Go all Induction. The Induction cooktops do not get hot and bake stuff on like the smooth conventional electrics.
The only heat it gets is from the pan, and directly below the hub but not nearly as hot as a conventional electric. In fact several of of here put paper towels below and around the pan to catch any splatter--particularly from frying (bacon for example), alto not hard to clean off the splatters, it is still just easier to just toss the towels when done---don't do this unattended, however---if you were to run a pan/pot dry, "said pot" could get hot nuff to set off the paper.
We sure enjoy our Elux Icon Induction Cooktop, We hope you do the same!

Gary

Gary, what do you use to clean your cooktop? So far, I've only had to wipe it down and not use a cooktop cleaner. We've had a Samsung Induction range a few weeks but previously had a coiltop electric, so quite a bit different!

I am very happy with the induction cooktop. I was concerned about the non-induction smoothtops because of heat and mess.

Unless you have very special cooking needs and you can't get a pan that will work for those needs that will work on an induciton cooktop, I'd suggest all induction. I have all induction and bought a portable hotplate for using my canner on (only available in Aluminum). I can a lot, but it still was not worth giving up the induction hobs for that.

As to cleaning, it is nothing like a regular ceramic cooktop. That is another good reason to go all induction, or you will have half a cooktop that is a pain to clean, and half that is the easiest thing imaginable. My cooktop is easier to clean than my old formica countertop (was textured).

My husband even loves the induction cooktop - he says we will never go back to regular ceramic electric cooking - works for me, I love the induction too.

If you have read something that says full induction cooktops are difficult to clean - I want to know what those folks are smoking! I am a slob of a cook and it is still very easy to clean.

The only problem we have with ours is that if we don't lock the controls it will beep when the cats walk across it at night. You have to press and hold slightly - two different spots in rapid succession to actually turn the unit on, and then it won't do anything if there is not a pan on it anyway, so as long as we never leave a pan on the hob (and we never do) even if for some reason the cats were able to step just right to activate something, it would not come on.

The cats aren't suppose to be up on the counter - so when I hear it beep (master bedroom is off kitchen ) I holler at them to "Get off the counter!".

I also have the Elux Icon - got the newer model without the stainless band between hobs and controls.

Cathy

Too funny about the cats! We have one too and I can imagine I would hear those beeps too!

I am not someone who likes to cook. I just want the dumb thing to be easy to clean when I do decide to do it. I'd prefer gas but I don't want the fuss of the burners anymore. My husband gave up scrubbing it two years ago to get it as clean as I'd like.

Unfortunately, I'd like the white color for the cooktop and only the induction hybrid comes in that color for some reason. I'm not a fan of stainless and all our other appliances are white and I like the contrast with our gray/black/white/copper design in the kitchen. Would a black induction top look right with that? I guess if the oven gets replaced eventually, the black window would coordinate to a certain degree.

Wouldn't scratches be easier to see on black?

Also cat owner here! Yes, need to make sure cooktop is locked, and also that there are no pans left on it (makes for a tidier kitchen I guess).

I think the Kenmore Elite cooktop comes in white? Isn't that made by Electrolux?

I think GE makes a white one too, but I'm not sure.

Clean up of my cooktek is usually a spritz of cleaner (windex, 409, whatever) and a paper towel. Anything thicker I hit first with a wet rag.

Gsciencechick
Wife just gives the cooktop a quick shot of Fabuloso when she is cleaning the granite. Ocassionally I just take the sponge we have it the sink and give it a quick swipe (dish washing liquid) then I grab a couple of paper towels to make it shine. I have used the SS cleaner they shipped with the cooktop once, but it seems to stay pretty clean.
Most the time we just toss the paper towels we use to cover it when we cook.

Gary

Thanks! That's basically what I'm doing, using the sponge with dish soapy water and then paper towels. It hasn't really gotten dirty that it needs more than that.

all my appliances are white except the cooktop. But with that small stainless band, it is hardly noticable. I also have a stainless drop in sink on the opposite counter, so the cooktop matches the look of the sink.

I would worry that the white band may show scratches more than the stainless does. My band already has some scratches as my husband is a rather "active" cook. He can "pancake flip" a large pan of eggs . . .

I use a sponge to wipe up the spills, a damp towel just to go over it and then buff it gently with a microfiber cloth and it is just like new. Use to take me 20 minutes to really scrub clean the electric ceramic cooktop - but I could get that one looking like new too. Just way more elbow grease, and something DH would never do. I think the ease of cleaning has made him willing to do more cooking - works for me!

Cathy

I have not only white appliances but a white Corian sink and white faucet! I'm leaning towards the all induction top so that precludes the use of white, unfortunately. The hybrid cooktop is completely white. I'm not sure if I want the stainless steel trim around the black top or not because I'm not a big fan of it, but I do plan on updating my faucet and I would guess considering current trends, I might end up with a stainless steel faucet. Grohe has a stainless and black that would then match it pretty well.

I have had an induction slide-in since Nov. I can't think of one reason to get a "hybrid."