Induction Cooktops

Induction cooking: Efficient and trendy, but expensive

Electric induction cooktops use a magnetic field to heat cookware. James Dulley, a nationally syndicated newspaper columnist on efficient homes and appliances, describes it this way: "When a metal (iron or steel) pan is placed on the cooktop, this magnetic field passes through the pan causing the molecules to move, which creates heat in the pan, not the cooktop." Magnetic waves are not harmful to skin or other non-magnetic items. Induction cooktops are energy efficient because less heat escapes into the room. According to an article by Sally Schultheiss at CNNMoney.com, induction cooktops convert 86 percent of energy into heat for cooking, as opposed to 40 percent for gas cooktops and 52 percent for electric cooktops. They're also safer: If a child accidentally moves a pan, the pan heat immediately decreases and the cooktop element is not as hot as other non-induction electric or gas elements would be.

There are a few drawbacks, however. Some users note that induction cooktops make a slight humming sound when in use. More importantly, induction cooktops require magnetic cookware (such as stainless steel or cast iron, but not copper or aluminum) to work, and they're generally more expensive than other kinds of cooktops.

One moderately priced induction option is the 30-inch GE Profile PHP900DMBB (*Est. $1,700). The largest element on this cooktop generates 3,700 watts. It has four differently sized induction elements, and each one has 19 power settings, pan presence and size detection, and a control lockout for safety.

In testing, this GE Profile induction cooktop gets higher scores for cooking performance than conventional cooktops, and it equals higher-priced induction cooktops from Gaggenau and Electrolux. We read just a handful of owner reviews for this induction cooktop at retailer websites like Sears.com and BestBuy.com, but the comments were all very positive.

A similar cooktop is the Kenmore Elite 42800 (*Est. $1,850), a 30-inch induction cooktop that costs a bit less but otherwise has similar features. We found about 40 owner ratings for the Kenmore induction cooktop at Sears.com. Most are entirely positive, but we did read a few reports about electrical problems. Kenmore's standard warranty is one year; some owners suggest paying for an extension. One small drawback is that the Elite's four elements can't be used on high power at the same time. Still, this cooktop is much less expensive than most others. It comes in black only. A 36-inch induction cooktop, the Kenmore Elite 42900, has five burners.

Electrolux has one induction cooktop, the Electrolux Icon E30IC75FSS (*Est. $2,000). This 30-inch cooktop has four elements of varying sizes with 1,200 to 3,200 watts of power. Each element has 15 preset heat settings. These settings include a power boost and a keep-warm setting. The Electrolux shares other features with the Kenmore Elite. For safety, the model's controls shut off after 18 hours, and it has pan presence and size detection. Like most induction cooktops, the Electrolux outperforms standard cooktops, but the similar Kenmore Elite 42800 (*Est. $1,850) costs much less. One advantage is that the Electrolux can power all burners on high simultaneously. There's also a 36-inch version of this cooktop, the five-burner Electrolux Icon E36IC75FSS (*Est. $2,500).

The high-priced Gaggenau VI 411-610 cooktop (*Est. $3,500) has a single induction element, providing up to 3,500 watts of power. It performs splendidly in testing, but this cooktop is very small; it can accommodate just one pot. The Gaggenau cooktop is only about 15 inches wide and is meant to be part of what Gaggenau calls a "modular" cooktop. You are supposed to choose additional cooktop components to complete your kitchen. A wok ring, for example, is an optional accessory.

The Viking VCCU 106 induction cooktop (*Est. $2,650) comes down a step in price, but up a notch in features, with two induction and two radiant elements. Comparable to the Gaggenau, the Viking has up to 3,300 watts of power. This cooktop allows for customized burner configuration. The Viking VCCU106 comes in two finishes -- stainless steel with white or black glass. The previous version of this cooktop, the Viking VCCU105, performed well in testing, outperforming standard cooktops, but we haven't seen reviews of the new version. Viking does offer all-induction cooktops, with either four or six elements (*Est. $3,500 to $4,550), but the price tags are stratospheric.