The 10 Best Induction Cooktops
Special Honors
Electrolux Appliances If you're planning a major remodel and want to invest in something of premium quality, check out Electrolux's line of luxury induction stove tops. They're pricey, and there are a few to choose from, but the right one should last for many years of highly efficient cooking. electroluxappliance.com
Avantco Equipment While they tend to be relatively bulky, Avantco's family of induction ranges are extremely powerful and built to last. They're also pretty pricey and not particularly sleek, but if you need to get a lot of work done, they're worthy of consideration. avantcoequipment.com
Vollrath Induction Vollrath is known for its huge variety of professional-grade cooking tools and appliances, and their magnet-based cooktops uphold their reputation well. Their entire line consists of common stove units as well as some specialty devices like electric woks, and if you're outfitting a commercial kitchen, you should probably give them a look. vollrath.com
Editor's Notes
January 29, 2021:
During this update we added a couple of models that bring modern smart technology to the cooking experience. While there was nothing inherently wrong with the GasLand IH30BF and AmazonBasics 1800W, our two eliminated models, we feel the Hestan Cue Smart Gen 2 and Cuisinart Tasty One simply offer more functionality, and as a result, more convenience. Both are capable of automatically adjusting their settings to follow along with the recipes included on their associated apps, practically eliminating any chance of chef error. Other than those two changes, we continue to stand by all of our previous recommendations, which really shouldn't come as much surprise considering they all come from reliable and well-respected brands that have proven they know how to make great cooktops.
November 29, 2019:
There are two types of induction ranges available: permanent stove tops and portable burners. As far as portable ones go, the AmazonBasics 1800W is about as inexpensive as they come, but if you'll be using it frequently you'll likely want to upgrade to the higher-quality Duxtop 9100MC, which comes in at the top of the pack in real-world testing. The Duxtop P961LS should be considered if you want a commercial-grade device, and while it's somewhat costly, it's considerably less expensive than similar professional models from the brands used in most restaurants. Meanwhile, the Duxtop 9620LS is an excellent two-burner choice and is remarkably cost-effective.
There are also plenty of permanent models available, but remember, you'll almost certainly need a 220-volt connection to use them, and most consumers will need them professionally installed. With that in mind, the Frigidaire 3025 is one of the most consistently highly rated options and the top-of-the-line GE Profile is extremely high-performing but it does cost quite a bit. The GasLand IH60BF is a good full-size alternative to those and it's quite reasonably priced. The Empava IDC12B2 and GasLand IH30BF are both extremely compact, so if you're working in a very small kitchen like one in a studio apartment or RV they might be right for you. And no matter which you end up with, you absolutely need induction-compatible cookware or it won't work at all.
Brief History Of Induction Cooktops
In the following years, manufacturers in Europe, Asia, and America continued to improve the technology in the hopes of making better induction cooktops.
Though the majority of people have only recognized the term induction cooking within the last ten years, give or take, this technology comparatively dates back to 1907, when the first patent for an induction cooking device was issued.
In 1933, Frigidaire talked about induction cooking at the "Century of Progress" World's Fair, and just 20 years later in the 1950s, they went on to put their creation to demonstration. To illustrate the safety and convenience of induction cooking, they showed how they could boil a pot of water with a piece of newspaper between the pot of the induction burner, without igniting the newspaper.
Despite this impressive presentation, induction cooking did not popularize immediately. In 1970, the Research and Development division of the Westinghouse Electric Corporation developed an induction cooktop named the Cool Top Induction Range, and put it on display in Houston at the National Association of Home Builders.
The Cool Top only had one heating element, but it was enough to demonstrate the concept to home builders and consumers. They decided to make production units in an attempt to develop a market for induction cooktops and the second model in the series, which was intended for commercial sale, was named the Cool Top 2. These had four 1,600 watt elements integrated into a single burner and included a set of very high quality quadra-ply cookware, but also came with a hefty price tag. The run was short lived as production was halted in 1975 when the Westinghouse Consumer Products Division was sold to White Consolidated Industries Inc.
In the mid 1980s, Sears manufactured an induction cooktop with four burners. Unfortunately these models had limited power and were extremely noisy, resulting in poor sales. In the following years, manufacturers in Europe, Asia, and America continued to improve the technology in the hopes of making better induction cooktops. NASA even worked on developing the technology for use in the space program.
Induction cooktops never quite caught on with American consumers and faded quickly from the marketplace, but a few companies like Luxine and Cooktek continued to work on developing commercial units. During this time in Europe and Asia, induction cooktops carved out a firm place in the consumer market. Breakthroughs in the year 2000 by European manufacturers, working closely with DuPoint, improved the technology enough that it began to catch on in the American marketplace as well.
How Induction Cooktops Work
Induction cooktops work by utilizing magnetic induction, as opposed to standard cooktops which use thermal conduction from a heat source. A copper coil is placed under the cooking surface and when an alternating current is passed through it, a powerful oscillating magnetic field is created. This produces a magnetic flux, which in turn magnetizes the cooking vessel. A large eddy of currents swirls around the pot or pan and, due to the properties of resistance, causes it to heat up. Because this process is taking place within the cooking vessel, it becomes the heat source and is the only item which produces any heat.
This plate functions in a similar manner to a traditional hot plate.
This is unlike a traditional range, where the heat source, either fire or a red hot coil, heats up the pot and everything else around it. Controlling the power of the magnetic field by increasing or decreasing the alternating current, allows one to precisely control the temperature of the cooking vessel.
In almost every induction cooktop model, the pot or pan must be made from or contain a large quantity of ferromagnetic metal. It is possible to use aluminum, copper, and glass cookware on an induction cooktop if a ferromagnetic disk is placed underneath it. This plate functions in a similar manner to a traditional hot plate.
Once the cooking vessel or ferromagnetic disk is removed from the induction cooktop, the heat generation stops instantly. If no compatible cooking vessel is placed on top of the induction range, it will remain cold even if turned up to the highest setting.
Benefits Of Induction Cooking
Induction cooktops offer a number of benefits over traditional ranges. First and foremost, they are considerably safer. There are no open flames or red hot burners, making it easier for users to avoid burns. This can also be a boon to any household with small children as there is no chance of them burning themselves by placing their hand on hot burner. There will also be less heat radiated out into the atmosphere surrounding the pot, making it easier to work with your food without accidentally burning your wrists from excess heat coming off of the burner.
Less time will be spent waiting for a cooking vessel to heat up, allowing one to start cooking quicker and spend less time in the kitchen.
Since there is less heat radiating out into the atmosphere, induction cooktops are also more efficient. They require less energy to heat the cooking vessel than electric stoves and won't make your kitchen as hot as gas burners.
The induction method of cooking heats up pots and pans faster than traditional stoves. Less time will be spent waiting for a cooking vessel to heat up, allowing one to start cooking quicker and spend less time in the kitchen. Experiments have shown that induction cooking also transfers heat to food quicker and can make water boil faster than traditional methods. It also allows for more precise temperature control. Whether one needs the pan to be hotter or colder, it can be accomplished quicker with an induction range.