The cooktop is a must-have appliance in every home, providing the key cooking capabilities required for a variety of delicious recipes. While many homeowners choose to incorporate a traditional electric cooktop or gas cooktop in their kitchen design, ceramic cooktops are also a popular choice.

Ceramic cooktops are smoothtop appliances that provide powerful, even heat with a contemporary design. These cooktops have their advantages and disadvantages, and to help you find the right appliance for your home, we’ve compiled some information on the pros and cons of ceramic cooktops.

Pros of a Ceramic Cooktop

There are a number of reasons homeowners choose to invest in a ceramic cooktop. One of the primary pros of these appliances is the added counter space that they provide. A ceramic cooktop features a flat surface that takes up less space than the coil burners on traditional electric cooktops or cast iron grates found on gas cooktops. Thanks to the flat surface, you can easily place pots, pans or other kitchen tools on top of your cooktop and even prepare ingredients on top of the unit as if it were a normal countertop.

Moreover, the smoothtop design ensures that ceramic cooktops are easier to clean than other types of models. You can easily wipe the remnants of any dish off your ceramic unit, just be sure to use the proper cleaning solution and wipe away carefully, as ceramic cooktops can be scratched easily.

Ultimately, the biggest pro of a ceramic cooktop is the modern aesthetic it brings to your kitchen. These units do not feature the unappealing coil heating elements found in common electric cooktops, and can be easily integrated into almost any kitchen design. If a contemporary and sleek kitchen style is your primary concern, you’ll definitely want to consider investing in a ceramic cooktop.

Cons of a Ceramic Cooktop

While ceramic cooktops are a great choice for many reasons, there are also several cons to these popular appliances. One of the biggest disadvantages to a ceramic cooktop is the fact that it can be easy to burn yourself on the appliances. The cooktop’s heating element becomes red when it’s turned on, and once it’s turned off, this red color will disappear. However, the cooktop will still remain hot as it cools down, even after the red color has gone away, meaning you need to be extra careful to ensure you do not burn yourself on the unit.

Another con of owning a ceramic cooktop is the fact that these units require the use of pots and pans with thick, smooth bottoms that some homeowners may not have. When heated, cookware with aluminum or copper bottoms can leave marks on the ceramic surface, and depending on the level of heat used, may be difficult or impossible to remove. Painted, enamel pots and pans can also stick to the ceramic surface, and when removed may crack the cooktop.

Generally speaking, ceramic cooktops are a bit more fragile than other models, and as a result require special cleaning procedures. Most manufacturers offers specialized cleaning solutions and tools to ensure that you don’t scratch your cooktop while cleaning, and the additional investment in these supplies can be frustrating for some homeowners.

Discover Superior Ceramic Cooktops For Your Kitchen

No kitchen is complete without a powerful cooktop, and a ceramic cooktop is a great choice for many kitchens. While these models do come with their drawbacks, the additional counter space and contemporary style provided by a ceramic cooktop make them an ideal addition to many modern kitchens.

Looking for a new ceramic cooktop? You can use this online collection of cooktops to explore your choices, or contact a home appliance expert for specialized service.