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In this report

See Also

Cooktops: Ratings of Sources
Total of 14 Sources

For an explanation of how we rank reviews, see our ratings criteria page.

1. ConsumerReports.org
July 2008
Cooktops & wall ovens
by Editors of Consumer Reports
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

In this roundup, Consumer Reports tests almost three dozen gas and electric cooktops, including nine induction cooktops. Cooktops are rated on how well they melt, simmer and boil. Testing and user reports… indicate that some high-end cooktops are more repair-prone than less expensive models. Editors say induction cooktops outperform regular cooktops, but at double the price (or more). A discussion of the technology is included, along with ratings and recommendations. There is also a section on how to choose between gas, electric and induction cooktops.

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2. ConsumerReports.org
May 2006
Induction cooktops are promising, but not perfect
by Editors of Consumer Reports
5 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This article discusses induction cooktops and how they work. Induction cooktops are faster than both gas and electric cooktops. They also shut off automatically when the pan is removed, thereby reducing the… chance of house fires. Overall, editors say induction cooktops are impressive but expensive. The editors suggest waiting for their reliability to be proven. This article is dated, but the general information is still useful.

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3. Sears.com
As of Oct. 2008
Cooktop reviews
by Contributors to Sears.com
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Sears.com is one of the few websites we found with a decent number of consumer reviews of cooktops. The retailer carries more than 400 models on its website. Many models, however, have just one review, and… the reviews themselves are often very brief. There just isn't enough review volume here to tell which cooktops are highest rated overall, but Sears is an excellent place to cross-check picks at Consumer Reports.

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4. Choice.com.au
Feb. 2008
Ceramic Cooktops
by Editors of Choice.com.au
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Choice is the Australian equivalent to Consumer Reports. Their testing methods are nearly as rigorous, although they don't test as many models. The magazine has tested gas and electric smoothtop cooktops, and while the testing is extremely useful for Australian consumers, none of the tested models are available in the U.S.
5. J.D. Power & Associates
Oct. 2007
2007 Major Home Appliance Ratings: Built-In Cooktops and Ovens
by Editors of J.D. Power and Associates
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

Over 12,000 consumers participated in this survey about major home appliances. Brands are rated in six categories, including performance, price, features, ease of use, style and warranty. Only brands are… rated, not individual cooktops, and ratings for cooktops and built-in ovens are combined. GE Appliances is the winner in overall owner satisfaction. Whirlpool and GE Profile are in second and third place, respectively. The KitchenAid brand is listed as below average, but without specific details, we're not sure why.

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6. Consumer magazine
Mar. 2008
Ceramic (Electric Smoothtop) Cooktops
by Editors of Consumer.org.nz
4 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This New Zealand testing publication scrutinizes eight models of electric smoothtop cooktops for use/cleaning, durability, quality of controls, and cooking factors such as simmering, high heat and "turn… down" ability. Fisher & Paykel and Bosch are the top two performing brands. As with Choice, this test is really only helpful for Kiwi readers, but some of the general information is applicable to U.S. readers.

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7. Money Magazine
June 9, 2008
The Ultimate Kitchen Upgrade
by Sally Schultheiss
3 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment This buyer's guide to induction cooktops covers all the bases -- except for testing and rating cooktops. Sally Schultheiss delves into the history and technology of induction cooking, and includes information on costs, installation and adjustments you'll need to make to incorporate this technology into your kitchen.
8. AJMadison.com
As of Oct. 2008
Cooktop reviews
by Contributors to AJMadison.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This appliance retail site features a limited number of consumer reviews of the cooktops sold here. Of the few cooktops that have received user ratings, most are limited to just one or two comments. The… reviews are even sparser for electric cooktops, but two Frigidaire cooktops, one with coil burners and one with a smooth top, are rated best. Ten induction cooktops are rated; two with two reviews each and the rest with one review. Without more feedback on models, it's hard to draw conclusions from the limited reviews here, but AJMadison.com is worth a look.

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9. ConsumerGuide.com
As of Oct. 2008
Cooktops
by Editors of ConsumerGuide.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment ConsumerGuide.com lists many cooktops, giving some of them a Best Buy rating. However, writeups describe features with no evidence of testing. Three gas cooktops and three electric cooktops get "spotlight reviews," but without any testing, this doesn't inspire much confidence in Consumer Guide's picks.
10. Sensible Home
Not Dated
New easy-to-clean electric cooktops cook like gas and are safe
by James Dulley
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment James Dulley is a mechanical engineer and nationally syndicated newspaper columnist. He has hundreds of home-ownership-related bulletins on his website, including this article on electric cooktops. No product testing is done, nor are ratings given, but the report does provide some general information on induction cooking, as well as limited model specifications from 15 cooktop manufacturers.
11. 3Luxe.com
Not Dated
Cooktops
by Editors of 3LUXE.com
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment 3LUXE.com's motto is "Simply find the best of everything." In this article, the editors have chosen their top three picks for the best cooktops: Thermador, Viking and Gaggenau, respectively. They are all induction cooktops. Each cooktop's features are detailed, but there is no explanation as to how the reviewers chose these models as their top picks, or if any testing was performed.
12. Epinions.com
As of Oct. 2008
Kitchen Cooktops
by Contributors to Epinions
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment If you're looking for a review of a specific model, Epinions is worth a try, although cooktops don't receive as many owner-written ratings as ranges or ovens. This site is worthwhile to check once you've narrowed down your choices.
13. The Induction Site
As of Oct. 2008
Induction Cooking
by Editors of the Induction Site
2 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment

This site is for enthusiasts of induction cooking. There is a lot of information about how induction cooktops work, as well as installation suggestions and the pros and cons of induction cooktops. There is… also a large database of brands and models, along with detailed information about each model. While there are no reviews or recommendations, this site is helpful. It even offers information about the types of cookware needed for induction cooking. Though the site does sell cooktops, the sales push isn't over the top.

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14. ConsumerDemocracy.com
As of Oct. 2008
Cooktops
by Contributors to ConsumerDemocracy.com
1 stars Credibility Rating
Our Assessment Similar to the forum offered by Epinions, owners of cooktops offer reviews on this site. Unfortunately, most reviews are only a line or two, and the model numbers are not listed. The reviews cover a wide variety of brands, but there seems to be no clear favorite.

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