Thankyou for the tip. The melted plastic is from añ electric coffee cup warmer... it was a small white plastic burner that was sitting on the stove when I turned the stove burner on. What a mess. I was able to peel off some of the white, melted, gooey plastic top layer, however much of it has fused / burned black to the cook top. Hours of elbow grease and a razor seem to be helping. I may need to call Maytag.
Okay, then I would try these things if it were my own stove: a long shot - try soaking it in WD40 or another brand of silicon spray and see if you can work it in and around and under the edges of the melted plastic a bit. Another long shot - I wouldn't turn the burner on, but if you have or can borrow a hot air paint remover or even try a blow dryer on the hottest setting, try softening the plastic around the edges so you can scrape it off easier. If you have one, try using a wooden spoon to remove as much plastic as possible before using a sharper tool or blade.
Thank you. I will try all of your suggestions. The residue is jet black and as smooth as the glass it's burned to. Can't tell you how much I appreciate the ideas and the support. Hoping something will do the trick!
How To Remove Melted Plastic From Your Stovetop