Absolutely stellar performance for my use cases, which are
A. hash browns
B. boiling water
C. eggs
Biggest issue:
A. cookware compatibility
Biggest benefit (aside from energy/no gas burning emissions):
A. extremely controllable temperature
Note: Getting other folks to try the induction stove did not go well; I am a technology early adopter and willing to experiment, no one else here is. They are comfortable with using what they have used, even if there are issues (lousy burner design here, for one).
@ai6yr I am very happy with our induction range. One benefit I would add that was part of our decision: if you have very young children who might go around curiously turning knobs, buttons, etc. the induction is far safer since there isn't a risk of gas emitting, an open flame, or any electric burners getting hot.
@ai6yr my parents have had an induction cooktop for at least 15 years if not longer. The newer ones are really nice. Way better than gas or resistance cook tops.
@ai6yr I had installed a 2 burner one in our island about 14 years ago (had granite fabricators cut me the hole). I miss it dearly. I chose one with no knobs, so from far away you couldn’t tell it was there. It also served as a place for warm food during dinner parties.
@ai6yr We need to change our old range (20+ years) and have already decided on induction. Cookware is not an issue as the vast majority is all clad stainless. I am following your experience with great interest
@cvvhrn Considering our existing gas stove is in another room right now (and it was already having issues with the igniters -- parts no longer available)... still pondering this. More $ but it's a convenient time to swap.
@cvvhrn We currently have a Wolf 30 inch residential range, Circa 1990-something. Essentially a commercial gas stove adapted to the residential size. But... no parts.
We have held off in part because once our kid is done with school, we plan a final (for us at least) complete tear out of the kitchen and remodel. We also have the cook top + oven versus range debate ongoing as we plan it.
@ai6yr@cvvhrn Our friend and savior Fred of Miracle Appliance is very definitely not a Wolf fan. I always talk to him before making an appliance purchase.
@W6KME@cvvhrn Ha! Well, the Wolf of yesterday is not the Wolf of today. They originally were a commercial kitchen supplier (in the 1980's) and made a brief foray into consumer products (when my stove was purchased by the prior owner of the house). They then sold the Wolf brand to one of the big brands -- I think Frigidaire? Or maybe someone else? Who used the name and styling but nothing else from the commercial range days.
@ai6yr We got the portable one first to try it out. We sometimes bring that one on trips to cook in hotels. The last hotel we were in even had some that you could borrow. We've also been in hotel rooms where the cooking smells from the previous occupants were so strong that we had to switch rooms.
@ai6yr I haven't checked lately, but I think we are stuck in a zone where the induction ranges are a luxury product.
I tried to check prices right now and I can't believe how broken the good old Sears website is. It's effectively impossible to search for an induction range and sort by price. Embarrassing to America itself.
At Home Depot the lowest priced gas range is $379, the lowest price induction range is $998.
@John I don't think Sears is the old Sears anymore... Home Depot or Best Buy for the appliance comparisons, or for the best deal on one specific model usually Costco.
@__josh@ai6yr
We’ve had one from this line for a decade or so. Very happy (bonus extra counter space in our small kitchen because surface doesn’t get hot). Please get one with knobs- the touch screen / buttons are not great usability-wise.
@wndlb Not in our area... natural gas dominates. That said, if I were to have a choice of electric vs. induction, induction wins (esp. since they are so much more efficient than an electric range, energy-wise).
@ai6yr oh, I meant induction cooktop, above an electric range, what I didn't know about when we most recently bought, not that I would have been able to persuade spouse.
@ai6yr@wndlb
Don't forget to highlight the reduction in indoor air pollution that especially children will benefit from as more people switch from cooking by burning with fossil fuels to using induction stoves.
@wndlb@ai6yr most electric ranges are 220v. If an area has gas lines run, building a house with a 240v outlet in the kitchen is extra expense so comparatively rare.
It's also a huge problem for converting from gas to electric, since it is again a significant expense. This is why NY is trying to prevent all new developments from even having gas lines run.
What's cool about inductions is they are asking some that can work just off 110v making conversion much easier. But still fairly expensive due to the battery in them. (But bonus, it can also run your fridge in a power outage!)
