Individual grates and a multi-grate system for a cooking range include construction of the tangs and nubs of each grate are aligned with each other in a manner providing a non-contiguous surface along a common plane. The common plane is provided by the uppermost surfaces of the tangs and nubs upon which the bottom of a cooking vessel (e.g., stock pot, skillet, saucepan, griddle, etc.) rests, with the relative position providing that a five-inch diameter bottom surface of the cooking vessel will contact the common plane sufficiently to substantially prevent tipping.