How Do Radiant Cooktop Stoves Work?

Radiant cooktop stoves are commonly referred to as electric smooth tops or ceramic glass tops. These stoves utilize a smooth, flat surface with four or more radiant heat elements built underneath them. Radiant cooktops are not to be confused with induction stoves, which also have a smooth ceramic top, but use a very different method of heating food.

Radiant Coils

Radiant heat cooktops use metal coils heated by electricity. The coils are covered by a sheet of ceramic glass, which insulates the coil and allows it to get hot very quickly. The heat is then transferred to the cooking vessel you place on the ceramic glass top, which in turn transfers the heat to the food inside the pan. Though not as common, some radiant heat cooktops use gas flames instead of electric coils beneath the ceramic surface. No special cookware is needed for radiant-heat cooktops, but flat-bottomed pots and pans allow for better heat distribution.

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