Types and Sizes

• You get a choice of gas or electric technology on the cooking surface, whether you buy a range or a cooktop. Electric cooktops typically measure 30 inches wide, while gas models are 36 inches wide. You can also find a limited number of 21-inch, 26-inch and 32-inch cooktops. Standard electric and gas ranges are 30 inches wide, but models in 24-inch, 27-inch and 40-inch configurations are also available. Induction ranges and cooktops use powerful magnets to generate heat directly into specially designed pans, instead of heating the entire cooking surface. This allows them to cook food more quickly than gas or electric models. Induction cooktops come in 30- and 36-inch designs, while induction ranges usually offer 30-inch widths.
  
  

Burners

• Budget-priced electric cooktops often have coil elements, while more-expensive models provide smooth ceramic glass surfaces. The same holds true for electric ranges. Manufacturers usually arrange the burners on gas cooktops in a square pattern, but you can find a few models with an arc design. Gas cooktops and ranges may have four or five burners. Electric ranges usually have four burners, while electric cooktops provide four or five.
  
  

Control Placement

• Controls for the gas burners on a cooktop may be centered in the front of the appliance or placed on its far right side. Electric cooktops also offer these options, along with controls on the left front corner. On a gas range, you’ll usually find the controls on the front of the unit. Manufacturers place the controls for electric ranges on the appliance’s backsplash or front panel.
  
  

Exhaust Systems

• Some gas and electric cooktops have a downdraft exhaust system. This design features a fan in the center of the appliance that pulls in smoke, odors and moisture. To remove smoke and odors when cooking on a range top or a cooktop without a downdraft system, you can install a venting hood over the range.