them either. Quite the opposite: Several friends have told me about dropping frying pans and other heavy duty stuff on them and actually getting away with it.

If that is what is worrying you: Hesitate no more.

/Claes

[Marc]

Yes - Chipping / cracking and short element life were the main complaints. I'm thinking it's like the old turbocharger stories. At one time they were problematic, but any more they're very reliable. None the less, the old horror stories live on.

[Wes Bucey]

Originally Posted by Marc

Yes - Chipping / cracking and short element life were the main complaints. I'm thinking it's like the old turbocharger stories. At one time they were problematic, but any more they're very reliable. None the less, the old horror stories live on.

I, too, prefer gas and have it in my home. Fire laws prevented us from having gas at our business so we went whole hog for our kitchen there. We got a combination microwave/electric convection oven (terrific!) plus a range top with infrared units under tempered glass. We bought new cookware specifically to mate with the system (no "good old cast iron" fry pans and dutch ovens.) In 7 years, cooking 2 meals every shift, (28 meals/week), we never had a problem with either unit, despite some amateurs bungling around in the kitchen. The top was 100 times easier to clean than a gas range. It seemed to me we got almost as much heat variation by turning the knob as with gas and the burners did NOT carry residual heat for a long period like old fashioned electric coil ranges did. When we turned off the burner, the delay before it was cool enough to touch with a hand was about as long as for touching the pan support grid on a gas range.

[Randy Stewart]

After having a small bacon grease fire, I got rid of the coil stove. We've had the ceramic ever since and still use an 18" cast iron skillet too. I've had it for over 3 years now and haven't had to replace an element.

Now watch, I'll get home and the stove will fall apart!

[Craig H.]

I have one of the glass top ranges. I bought it when they finished building my house 3 years ago. I, too prefer gas, but the nearest natural gas line is a mile or two way, and I doubt the propane guys would want to try my hill in their truck.

Anyway, I have not had any problems, but I have to use a special cleaner to clean the glass, and it takes longer than it should, IMO. Also, the glass does show dust and crud a lot clearer than some other surfaces (and no, my kitchen is not a pig sty, but for some it may be an issue).

That said, compared to the other type of coil range it is superior by far.