Tl;dr: The debate about what’s better, electric or gas stoves, will likely continue forever. Often, our opinion doesn’t matter since we are usually stuck with whatever the house comes with or whichever source is allowed in the area.

Thanks to 14 state-to-state moves in 23 years, I have equally experienced gas and electric stoves. One thing I have found is that the cookware does make a difference, especially on an electric stove. I learned this quickly when canning peaches on my flat-surface (glass cooktop) electric stove in Kentucky.

I had no idea I could crack the surface of the stovetop. I assumed every stove is designed to handle a large canning pot full of water. Oops — not all cookware is created equal, and not every stovetop can handle everything you throw at it.

In this article, we will discuss what an electric stove is, the different types available, and what kind of cookware works best with them.

Gas vs. Electric

The most significant difference between a gas stove and an electric one is that there is an open flame on a gas stove, and an electric stove uses an electric heating element. Let’s look at the benefits of gas stoves and electric stoves.

Gas Stove Perks

• A flame responds quickly when you turn the heat up or down, which means there’s no waiting when you need the heat on the bottom of a pot or pan to kick into gear or slow down quickly.
• When turned off, the burners cool down quickly once the flame is gone.
• You can cook everything on a gas stove. Woks and other unique pans that sometimes require a flame to go around the outside rather than just the bottom require a gas stove. You can even grill a piece of toast or meat right on the open flame of a gas stove.
• The oven on a gas stove heats up quicker than an electric one.

Electric Stove Perks

• The oven of an electric stove responds quickly to the heat lowering or rising.
• The dry oven heat that is created by an electric stove is great for crisping vegetables and browning bread.
• The burners often have multiple sizes within each burner, which doubles the burner sizes to choose from.
• Flat-surfaced electric stoves are easy to clean.

Gas stoves can handle all types of cookware, while electric stoves are a bit more finicky. For example, a rippled or concave bottom pan won’t do well on an electric burner. Those types of pans require a flame to heat evenly.

Is an Induction Stove the Same as an Electric Stove?

This can be confusing since induction cooktops resemble a flat-surface or glass cooktop electric stove. However, there is a difference in the way they provide heat.

An induction stove uses electromagnetic coils under the surface that transfer energy to magnetic cookware. The cookware heats rather than a burner heating up, unlike an electric stove where coils heat up as individual burners.

Technically, an induction stove is electric; however, they require induction-compatible cookware, such as Scanpan Classic Induction cookware, which is made from magnetic material. You can use induction cookware on any stove, but you can’t use regular cookware on an induction stove.

Coil Electric Stoves vs. Smooth-Top Electric Stoves

The two types of electric stoves are coil or smooth-top, which are also called flat surface or glass-top electric stoves.

Coil Electric Stoves

If you have ever seen a coil electric stove, you understand where the term coil comes from. Each burner is a coil of steel tubes. The tubes are heated with an electric heating element. You then set your pot or pan directly on the heated coil.

Smooth-Top Electric Stoves

Smooth-top electric stove burners heat up in the same way a coil stove does. However, the coils sit under a glass top, so the entire surface of the stove is smooth.

The glass tops are not as strong as a coil-top electric stove or a gas stove. Avoid an extra-heavy stockpot, such as a large canning pot full of water. You may crack the stovetop (as I did).

Choosing the Best Cookware for Your Electric Stove

The good news is that nearly all cookware is compatible with any electric stove. Still, some choices are better than others.

Since many electric stoves now have a glass cooktop, it’s important to avoid cast iron skillets or enameled cast iron cookware unless you have a coil top stove. The bottoms of these types of dishes can be rough and will easily scratch a glass top, even if you are careful.

As you shop for cookware for your electric stove, consider the following things: the foods you cook, the materials you prefer, and the ease of maintenance.

What Type of Foods Do You Cook?

Most people cook various foods; however, you may lean toward one style or have favorites you cook often. For example, if you often cook fish in fry pans, you may prefer a nonstick pan in your collection. Or if you sear a steak most Saturday nights, a cast iron skillet is a must.

Make a list of your weekly meals and must-haves to help you decide. Consider the following questions as you make the list of foods you cook often:

• Do you add oil or butter to a pan before cooking, or do you prefer as little extra fat as possible?
• Do you sear meats often?
• Are you a vegetarian, so meat isn’t an issue?
• Do you often make sauces?
• Do you make gravy using the drippings from a pan?
• Are omelets, fried eggs, or pancakes often on the menu?
• Do you require cookware, such as a Dutch oven, for slow cooking?

