Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop - worth it?

3 years ago

Does anyone have the Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop? Do you like it? Would you buy it again? Why or why not? We will be installing in our island without an overhead hood. Did you install a downdraft vent?

We are also considering the new Wolf Induction but it won’t be available until January at the earliest thus leaning towards Thermador.

Thanks in advance for thoughts and recommendations.

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Comments (4)

wdccruise
3 years ago
Did you read the Owners Manual starting on page 10? Do you want to control the elements using a touchscreen like this? Will you use features such as Transfer Function, Cooking Sensor Mode, MyZone, TeppanyakiPro mode, or HomeConnect? Is this Thermador CIT36YWBB worth $6100 or would, say, a Frigidaire Professional FPIC3677RF with simple knobs, fixed induction elements, bridge elements, and a $1900 price tag really be all you need?
HU-227031627
3 years ago
I'm buying a Gaggenau 400 Series cooktop, which I think is the same as your Thermador, except the Thermador cannot be installed flush into the countertop (or so my salesman said). I've seen it demonstrated, and it seemed cool as heck to me. Do I need its features? We could all cook over a hot plate or BBQ grill if we had to. I don't have to, and I want something that looks cool and should cook well.

I did do some research on ventilation, and downdraft vents do not get high marks. I tested one out at the Gaggenau showroom, and it didn't appear to work very well to me. I also tested the backsplash ventilation (unit that rises up from under the countertop), and I didn't think that worked very well either. They certainly look nice and avoid having a bulky island hood hanging over your head, but I didn't think the performance was there.

I'm going with the telescopic vent. I didn't test it with something actually cooking on the stove like I did with the other units. Online reviews are so-so. My girlfriend loves hers, and I like how it looks. Hopefully, it works ok.
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HU-227031627
3 years ago
mrowesc, there are also vents that you can install against (or in) the ceiling. Being that far away, it will probably not be as effective. There are also recirculating hoods (if the reason you are not using an overhead hood is because of duct issues). The recirculating hoods recycle the air and do not vent the air out of the house. I did not see them demonstrated.
Claudia Lapin
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Spare yourself a true nightmare! Thermador double ovens completely on the fritz for months, agonizing hold times, one authorized repairman on Central Coast of CA, they "have no record" of my 4 service visits over one year's time and won't honor their promise to extend warranty. Last time I EVER buy Thermador, and I've bought for years.