My only adivce is to go for it! Have had my induction range @ 4 years & had switched to it from gas. I have zero complaints. I can’t recommend cooktops since I have a range but for the induction functionality there’s nothing better IMO.

Love our 36” miele cooktop!!! Lots more options now at more price points than 10 years ago though. we brought our pans in to test hob size and miele was only one that worked well. we use the hob shut off timers all the time which sounds like many don’t have now.

We are on our second house with a Bosch induction cooktop - as responsive as gas and so very much easier to clean. It also functions as a work surface when I’m not cooking on in - the cool glass is great for rolling out doughs

The main thing that influenced my decision was hob placement. I wanted the large one in the front. I have touch vs. knobs and that works fine for me. I have a range but with a cooktop I think touch controls are nice because then you don't have to clean around knobs.

In reading various reviews, I just can't get a handle on best brand for features/value/ease of use. There is certainly a wide range of choices and prices for size and features. I love my Blue Star gas range in my other home and would buy again without hesitation. Can anyone give me the same level of confidence in a particular brand or model of an induction cooktop?

I have a 36” wolf that is 8+ years old. Zero issues. I like the placement of the hobs with the large one on the right. I also like that all the ”smaller” ones are the same size. It has excellent pot recognition. I also like the fact it has a separate direct select control for each hob. Wolf has redesigned their cooktop and now has one central control pad for all the hobs so not sure how I would like that. I have a second home where I plan to replace a 1962 electric coil 30” with induction. Right now I am leaning towards the GE Profile as it has the separate controls for each hob and can be direct selected. I don’t want to spend the $$ on Wolf/Thermador/Miele for this house.

If you can go to a showroom (wolf/miele/Ferguson/local dealer) where they have live units you can get a feel of various types of controls and layouts and see what works for you. I would not hesitate to buy any of the above brands plus bosch. Yale Appliance has some great blogs and reviews on various cooktops that you might to check out.

Where is florida are you buying? I know a great local dealer in Orlando that has an awesome showroom with live units.

Kim,

Thank you very much for your advice and input. We are buying in the Sarasota area. I have not found an appliance showroom equivalent to a Ferguson down here yet. The one appliance store I visited had limited functional display. I understand the individual controls and agree with wanting that too. I think my biggest concern is there seems to be complaints about pot and pan size sensitivity and sudden shutoff if something isn't just right. My wife will go nuts if it gets too technical to simply cook. I too don't really want to spend hugely. I did see Thermador has a beautiful flex zone 36" but has a very high price tag. Just want to be able to use more that one cooking zone at one time and not have to do gymnastics to fit the pans just right and still easily pay attention what I'm doing. Maybe I'm just overthinking this whole thing. LOL

See also: https://theinductionsite.com/ 

As an FYI - there is Ferguson Bath,Kitchen and lighting store in Sarasota on Fruitville Rd.. There are also 2 in the Tampa Bay area where I live. I’d contact them and see what they have live in their showrooms. Each may be different. I know I tested out my Wolf at the one in downtown tampa 8 years ago. Also the Famous Tate in South Tampa (don’t know about any of the other locations) has some live appliances - i’d call them as well. If you are up to a day trip to North Orlando - Milcarsky’s Appliance has a fairly new state of the art showroom. My neighbor when I lived in Orlando owns it and provides great advice and service so I would also find out what they have live if no one else has what you are interested in (if you can tolerate the drive :-)).

The only time my Wolf goes crazy is if I spill liquid on the touch pad when in use. I just turn if off (one touch), Clean up the liquid then turn back on. It happens rarely. I lock it when I clean over the touch pad as it doesn’t care when in lock mode.

I have not experienced pot/pan sensitivity with the Wolf. The owners manual that you can find on line usually spells out the MIN/MAX pan sizes for each sized hob. It varies by manufacturer. I also find putting something larger will still work - it may not cook evenly etc. Depends on the pan and what you are are cooking. Smaller may also work - For example I can put a 4” pan on my large hob and it works fine. You just to test your pans on the top you end up buying.

