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What Is an Electric Cooktop? Types, Pros & Cons, and How to Choose

If you're choosing a new cooktop, the electric cooktop is one of the most popular and accessible options out there — sleek, flame-free, and compatible with virtually any cookware. But "electric cooktop" actually covers a few different technologies, each with its own strengths. This guide answers the core question — what is an electric cooktop? — and walks through how they work, the main types (coil, radiant glass-top, and halogen), their real pros and cons, how they stack up against gas and induction, and the key things to check before you buy.