Costs less to operate the self-cleaning cycle than to buy a can of oven cleaner. Aluminum has the best conductive properties, followed by steel, then ceramic. All three do an adequate job, provided bottoms are flat and make good contact. Sealed burners have no holes or gaps around the burner and are tightly sealed to the metal or glass top. Open burners are supported from the burner box and have openings around the burner for proper air flow and combustion.
Sealed gas is much easier to clean since there are no gaps and burner boxes to collect spills.
A drop-in range hangs from the countertop, overhangs the counter on both sides and back with no drawer. A slide-in rests on the floor, overhangs the countertop on the sides and back and has a drawer. Both have front-mounted controls. The best method is to use ceramic glass polishing cream that both cleans and conditions the surface. The cream is normally packed with the product and can be purchased at local stores.