High end or low end induction cooktop?
April 1, 2022 12:49 PM Subscribe
I'm shopping for an induction cooktop and wondering if the more expensive models are worth the cost increase. I don't care about programming my cooking or that kind of thing, but I do want low-frustration, ease of use, and reliability. If they are repairable I would like future part availability.
I have a high end wolf induction range/electric oven installed 4 years ago (it’s the single most expensive thing in my apartment, although I paid closer to 5k, not 8k) and I love it. It’s pretty amazing so far, and I haven’t encountered any issues folks with lower end stoves experience (loud cycling on and off at low temps, elements breaking).
I really like the bridge and boost features (either creating a larger cooking area, or sending the power from one burner to another to super charge one). The sensitivity of the burners is super awesome, I’ve melted chocolate in one pan (not over a double boiler!) and seared a steak in the pan next to it… I also like the height, my counters are slightly higher than normal, and it was one of the few ranges that could accommodate that(alternative is building a platform which would have been fine too)
Cons, it’s $, and frankly overkill if you don’t cook (or enjoy cooking) as much as I do. It has features I’ve never used (sabbath timing etc)
posted by larthegreat at 3:48 PM on April 1, 2022
I really like the bridge and boost features (either creating a larger cooking area, or sending the power from one burner to another to super charge one). The sensitivity of the burners is super awesome, I’ve melted chocolate in one pan (not over a double boiler!) and seared a steak in the pan next to it… I also like the height, my counters are slightly higher than normal, and it was one of the few ranges that could accommodate that(alternative is building a platform which would have been fine too)
Cons, it’s $, and frankly overkill if you don’t cook (or enjoy cooking) as much as I do. It has features I’ve never used (sabbath timing etc)
posted by larthegreat at 3:48 PM on April 1, 2022
For repair ability, I'm looking for one with knobs instead of the touchscreen thing, though I do agree that a completely flat cooktop is actually pretty useful.
I'd also like a bridge.
So the ones I'm considering are a Fridgidare Professional, Samsung, and a Kitchenaide. All pretty expensive between $1500-$2000, but I expect them to last a really long time.
The Viking that is $6000 that is just 6 squares looks beyond cool, but I don't think my cooking is quite advanced enough for that. Like you can bridge anywhere!
posted by The_Vegetables at 4:41 PM on April 1, 2022
I'd also like a bridge.
So the ones I'm considering are a Fridgidare Professional, Samsung, and a Kitchenaide. All pretty expensive between $1500-$2000, but I expect them to last a really long time.
The Viking that is $6000 that is just 6 squares looks beyond cool, but I don't think my cooking is quite advanced enough for that. Like you can bridge anywhere!
posted by The_Vegetables at 4:41 PM on April 1, 2022
Induction cooktops make noise, for a variety of reasons, including internal fans to keep the electronics from overheating. The more expensive models might do a better job of keeping quiet, if that's something important to you.
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:54 PM on April 1, 2022
posted by Winnie the Proust at 4:54 PM on April 1, 2022
If there’s a way to foresee how long parts will be available, factor that in. I smashed the edge of the glass on my frigidaire induction and the glass top is no longer being made so it’s live with it or replace the whole goddamn thing.
posted by HotToddy at 5:05 PM on April 1, 2022
posted by HotToddy at 5:05 PM on April 1, 2022
The Viking that is $6000 that is just 6 squares looks beyond cool, but I don't think my cooking is quite advanced enough for that. Like you can bridge anywhere!
If you really want the 'bridge anywhere' experience you'll want to look at the Thermador Freedom. There are actually 48 small induction coils underneath the glass that shape the heat to whatever is on top, and rearrange the heat on its own if the cookware moves. Pretty nifty!
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:26 PM on April 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
If you really want the 'bridge anywhere' experience you'll want to look at the Thermador Freedom. There are actually 48 small induction coils underneath the glass that shape the heat to whatever is on top, and rearrange the heat on its own if the cookware moves. Pretty nifty!
posted by JoeZydeco at 6:26 PM on April 1, 2022 [2 favorites]
I have a high end wolf induction range/electric oven
FWIW, my parents have a high end Wolf gas range (six burners plus a charbroiler) and parts for it became unavailable after about ten years. They have to light it with a fireplace lighter now, it works otherwise, so not the end of the world; but you might hope for something as basic as igniters to be available longer (no parts are).
You don't need as much ventilation with induction as combustion but don't forget about it completely. (Ever cooked in shitty apartment kitchen with an electric range/oven with inadequate downdraft?)
