Endangered Appliance Species Part 2 - Electric Coil Ranges

Once upon a time the circular, removable coil top range was the latest and greatest in convenience and style, replacing the sluggish, ugly "solid disc" elements that ruled until the 80's.

Smooth top ranges have been the norm since I'd say the late 90's, but I still get customers who have held onto their ranges for decades, and are either choosing (or are forced!) to replace their traditional coil top range.  Generally, they are disappointed to find that the circular, easy-to-pop-out-and-replace coils they became used to have largely disappeared.  Indeed, if you want any features beyond what I would call the essentials (convection oven fans, air-fry options, warming burners for example) then you have no choice but to embrace the glass-ceramic smooth top surface.

For those of you who are intersted, this article chronicles the history and evolution of the smoothtop, including a short piece on Donald Stookey, the "inventor" of the glass ceramic top: 

https://eurokera.com/blog/the-discovery-of-glass-ceramic/

The transition and focus to smoothtops has been gradual over the past three decades.  When I started in this business in the mid-90's both coil and smoothtop ranges were proudly displayed in roughly even amounts, and both types sold briskly.  Today, my sales floor displays exactly one coil range, the uber-popular JB256 (in fact, this range made the list of the top ten appliances SKUs as I mentioned in a prior blog (10-28, should you want to look it up!)

So, yes, you can still purchase a decent, basic coil range.  However... even the coil range has undergone mandatory changes.

Enter the "Sensi-Temp" elements, which are designed to turn off if a pan reaches too hot a temperature (from boiling dry, for example).   This is a mandated safety feature you will find on any coil-top range, and has been the UL code since 2018.

Sensi-temp element.  Notice the center of the element, which has a safety sensor that will turn the burner off once a certain temperature is exceeded.

Smooth top ranges do offer several advantages over coil tops, which is the main reason the appliance industry has slowly "forced" customers into abandonng their coil ranges by simply eliminating options on what is now mostly a price-conscious choice. 

Having said that, coil ranges still are the right choice in certain scenarios:

For example, you may...

1. Use cast iron or glass pots on the stovetop frequently, and aren't willing to switch to other cookware materials  
2. Need an inexpensive, easy to maintain range for a rental property or starter home  
3. Have a small kitchen requiring a 24" or 20" stove.

The advantages of smooth-top ranges are numerous.  I'd say the most important are:

1) Faster heatup time

2) Options to add a warming burner

3) Additional feature options such as double ovens, convection or air-fry ovens, even an induction cooktop.

  (Want to know about Induction tops?  I refer you to one of my earlier blogs, dated May 24 2023.)

4) Contemporary styling

5) Easy cleanup - one surface to clean, not several

6) Durability - smoothtops tend to have less frequent repairs as the top "protects" the heating elements.

Now, if you do prefer the older style coil top range, at least you can take solace in the fact that some are still available.  Technology adavancements do bring change: older customers may still remember those old solid disc burners!  (shown above.  The industry had just about phased these out by the mid 90's when I began selling appliances.)

Below is the previously mentioned GE JB256, with two high speed coils, an extra large oven, lift up top, and a self-cleaning oven.  As I said, this is still a very popular model in the right application.

Next up - The Disappearance of the Portable Dishwasher !!

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