little OT...cooktop types?

[hsmamato2]

anyone have some advice? I had a coil burner electric stove- then we got a smooth glass top (it was free and almost new) after less than 2 years, it developed one crack,which of course is spreading spiderweb style all over the place- I know we aren't supposed to use it,but we've been using it carefully while trying to decide on a new model.
any suggestions? I like the cleanability of the smoothtop,but don't think it can stand up to our usage,cast iron,etc.(still don't know how it broke)
I hate the old coils,but they stand up for years of use.
I really love my heavy cast iron and stainless cookware too.
So I'm looking for suggestions and opinions on a heavy duty family stove-
I've looked in stores,etc. Do smoothtops vary in their durability? like cheap vs expensive = more durable?

[BettinaAuSucre]

GE makes a great smooth top range. Been around for a long long time and they have great service. Not too expensive either.

[elanorh]

Smooth-top stoves aren't recommended while canning foods, if that impacts your decision. The weight of the canner, the extended heat, etc. are all potential issues.

I have a natural gas stove -- we like it quite a bit. If I could change anything, it would be to have larger areas to cook on it (more industrial sized) and to have the knobs up where kids can't reach. We have safety deals on our knobs but I do still worry about the girls getting a knob on accidentally.

[Punchy Kaby]

The other concern with glass cooktops is that they can malfunction and turn on without touching the knobs. My neighbor just told me about her cooktop that did this.

We have the old style coils and I have ruined a few stainless pots by having the heat too high. I never had this happen to me until this cooktop.

I cannot wait to remodel our kitchen and get gas in here!

[hsmamato2]

I love the gas tops nice metal burner thingys,they seem so solid,but we have electric here- the cooktop just didn't seem to hold up to my cooking- I use a lot of heavy pots,etc- wondering if ALL smoothtops are this weak?
do they make a better grade?
I don't can much,but that cast iron dutch oven weighs a lot!

[ollyoxenfree]

We've had electric, gas and smooth top. I prefer gas. It's much more responsive, provides better cooking and an added bonus is the ability to cook even during a blackout.

I really dislike smooth top. They are the worst for controlling heat and I'm constantly having to be more vigilant when I'm cooking. I like to cook, but the smoothtop makes it a real chore. I find they are a pain to keep clean because spilled stuff bakes on like dried glue, and I'm always worried about scratches, cracks etc.