<p>I cook every night and a couple of times a month for large groups. I’ve had a glass top stove for maybe 15 years now and would never go back to coils. Gas is not an option. Not only is glass top much easier to keep clean but it looks better and works great. Only problem is it needs to be replaced now and I don’t know what kind to get. Present one is a Jennair and although it works well, the knobs need to be replaced too often.</p>
<p>Anybody have recommendations for a brand and model?</p>
<p>I have a Jenn Air and have not had a problem keeping it clean. There are many new products on the market that make the job easier. Pans must be of good quality and perfectly level/flat on bottom to heat effectively. Once you get used to the settings, you can cook fine with electric. The newer units have burners to quickly boil water, or to simmer a delicate sauce. I’ve have had problems with the knobs on my JennAir, too. I enjoy baking more than cooking and the Jenn Air convection oven is great for baking. If I were ready to replace, I’d consider a smooth top again, but I’d check Consumer Report for the top rated brands as there seem to be new features and updates every year.</p>
<p>I love my glass top range. It sure beats cleaning the old coil things. The only thing I found I needed to do was have FLAT bottom pans. My Farberware had a slight bow in the bottom and the pans didn’t heat up very well. SO…I just bought new pots and pans (and gave the Farberware to my college grad who lives with a coil stove). It’s not very hard to keep these things clean…just wipe off immediately after it cools. The stovetop cleaner is very easy to use, and you only need about a dimes size bit.</p>
<p>I would love to have gas but I’m not interested in propane which is how I would need to have it here.</p>
<p>I got rid of my calphalon pans when we got the glass top cooktop. They weren’t flat enough. You most definitely need flat pans to cook consistently on it. My only big complaint is how fragile it is, our first one cracked in under a year when I dropped a heavy pan on it. We were able to continue to use the portion of the cooktop that wasn’t cracked but it was a pain when we I needed all 4 cooking spots.</p>
<p>
Just be careful using a razor. I also occasioanlly use a razor for the tough stuff, but always use a new razor. If the razor scratches the surface you have the start of something that might eventually turn into a crack.</p>
<p>Funny, I have a Jenn-Aire glasstop (mostly LOVE IT) and just bought new Calphalon pans (when D2 moved into an apartment and I gave her my old set) and they work great. </p>
<p>I use Bar Keepers friend (powder) and have never needed or used a razor blade.</p>
<p>The pans that I use on my stove are these:</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Nonstick Hard-Anodized 12-Inch Everyday Pan with Medium Dome Cover: Kitchen & Dining](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Classic-Nonstick-Hard-Anodized-Everyday/dp/B000EP4AMK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1309013895&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-Classic-Nonstick-Hard-Anodized-Everyday/dp/B000EP4AMK/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1309013895&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>If that helps. I’m slowly replacing all my regular pans with ones from that set because they are just awesome. I would never use a razor on my stove top. One bottle of Barkeepers Friend lasts a very long time.</p>
<p>I use Softscrub on my glasstop stove. I also use it for my sink so I always have it. A magic eraser does pretty well too. My pans are Analon, very similar to Calphalon and they work very well.</p>
<p>And my Calphalon are very similar to fendergirls Cuisinart line. The bottoms are flat and they work very well. I have been buying one at a time on eBay or Amazon, or Williams-Sonoma on sale. First new pans in 30 years. (The glasstop is 20 years and counting). I love them and have no problems with them on my glasstop.</p>
<p>Just keep in mind that if your flattop stove is a convection surface, you need to purchase pans that can attract a magnet!</p>
<p>I much prefer my glass top GE over the coil type I had previously. I find it much easier to keep clean than the coils! I cook dinner every night but am not big on the cooking thing, so probably don’t use it as much as someone who is a “foodie”. That said, I’m sure I’d like having a gas cook top but that won’t be happening while we’re in this house (20 years with a handful to go).</p>
<p>I’m guilty of using the razor once or twice. Worked great for me. However, I think I’ll try and find Barkeeper’s Friend. Never tried that. Every night after I use the cooktop, I sponge it, sometimes use magic eraser and always follow up with a quick windex swipe.
Mostly, it looks pretty good, still after 5 years.</p>
<p>[Where</a> to Buy Bar Keepers Friend | All Purpose Cleaner](<a href=“http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/where-to-buy]Where”>Where to Buy - Bar Keepers Friend)</p>
<p>Hope that helps. It’s great and doesn’t have bleach in it (which is a smell I do NOT want in my kitchen.)</p>
<p>My grocery store sells it in the aisle with cleaning supplies.</p>
<p>I cannot believe so many think cleaning a glass top is a PITA. I usually just spray with Glass Plus after it’s cooled down and wipe with a paper towel. If DH has made big mess I use Weimans cooktop cleaner. Rarely need to scrap with a razor. </p>
<p>I have a Bosch and it’s heats quickly. </p>
<p>If I could have gas I would but the glass top is so much better than electric coils.</p>
<p>“convection surface”</p>
<p>Hadn’t thought of that thumper1! Most of my pans are my mom’s Revereware that she god as wedding presents in 1950. The two newer items (one Revereware one not) are probably the only things that are flat enough for a glass top. But everything is steel, so convection might work fine.</p>
<p>No news yet from the seller’s mortgage company, so this stove may not end up being my problem anyway!</p>
<p>I have had a Kitchen Aid glasstop for 15+ years and the surface looks as good as new. One tip given to me years ago was to wipe the surface down to remove any spillovers etc and then spray and wipe down with PLEDGE furniture polish. It is amazing the shine that results and no streaks.</p>
<p>I hate glass tops with a passion. I consider them to be tinkertoys when it comes to real cooking. :)</p>
<p>Consolation…some of us don’t have natural gas, and propane is a PITA. I’d love a gas stove, but not propane which is all I can get here. My glass top actually regulates MUCH better than the old coil burner electric stoves…and it is WAY easier to clean. If I have to have electric, I’ll take the old “tinker toy” :)</p>
<p>HappyMom- Is there anything gas-operated in the house - water heater, furnace, etc?
When we were house-hunting it was a deal-breaker if there wasn’t a gas stove in the kitchen or some way to run a gas line into the kitchen so that we could have a gas stove. We both like to cook and HATE the unresponsiveness of electric stoves. It cost us only $500 to have the gas line extended to the kitchen and we bought a new gas cooktop when we moved in. (the separate oven is electric, and that’s OK)</p>
<p>I grew up with an electric stove and we recently got a glass top. I had a gas while I was at school and HATED it. <em>shrug</em> Hearing someone describe an electric as unresponsive or harder to clean <em>blows</em> my mind. Our new glass top is a dream compared to our old stove or the gas one I had at school.</p>