Kitchen appliances forum or advice about induction cooktop here.

acer66

acer66

Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2008
Messages
97
Hello,

Looking for real world reviews or recommendations about induction cooktops.
Was about to sign up for digital Consumer Report again but reviews about CR are not very good anymore.
Looked at a few different forums and it was not promising.

Is anyone using an induction cooktop and like to share their experience?
I am looking for a 30” non smart one and while I would like one with downdraft they are a bit to spendy.

Thank you.
 
I’ve used nothing but induction for over 10 years now.  I’d never go back...I’m a pretty serious cook and after my time with the induction, the claim that gas is somehow superior is simply BS.  Whenever I cook on gas now I can’t believe how much heat is wasted- hot handles, smelly...I actually just bought another one- there a scream in deal on a highly reviewed Fridgaire right now.  Now if, for whatever reason you want to use aluminum or copper, you are out of luck.  But I’m all carbon steel, stainless and cast iron anyway.  Really the only drawback if if you want to char some peppers on an open flame or something- but I just use a torch or the broiler, or the grill.
 
Good luck on the non smart one. They don't really exist in anything other than full gas with simple knobs. The worst is a stove where the controls are at the rear.

I've been using my parents Kitchenaid stove and the stove top has failed previously. The oven takes forever to heat up, but that could be an amperage issue that I am not going to even look at before selling the place. Owning a Kitchenaid Dual Fuel myself I would not recommend one. Bosch is probably superior but I haven't researched them. The more you spend the better the stove will be.

Induction stoves today are actually very powerful and can boil water fast.

What is your budget for a stove? Are we talking Wolf/Viking or ultra cost effective?
 
Yeah, I got gas right now and do not like it for the reasons Dane mentioned and Peter_C I am looking for just an induction cooktop not a range and am looking to spend up to around $2k.
 
I have owned Bosch, GE, Miele and Electrolux induction units.  The first three I never had issues with- the Electrolux was terrible.  None of the ones that I have owned have had "smart" features.  I'd look for a Bosch or a Miele unit.  I actually think that some of the premium brands- Viking, Thermador etc.  have worse reliability and performance ratings than a Bosh or a Miele.  I have also have good luck getting cooktops on Ebay.  Not sure if you like to roll the dice that way, but you do get some great prices.  I see some sub-1000.00 Bosh units on there right now.
 
houzz's appliance forum will have info and discussion on induction ad nauseum. 
 
We recently bought a Frigidaire range with induction cook top. I have had gas ranges and I think the induction is much more convenient. We can boil a 1.75 liter kettle in 4 minutes. The instant on and off is also fantastic. They are much safer than gas. If you remove a pot the burner turns off after a couple of minutes. With our previous range I turned on the wrong burner and ruined a nice maple cutting board that I had sitting beside the pot. That would not happen with the induction top.

The Frigidaire is a budget priced range but has very good reviews, and we are very happy with it. It has an air fry oven that works well for some items but is messy.

I have a glass tea pot I like to keep warm on the stove top. I took a 7.25" saw blade and cut all the teeth off it and ground it smooth and use it under the glass tea pot. All our other pots are induction capable, so that was not an issue for us.

 
“ I have a glass tea pot I like to keep warm on the stove top. I took a 7.25" saw blade and cut all the teeth off it and ground it smooth and use it under the glass tea pot. All our other pots are induction capable, so that was not an issue for us.”

I was wondering if all non conductive cookware would be useless with an induction “burner”.
 
"I was wondering if all non conductive cookware would be useless with an induction “burner”

You can buy what they call induction conversion plates but repurposing an old saw blade gave me a job to do. Also, it fits my tea pot perfectly.

We all probably have a few saw blades around that would be more useful if repurposed ;)
 
Oldwood said:
We recently bought a Frigidaire range with induction cook top. I have had gas ranges and I think the induction is much more convenient. We can boil a 1.75 liter kettle in 4 minutes. The instant on and off is also fantastic. They are much safer than gas. If you remove a pot the burner turns off after a couple of minutes. With our previous range I turned on the wrong burner and ruined a nice maple cutting board that I had sitting beside the pot. That would not happen with the induction top.

The Frigidaire is a budget priced range but has very good reviews, and we are very happy with it. It has an air fry oven that works well for some items but is messy.

I have a glass tea pot I like to keep warm on the stove top. I took a 7.25" saw blade and cut all the teeth off it and ground it smooth and use it under the glass tea pot. All our other pots are induction capable, so that was not an issue for us.
Click to expand...

Is that what you have?https://www.homedepot.com/p/FRIGIDA...pip_alternatives-_-311644766-_-311224897-_-N&
 
xedos said:
houzz's appliance forum will have info and discussion on induction ad nauseum.
Click to expand...

Yeah just trying to avoid the ad nauseam part.

Another question would be if there are any features you would not want to miss or would like to have.

Thank you.
 
acer66 said:
Oldwood said:
We recently bought a Frigidaire range with induction cook top. I have had gas ranges and I think the induction is much more convenient. We can boil a 1.75 liter kettle in 4 minutes. The instant on and off is also fantastic. They are much safer than gas. If you remove a pot the burner turns off after a couple of minutes. With our previous range I turned on the wrong burner and ruined a nice maple cutting board that I had sitting beside the pot. That would not happen with the induction top.

The Frigidaire is a budget priced range but has very good reviews, and we are very happy with it. It has an air fry oven that works well for some items but is messy.

I have a glass tea pot I like to keep warm on the stove top. I took a 7.25" saw blade and cut all the teeth off it and ground it smooth and use it under the glass tea pot. All our other pots are induction capable, so that was not an issue for us.
Click to expand...

