Cooktops Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Cooktops. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Cooktops, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Cooktops. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Cooktops prices.

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Cooktops Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cooktops Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports	Cooktops & wall ovens Editors of Consumer Reports July 2007		In this roundup, Consumer Reports tests 34 gas and electric cooktops, as well as six induction cooktops, including pro-style models. 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.
2. Consumer Reports	Induction cooktops are promising, but not perfect Editors of Consumer Reports May 2006		This article discusses induction cooktops and how they work. Induction cooktops are faster than both gas or 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.

Cooktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cooktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. Sears.com	Untitled Contributors to Sears.com As of Dec. 2007		Sears.com is one of the few websites we found with a decent number of consumer reviews of cooktops. The strength and weakness here is that most reviews are for Kenmore cooktops. Many models, however, have just one review, and the reviews themselves are often very brief. There are a small number of cooktops that receive a top 5-star rating from multiple owners, with the lower-priced Kenmore 30-Inch Sealed Gas Cooktop model 32232 (est. $500) unanimously getting the top score from five different owners -- a promising sign, but not enough opinions to be definitive.
4. Choice.com.au >> Details/Subscribe	Gas cooktops Editors of Choice.com.au Feb. 2006		Choice is the Australian equivalent to Consumer Reports. Their testing methods are nearly as rigorous, although they don't test as many models. Ten gas cooktops are rated by performance and features. Three brands are recommended -- Westinghouse, Bosch and Miele. Many of the brands aren't as available in the U.S., limiting the usefulness of this data for American shoppers. Choice also recommends cooktops that are best for people with varying disabilities.
5. J.D. Power & Associates	2007 Major Home Appliance Ratings: Built-In Cooktops and Ovens Editors of J.D. Power and Associates Oct. 2007		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.

Cooktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cooktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

6. Choice.com.au	Induction cooktops Editors of Choice.com.au July 2003		In a review similar to the one above, Choice rates four induction cooktops by performance and features. Again, the brands covered aren't as available in the U.S. as in Australia, but there's good information here about how induction cooktops work, along with a helpful list of pros and cons that might be of assistance in deciding whether induction cooking is right for you. A Miele model is recommended for its many features, but an Asko model is easier to use. This article is now almost four years old, so the information on specific cooktops isn't very useful.
7. Kiplinger Personal Finance >> Details/Subscribe	Range of Choices Jane Bennett Clark Mar. 1, 2004		This article describes the personal appliance favorites of kitchen design consultant Deborah Krasner. No product testing is described, no ratings are given, and only high-end brands are mentioned here. Gaggenau electric cooktops are described as offering "enormous flexibility." Wolf, Thermador, Viking, Jenn-Air and KitchenAid cooktops are recommended for durability. In the end, though, Krasner recommends holding out for an induction cooktop.
8. AJMadison.com	Cooktop reviews Contributors to AJMadison.com As of Dec. 2007		This online appliance store features a limited number of consumer reviews of the cooktops sold there. Of the few cooktops that have received user ratings, most are limited to just one or two comments, although a Verona 12-inch, two-burner gas cooktop is well rated in five reviews. The reviews are even more sparse for electric cooktops, but two Frigidaire cooktops, one with coil burners and one with a smooth top, are rated best. Without more feedback on models, it's hard to draw conclusions from the limited reviews here, but AJ Madison is worth a look to see if anyone has reviewed the models you are considering.

Cooktops Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Cooktops Ratings Comments on Reviews

9. Consumer Guide.com	Cooktops Editors of ConsumerGuide.com As of Dec. 2007		Consumer Guide 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 >> Details/Subscribe	New easy-to-clean electric cooktops cook like gas and are safe James Dulley Not Dated		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. Epinions	Kitchen Cooktops Contributors to Epinions As of Dec. 2007		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. Few models get more than one or two writeups. One Jenn-Air cooktop gets 16 reviews and another has 13 reviews, but both have low overall ratings. Complaints range from gas burners that blow out easily to frequent repairs and uneven cooking. One Jenn-Air Expressions electric cooktop has a couple of positive reviews, but others get poor reviews for being hard to clean, having poor burner control and issues with the grill's black coating flaking off into food. Some Viking models are criticized for poor quality despite high price tags, including difficulty in cleaning, as well as cracked glass surfaces and easily scratched stainless cooktops. Several Frigidaire models -- both gas and electric -- are also rated poorly for being hard to clean or for shattering glass surfaces.
12. The Induction Site	Induction Cooking Editors of the Induction Site As of Dec. 2007		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.
13. eBay	Cooktop reviews Contributors to eBay As of Dec. 2007		Auction site eBay now features a review section. There are very few reviews actually posted on cooktops, probably because the review component of eBay just launched in 2006. The site also encourages both buyers and sellers on eBay to post reviews, calling into question whether some are deceptively positive from those hoping to get bids on specific items. The lion's share of reviews are, in fact, positive. There are some single reviews of cooktops with poor ratings, but there's no consistency and not enough volume of feedback to draw any conclusions.
14. Consumer Democracy	Cooktops Contributors to Consumer Democracy.com As of Dec. 2007		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.