GE Hotpoint RB790 - range - freestanding - electric cooktop

With both gas and electric models, ranges now come in a wide range of options. Some cooktop ranges are inserted into a countertop and have a matching wall oven that is installed separately. There are free-standing models--range and oven combos--that have panels on both sides and can stand alone in the kitchen. There also are slide-in models, which have no side panels or backsplash and fit between two cabinets. Then there are drop-ins, which are fueled by electricity only, and are installed between cabinets on a pedestal with no bottom drawer below oven.

Read more in the Stoves and Ranges Buying Guide

Electric ranges offer less control over heat output--for example, water can take longer to boil--than gas ranges. However, you can get better overall performance from the oven. Models are slightly less expensive than gas ranges but also cost a bit more to operate month-to-month.

Coil types: Electric ranges come with a wide range of burner types, including:

• Open coil burner: The coils sit on top of the range within a recessed element--this is the most standard type of burner.
• Smooth-top: The surface looks sleek, since heating elements are covered with a glass surface. It uses radiant heat and can be easier to clean, but it can take longer to heat up and uses more electricity.
• Halogen: This new technology uses sealed glass tubes filled with halogen gas, providing instant light and heat--or induction elements--and uses a magnetic field to offer more precise control of range. You can only use iron or steel pots and pans, however, no aluminum.

• Average price: $220 to $4,000
• Average width: 20 to 36 inches

Read more in the Stoves and Ranges Buying Guide

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