Is that what you have?https://www.homedepot.com/p/FRIGIDA...pip_alternatives-_-311644766-_-311224897-_-N&
Click to expand...

Ours has the controls on the back side but the same oven and cook top.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/fr...ry-in-smudge-proof-stainless-steel/1001542822
 
Question for induction owners: are the stove tops quiet?  I have had several portable induction cooktops, and while I love cooking on them, they all have noisy fans. I would not consider a full-size induction top unless it was silent like my current electric/halogen.
 
promark747 said:
Question for induction owners: are the stove tops quiet?  I have had several portable induction cooktops, and while I love cooking on them, they all have noisy fans. I would not consider a full-size induction top unless it was silent like my current electric/halogen.
Click to expand...
The one I use only makes a buzzing sound on high. The fan seems to mostly come on after awhile when using the oven. It is pretty quiet though. The fan is only on when a temperature sensor turns it on.
 
Peter_C said:
promark747 said:
Question for induction owners: are the stove tops quiet?  I have had several portable induction cooktops, and while I love cooking on them, they all have noisy fans. I would not consider a full-size induction top unless it was silent like my current electric/halogen.
Click to expand...
The one I use only makes a buzzing sound on high. The fan seems to mostly come on after awhile when using the oven. It is pretty quiet though. The fan is only on when a temperature sensor turns it on.
Click to expand...

This is how mine is also. I also had a portable top with a noisy fan before I got the range and was concerned the range would be a problem, but it has not been a problem for us.
 
Induction cooktops are the best.  I don't understand how people can use a gas stove after trying an induction one.

Things to watch out for are how quickly it comes back on after you lift the pot of the surface.  My Bosch Benchmark one takes a second or two to kick back on, can be irritating if you're shaking a stir fry. My buddies Bosch comes back on instantaneously.

Also look at the controls, I hate the touch controls on mine, really wish there was just a simple knob for each unit.
 
acer66 said:
xedos said:
houzz's appliance forum will have info and discussion on induction ad nauseum.
Click to expand...

Yeah just trying to avoid the ad nauseam part.

Another question would be if there are any features you would not want to miss or would like to have.
Click to expand...

You say that , but ..........

also said you wanted simple and then asked about can't miss features.  Feature laden is not simple.

I'll reiterate, get over to houzz and read the numerous induction threads.  I'm fairly certain your questions have been asked and answered over there already.

I prefer full surface induction tops, but the few that exist are waaaay outside your stated budget.
 
I have the GE induction top. 

I had bought a single burner induction top and found it excellent, so when it came time to replace the top I went with the induction top.

1.  It boils water insanely fast.
2.  It holds temperature to a very narrow temperature range.
3.  10 heat settings.
4.  If you forget to turn it off and nothing is on it, it will turn itself off.
5.  The burner itself does not heat up.  There is heat transferred from the pot to the burner so it will get hot, but it cools fast.
6.  I left it on a couple of times and if it gets too hot it will turn itself off automatically.
7.  The heat across the surface is perfectly uniform regardless of the quality of the pan.
8.  The more iron for the magnet to transfer energy to, the faster it heats.  Cast iron heats faster than anything else.
9.  Aluminum pans will not work.
10.  Some aluminum pans have a perforated steel plate on the bottom.  Those heat slower than other pans because there is less mass.
11. You need 400 series stainless steel for this to work.  300 series will not heat.  Test with a magnet.  If it sticks, it will work.
12. It is over 90% efficient in energy transfer.  Gas has an efficiency of 45 to 50%.
13. Induction heats the bottom of the pan only.
14.  Gas, especially on high, will heat the sides of the pan or pot.

Disappointments:

The hot plate had a timer that would turn off the element.
The cook top has a timer that merely chimes when it is time.

Special cleaning materials are required if you have any stuck on food.

Overall:

I would not like to go back to gas or conventional electric.  I did have to give away some pots and pans and replacing them was an added expense. 

Also if you like to shift the pan back and forth you will not be applying any heat at all once it is lifted off the burner.  Gas heat will be moderated but still applied. 

The main reason I hear that people like gas is for uniform heating of pots and pans.  The induction stovetop is 100% uniform. 

With children in the house this is the safest option.

The alternative is to have a gas stove top and a single burner induction burner along side.  Single burner units can be controlled by the timer.  Multi-burner units cannot.

In the summer it does not make the kitchen hot like a gas stove top would.

My Recommendation to all is skip the gas and conventional electric.  Go with induction.
 
I have an induction top.  Before I got that, I bought a cheap induction hot plate.  I liked that so much that I got the induction top.

1.  Induction tops are more expensive than other electric tops.
2.  They require all new pots and pans (only pots that a magnet will stick to will work).

On the plus side.

1.  They are safer
2.  They are 84%+ efficient (as opposed to just 40% for gas, and 74%  for heating element electric cooktops.
3.  They boil a pot of water in under a minute.
4.  Temperature control is much more exact.
5.  Heating is 100% uniform over the entire surface--a big deal is made of that for gas ranges. 
6.  It heats the bottom of the pot or pan only.  Standard electric and especially gas, heat the sides of the pots and pans.

I recommend you try an induction hot plate first.  They are very handy.  You will find you will love it or not.  $72.00 from Amazon (10 years ago I paid less than $40.00 from Costco).  But still, cheap enough to find out if you love it or not.  Induction cooktops are more expensive than heating element cooktops, so it is good to know in advance. 
https://www.amazon.com/Secura-9100M...crid=Y6UISMT61IXB&dchild=1&keywords=induction+hot+plates+for+cooking&qid=1625060772&sprefix=induction+hot+%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1

 
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