OREANDA-NEWS. GE Appliances is introducing a fresh crop of electric cooktops for home chefs this spring—more than 30 new models across the GE®, Profile™, Cafe™ and Monogram® product lines. New features include all-new touch controls inspired by smartphone technology, a multi-timer to time each cooktop element separately, and some models will come with a griddle specifically designed to work on both radiant and induction cooktops.

“Consumers’ expectations have changed in the past few years,” said Elliott Koehler, lead industrial designer for cooktops at GE Appliances. “They are used to touchscreens and smartphones, and want that kind of technology on other products they interact with.”

In tests, consumers were delighted by the new electronic controls—while they look different, they are very easy to use.

New features include:

  • Glide Touch Controls that can raise and lower heat by gliding a finger along an arc, touching anywhere around an arc, or by using plus and minus signs to navigate
  • Traditional knob controls, available on some models (JP3030, JP3036, JP3530, JP3536, PP7030, PP7036, CP9530, CP9536), that have a sleeker, more modern look. Knobs on some models are even backlit
  • A custom-designed griddle, designed to work on glass cooktops and either built in or available as a separate piece, is lightweight, induction compatible and has three-ply construction (an aluminum core surrounded by stainless steel layers) to evenly distribute heat
  • Construction that fits into the same countertop space as previous GE models and is designed to perfectly match GE’s newest line of wall ovens, making it easy for consumers to replace

GE’s new electric cooktops are available in 30- and 36-inch widths, with radiant or induction elements, in black, white, stainless steel, or Slate finishes (PP7030 and PP7036), and retail for an MSRP of \\$600 to \\$3,100.* All are available in May. All of the new electric cooktops are made in Lafayette, Ga.