There are a lot of hosues with natural gas that have electric stoves. Plumbing for gas to the ktichen isn't free, and so the builder asks you which you want. Natrual gas is very common where I live, but it is for the furnace (where winters get cold enough that anything else is not affordable - though heatpumps could be a significant savings these days if anyone knew how to size them right). Often a builder will put in electric stoves by default because overall it is cheaper than gas (the cheapest electric stove + wires is less than a gas stove plus pipes)
Your correct about the gas line being cheaper, however your end point is totally wrong. electricity is STILL produced mostly by Coal and Natural Gas powered power plants... Gas is FAR more efficient and sustainable
Your wind energy is NOT clean, it robbs the forests of the penetrating breeze which prevents overgrowth of harmful mould...
Your solar energy is NOT clean... it robbs the soil of warmth killing the microbial life which needs the warmth of the sun... and the waste generated in producing the panels is super toxic, also the waste when the panels life is done is super harmfull
You are totally ignorant and cockey to boot. if you think you know otherwise
@hajistar@ai6yr@pixelpusher220@bluGill I have yet to see a wind farm anywhere near a forest. Not saying it may not happen somewhere, but that is not a typical site.
No way that Gas line run would COST more than electrical... The builder is probably gouging. or worse yet, getting a kick-back from the power company or electrician if they charge more for Gas line.
@bluGill@ai6yr@wndlb@hajistar perhaps. The cost to retro fit a 240 isn't tho. We *have * to get off gas, so a 110 option for an electric is a much needed option.
there will never be a good 110 stove. You can get less than half the power. and that assumes a rare 30amp 110 circut (i'he only seen for rvs) you still need new wires so why not run 220?)
@bluGill@ai6yr@wndlb@hajistar read above. Induction stoves with a battery. Call it a hybrid. Charges over 110 but pumps way more power than that via the battery. Easily on par with 240 probably more since it's a far shorter run of wire. And it can run your fridge for multiple days in an outage if you wire it that way. (Obvs that's extra expense).
Just like hybrid cars they cover the vast majority of use cases.
Okay, that would work. However I'm not sure if it is practical. Batteries take up space. Batteries have maximum discharge rates. Batteries are not cheap. It would be interesting to the an analysis of these factors (and maybe others I forgot) so see if it is practical or not.
@ai6yr A few years ago we replaced an awful resistive stove top with a cheap(ish) LG induction stove top and it has massively exceeded our expectations. To the point that I don’t see us ever choosing anything but induction in the future (not even gas compares).
@ai6yr I usually buy cookware from the TJX stores (HomeGoods, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx) - they usually have lots of induction ones. Probably because they get lots of cookware from Europe. A quick check can be done by grabbing magnetic chip clips in the same department and seeing if it sticks.
@ai6yr You may also want to look for warehouse clearance centers if any down there for appliances. I scored hefty discounts on high end appliances that way when I had remodeled.
@ai6yr It’s frustrating that induction options are inaccessible. Flat surface of the stove aside, the controls are usually touchscreens and or menus. There’s no way for us to figure out what temperature we’re on etc.
@ai6yr Capacitive buttons and touchscreens are the absolute bane of every blind and visually impaired person’s existence. It’s only gotten harder as the years have gone by. Manufacturers are in love with flat, sleek and so on.
@Cristobalm@ai6yr Not sure this is ideal, but the usability / cues on ours are good (for sighted users)- knobs, number display, LED faux-flame. A fan provides some audio feedback, but it’s subtle. (Touch screen for oven is not nearly as nice, relative has touch screen cooktop and hates the controls.)
Decoupled cooktop and ovens are the norm in Europe. Usually is taken into account when installing the kitchen: part of the countertop cut out to fit the cooktop insert, and using a standard cupboard size for which the appropriate ovens are designed to be inserted.
So it could be a hassle in a pre-existing kitchen, but I really love having our oven at a convenient height instead of on the floor.
@me_valentijn Interesting idea as we're having our cabinets re-done, but I suspect it's not going to happen (as I am only a contributor to, not a decision maker, on any interior decoration choice here, LOL)
@rochelle Induction stoves require cookware which has iron in it to work. Some works fine -- ie cast iron, things like Le Creuset, some stainless steel, but not all. Aluminum pans (which we have many) do not work with induction, they have to allow a magnet to stick to them.
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