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:48 PM on April 1, 2022
FWIW, my parents have a high end Wolf gas range (six burners plus a charbroiler) and parts for it became unavailable after about ten years. They have to light it with a fireplace lighter now, it works otherwise, so not the end of the world; but you might hope for something as basic as igniters to be available longer (no parts are).
You don't need as much ventilation with induction as combustion but don't forget about it completely. (Ever cooked in shitty apartment kitchen with an electric range/oven with inadequate downdraft?)
posted by snuffleupagus at 6:48 PM on April 1, 2022
I have installed the cheapest induction range I could get at our farm, and it works just fine (after I got used to it), but it is noisy and I really miss a bridge function. The noise only bothers me when I'm doing a very slow simmer, because induction cooking is fast! But the lack of the bridge function is surprisingly annoying.
posted by mumimor at 9:03 PM on April 1, 2022
posted by mumimor at 9:03 PM on April 1, 2022
I don't know if this is an issue with better built cooktops or not, but right now I absolutely hate my regular low end (around $1400) whirlpool gas range just because of the touch screen.
If it gets wet, or if there is grease splatter or if it's not pristine, and sometime even if it is, the touch screen refuses to read my touches.
You can't wipe down the screen while cooking and expect it to stay on it's given settings. Yesterday I tried to take a pan of chicken thighs that were seared on the stovetop and put them in the oven to finish cooking and because I made the mistake of wiping down the grease splatters I was unable to turn the oven back on after I'd inadvertantly turned it off during the wipe down.
Sometimes it just doesn't want to recognize the touches at all for no reason and I have to pull the entire unit out and unplug it and plug it back it again. That or wait a day and see if it changes it's mind.
That's only about the touch screen versus knobs, nothing to do with induction, and others can weigh in on if it's a more common problem or just something in particular with my unfortunate unit.
posted by newpotato at 2:23 AM on April 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
If it gets wet, or if there is grease splatter or if it's not pristine, and sometime even if it is, the touch screen refuses to read my touches.
You can't wipe down the screen while cooking and expect it to stay on it's given settings. Yesterday I tried to take a pan of chicken thighs that were seared on the stovetop and put them in the oven to finish cooking and because I made the mistake of wiping down the grease splatters I was unable to turn the oven back on after I'd inadvertantly turned it off during the wipe down.
Sometimes it just doesn't want to recognize the touches at all for no reason and I have to pull the entire unit out and unplug it and plug it back it again. That or wait a day and see if it changes it's mind.
That's only about the touch screen versus knobs, nothing to do with induction, and others can weigh in on if it's a more common problem or just something in particular with my unfortunate unit.
posted by newpotato at 2:23 AM on April 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
I have a Smeg induction cooktop (hob in UK). This one is high end but was chosen because it would fit in the larger than normal hole left by the departing gas unit. It has worked well - and it looks sleek - but I suspect that all induction hobs do that. I suspect that the safety standards they must comply with plus the relatively cheap nature of the components needed - plus physics - see to that. I would also love to know how much the low and high end units vary in terms of longevity. A quick trawl round online reviews seems to indicate that they are not devices which go wrong often.
posted by rongorongo at 2:23 AM on April 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 2:23 AM on April 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
We installed and were using this model of Ikea Hogklassig induction hob for the last year and are now thinking about upgrading the stove now that we are back in our old kitchen in Austria. Longevity I can't attest to as it was still in its first year of use but features I am now looking for are variable cooking zones, as well as more general features like the child lock and timer. We used the variable zone area a lot because it supported very small stovetop espresso as well as larger pots. Making coffee has turned out to be the cooking activity where I am most frustrated to be back on standard stove and as such it is driving my current search.
We had previously used the single portable induction hotplate from Ikea while we had a temporary kitchen setup the difference in power / temperature control between that level of cooker and the Hogklassig was sigificant, but I am not sure what the next jump in price would offer in terms of functionality
posted by pipstar at 2:18 PM on April 2, 2022
We had previously used the single portable induction hotplate from Ikea while we had a temporary kitchen setup the difference in power / temperature control between that level of cooker and the Hogklassig was sigificant, but I am not sure what the next jump in price would offer in terms of functionality
posted by pipstar at 2:18 PM on April 2, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
So far, frustration is low, ease of use is great, and satisfaction is high. Reliability and reparability are TBD so far, I guess.
posted by EKStickland at 1:01 PM on April 1, 2022 [1 favorite]