These questions are a springboard to get you thinking about what type of cookware you need for an electric stove. Keep in mind that cast iron and enameled cast iron cookware aren’t safe for a glass-top electric stove; however, you can use it with a coil top.

Consider the Material

Cookware comes in several types of materials. For an electric stove, as mentioned, nearly every cookware style is safe to use, with the exception of cast iron and enameled cast iron for flat-surfaced stovetops. Let’s look at cookware material options and what they are best used for:

Stainless steel: Best for being non-reactive and won’t change the flavors of your food. Stainless steel is great for tomato sauce, white sauces, and sauteing.

Nonstick: Use nonstick for fish, eggs, and pancakes. Excellent cookware for those avoiding oils, butter, and fats.

Cast iron: Best for searing steak and other meats, making gravy, and baking.

Enameled cast iron: Best for deep frying, sauces, soups, stews, and slow cooking.

Copper: Best for making candy, sauces, any sugar work, and foods that need excellent heat regulation.

It’s wise to have various pots and pans on hand for your electric stove to always have what you need when cooking.

Look for Heavy-Bottomed Cookware

A heavy, flat bottom means the bottom of the cookware is thick. Within every cookware category, some brands will have a heavier bottom than others.

For an electric coil or glass cooktop stove, this is necessary since the entire bottom of the pan must sit directly on the heat for it to work well. A thin bottom can warp easily or not sit well on the electric burner.

You can count on cookware such as Le Creuset’s cast iron to be heavy bottomed and excellent for a coil electric stove. Other brands, such as All-Clad’s Copper Core set, are reliable for a thick, heavy bottom and great for all electric stoves. Contact one of our Curated Kitchen Experts for more information about heavy bottom cookware.

Is the Cookware Easy to Maintain?

Is dishwasher-safe cookware at the top of your list? Even the highest-quality cookware is no fun to use if cleanup takes hours. Here are some things to consider about maintenance for your electric stove cookware:

• Is cleaning up after cooking a chore? Some materials, such as nonstick, will clean up quicker than a stainless steel pot with food stuck in it.
• Is the cookware material durable? Cast iron or stainless steel will never peel or chip away, while a nonstick coating can, making it unsafe to use.
• Are the handles strong and designed to last a lifetime? A stainless steel or cast iron handle is more durable than a plastic one.
• Some materials, such as cast iron, are heavy. Do you need something lightweight, or is that not an issue?

The Best Cookware for Electric Stoves

Below are my top picks for the best cookware for electric stoves based on material, weight, and ease of maintenance.

1. All-Clad Copper Core 5-Ply Bonded Stainless Steel Cookware Set

All-Clad is known for some of the best pots and pans and all-around high-quality cookware. The heavy construction of stainless steel, aluminum, and copper in this set makes it bottom heavy and able to conduct heat perfectly.

Benefits:

• 5-ply construction for durability and even heat distribution
• Heavy-bottomed pots and pans for the electric stove
• Stainless steel is versatile for cooking just about everything
• Oven safe
• Dishwasher safe

Keep in mind:

• All-Clad is expensive; however, it will last a lifetime.

2. Caraway Home Nonstick Cookware 7-piece Set

For nonstick cookware fans, Caraway is one of the best in its category. Here are the benefits of Caraway nonstick for electric stoves:

Benefits:

• Nonstick for the fastest cleaning
• Available in beautiful colors
• Ceramic nonstick finish lasts longer than traditional nonstick
• Heavy bottom for even heating
• Budget friendly
• Oven safe

Keep in mind:

• Ceramic nonstick cookware must be replaced every few years
• Not the best choice for high heat, tomato sauces, or searing
• Must avoid the use of metal utensils
• Not dishwasher safe

3. Hestan CopperBond Induction Cookware 10-piece Set

Hestan’s high-quality design is beautiful and reliable for all your cooking needs. Here are the many benefits this set offers for your electric stove:

Benefits:

• Works on all electric and induction stoves
• 5 layers of stainless steel plus a copper core for impeccable, even heating
• Looks lovely in any kitchen
• Durable to last a lifetime
• Oven safe
• Dishwasher safe

Keep in mind:

• A bit more expensive than other brands
• Copper needs extra maintenance, but well worth it if you love using it

Final Thoughts

Nearly all cookware works on an electric stove; however, you must remember that glass tops can scratch and crack, induction stoves need magnetic cookware, and heavy-bottomed pots and pans yield better results on your electric stove.

Are you still unsure of the best cookware for an electric stove? Feel free to reach out to one of our Curated Kitchen Experts, and they’ll walk you through all the options and answer any questions you might have.