I have an old CorningWare cook top and love it and wouldn't think of putting anything on top of it that might burn. The vented hood may be able to be done outside of if you can plug it. There is a vent in the upstairs bath and we can pull a plug and use something there but it never bothered me. I am alone but have frequent visitors and those darn knobs are on the side of it and if they brushed against them with a casserole or something...I don't like that idea at all. I think if the vent became a real problem I would just try to tape it...on the outside but I cook too much and the steam has to go someplace.