Corning Cooktop Help Advice

[sarahperdue]

Hi All,

I've found a gorgeous Corning cooktop on Craigslist. I think it might be the cooktop I've been looking for. What do y'all think? I am looking for something white, preferably vintage that will complement my GE P7 and DH wants a solid surface because he likes to use it as additional counter space. He also likes to cut pizza on our current glass cooktop. Do any of you know if using a pizza cutter would damage this Corningware surface?

Are these cooktops reliable? What about parts and repairs if needed (John)? And shipping? It's on the other side of the continent. If I decide to get it, I want to be sure it can be shipped safely--it would be better to let someone else buy it than risk killing it in transit.

Thanks in advance for all help,
Sarah

https://monterey.craigslist.org/clt/d/seaside-original-corning-cooktop-in/6793680980.html

 

[mattl]

One thing to remember is that early Corning cook tops were designed to work with special Corning cookware, perfectly ground FLAT bottoms.  On our old corning range from the '70s there was only one burner designated to work with non Corning stuff.  I still have and use some of those pots and pans, thought some of the more interesting ones have long ago broken.We used other pots oven the years but the performance suffered.  

 

What exactly are you looking for?  there area many other glass cooktops out there, what is attracting you to the Corning?

 

[sarahperdue]

fatal attraction...

Thanks Matt,

I'm attracted to the Corning because it's a sharp looking vintage glass top and because I collect Corningware. Modern white glass cooktops look cheap--all of the slick design dollars seem to be going into the more popular black.

I do have some of the Corningware Cookmates with the ground bottom, but they are only a small percentage of the cookware that we use. When you say performance suffered with other cookware, do you mean less efficient heat transfer? I know it's been a long time. Can you describe the performance loss?

We rented an apartment in the early 90s that had one of the Corning ranges with the ceramic cooktop. I remember hating it, but I think our biggest issue was cleaning it. We know a lot more about cleaning now than we did then... Maybe performance was also an issue. I cannot remember really. Back then we didn't know anything about or own any Corningware.

I've also seen some vintage Thermador glass cooktops that look pretty sharp. If it was solely up to me, I'd be looking for a vintage white enamel GE cooktop with infinite controls (although I do love the way the push buttons look). But marriage is about compromise.

Sarah

 

[norgeway]

they work well

BUT slow slowslow!!! they make Frigidaire radiantubes look like gas!!

 

[tolivac]

My Mom had one like that in a house in Florida.Yes,it was slow to heat up-and to cool down.The burner areas turned like a yellow-sort of brown color to indicate they were hot.And you used a special cleaner from corning to clean the surface.My Mom and I the few times I used it-used any of the flat bottom pots and pans and they worked fine.

 

[turquoisedude]

I've had two ranges with a glass cooktop now. The first one was a vintage early 80s model with the white top (not a true Corning model); I didn't keep it that long because I felt it was a pain to keep clean. A boiled-over pot of anything made a big, ugly mess! The second one was bought for the small kitchen in the apartment we had when we lived in downtown Montreal. I used it more as a counter than a cooktop, I swear! I never used it for cutting and I'd err on the side of caution and not cut things on the Corning top (but I'm paranoid about ruining counter tops of any kind...LOL)
As far as repairs go, it may be hard to find some parts for the Corning top. I'm not sure how compatible replacement elements from newer models would be. Controls would be less of a problem.
Shipping may be the big issue; if you do go for it, U-Ship may turn up a good deal for you. Good luck!!

 

[combo52]

Corning Electric Cook Tops

These were the original smooth top CK, and they were the best performing one to this day because of their heating element and thermostat design.

They used a flat heater that was pressed against the bottom of the glass CT with the bulb of a real hydraulic oven type thermostat in the middle sensing the top temperature.

Advantage was all four elements were temperature controlled in degrees F.

It was impossible to start a fire and you only needed one initial setting to cook most foods, there was also no chance of ruining cookware or the CT itself.

They were designed and came with special ground flat Corning Ware cooking utensils, but you can use any very flat high quality cookware on it.

John L.

 

[tomturbomatic]

But don't cut anything on it. Scratches not only ruin the appearance, but make cleaning a lot more work. No Pizza Cutters, no knives (the shock from a knife coming down could break it).

 

[mattl]

The Corning cookmates worked best, regular Corningware  was terrible.  Good quality stainless with flat bottoms worked ok.

 

Depending on your cookware I'd treat this as a museum piece, not a daily driver...

 

I do wish there was a wider array of colors for glass cooktops, black gets 95% of the market and white is very difficult to find.  IF you have a lighter quartz or stone countertop often neither black or white looks right.  A gray or tan options would be great.

 

[sarahperdue]

Resurrecting an old thread

Since I wrote the original post on this thread, we purchased a used black KitchenAid ceramic cooktop. It works well, and my husband likes it.

I thought I was going to have room in the country house for both a stainless Thermador coil cooktop and a Corning cooktop. It was going to be perfect--best of both worlds, then I realized I didn't have room for a standard 30" Corning cooktop. So, no Corning cooktop for the moment, but I would love to find a two burner one.

I just found this one on Facebook. It's pretty "well used." I'm not interested in buying it, but I am curious. What are the chances this one will clean up?

Sarah

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[combo52]

Corning 3+1 Cook-Top

Hi Sarah, It will not clean up well, we have found once a white CT is badly stained like the one for sale you are going to have to live with it.

 

This is why white and light grays are not practical for something that gets HOT, anyone one remember the disastrous white and light gray gas burner grates on gas CTs about 20-30 years ago ?

 

That said white induction CTs did work well and stayed good looking.

 

We are still on the lookout for one of the original 2 element Corning Cook-Tops as well for the museum kitchen as we have run out of room for the 30" version.

 

John L.

 

[sarahperdue]

Thanks for the info

Hi John,

Thanks, as always, for the info. I was curious as I am not buying this one. I'm still hoping that where you find on two burner model there will be two.

Sarah

 

[sudsmaster]

This house I bought in '97 came with a 36" Corning cooktop. I replaced it ASAP with a gas cooktop (Frigidaire Gallery, still have it). Alas, I set the cooktop in the carport leaning up against a big swinging door, forgot it was there, opened the door from inside one day, and the Corning CT went crashing down, breaking the glass. Oh well. It was fairly discolored anyway, and the few times I used it, it wasn't putting out much heat. But it would have been nice to preserve to sell or give to someone who wanted it. I did get to see the innards before I scrapped it, though.

 

[woodhouse]

Hi! I’m new to this forum and am late to this topic. Hopefully I can catch you all!

We recently purchased a home built in 1956 and updated in 1973. We have a Corning stove top in fairly good condition. I’m really eager to learn how to take care of it. @sarah, I saw you allude to how you learned to take better care of them. Can you share your learned wisdom?

We haven’t decided whether to keep it. It doesn’t seem practical for daily use, but we are undecided! Any tips would be appreciated. Tons of gems in this place, so I look forward to seeing you all around here!