Induction is great!! You will enjoy it.

Kim,

Can't thank you enough for your advise and help. I will for sure go to Ferguson. That is where I bought all my high end appliances for my current home. Didn't know there was one here. Don't really want to go to Orlando. It's crazy busy down here already. Have to go back north for Christmas. Just wanted to get this project started before we leave and having this for the fabricator is important. Didn't want to buy the wrong thing.

Again, thanks for your input and help.

Go to Mullets on 72, the best! Not affiliated, bought my wolf induction and other appliances from them. Very happy.

I live in Sarasota. There is a Ferguson on Fruitville Rd.

I have the Bosch 36” 800 cooktop. Love it. Love the timers for eac hob. Love the speed boost for each hob. Love the precise heat.

No pot sensitivity

Bruce, you are worrying too much, truly. Induction is uncomplicated. I have had Bosch cooktops in my last two homes. Everyone in my large extended family has kicked their gas to the curb and love it. I have never put a pot on a hob and had it not work. Yes, a spill on the touchpad will shut the unit down. That’s it. And yes, both my Bosch units had the big hob on the back, which is not my preference as I am short. But it was a compromise for me to get Bosch’s induction speed and dependability. There are many fine induction cooktops on the market. Just chose the features you love, and enjoy the speed and easy cleanup. You will never miss your gas range, ever.

I have experience with three different induction cooktops/range.

First was a combo gas and induction cooktop from Bertazzoni -- would not recommend/did not hold up.

Second was/is a 36" Wolf induction cooktop (replaced the Bertazzoni) -- would highly recommend. We have had it for 6-7 years -- no issues, easy to use, solid appliance. If it had individual hob timers it would be perfection. I have seen pics of the newer models on the Wolf website -- beautiful (for a cooktop).

Currently also have a Frigidaire 30" induction range in another home/condo. We have future intention to remodel the kitchen, but needed to replace a Kitchen Aide radiant range. Being an induction convert (and gas not being an option/would not choose anyway), we went with a budget option for now (I think the range was $1300 at HD), and it turns out that it's really a pretty great option. We've had it for about a year and it has been trouble free. I do miss a few things -- like the easy roll out oven racks you get with higher end models, but aside from baking cookies, I'm more of a sous vide/cooktop kind of cook anyway, so have managed.

Depending on the brand you go with for a cooktop, you may have the option of a cooktop that fits "in" the countertop (flush) or one that has an edge around it. Because we were fitting into an existing hole, we went with the Wolf option that has the stainless edging. I might opt for the flush cooktop if starting new like you are -- just make sure your countertop installer knows what they are doing.

I agree with what others have said -- I don't think you will miss your gas range once you use a great induction unit.

Good Luck!

Mullets is locally owned. They have competitive pricing and they also service appliances. When possible, I prefer to support local companies and not huge national chains.

"The home I'm buying and am going to do some updates to has a radiant GE cooktop."

There is no consistency in the size of cooktop cutouts among manufacturers. To avoid having to modify the cutout or replace the countertop, just buy a GE Appliances-brand (GE, Profile, Cafe, Monogram) induction cooktop.

• If you have a GE 30" radiant cooktop, its cutout dimensions will probably be 28.5" wide x 19.625" deep.
• If you have a GE 36" radiant cooktop, its cutout dimensions will probably be 33.875" wide x 19.125" deep.

Here are GE Profile induction cooktops that would fit in the existing cutouts whose dimensions are listed above:

• 30" induction cooktops
• 36" induction cooktops
• Cafe 30" induction cooktops

Installation is pretty easy. The hardest part is probably wiring the cooktop to the existing junction box.

I put a 36” Bosch induction cooktop in a recent client’s kitchen. 800 series. They love it. Miele and Monogram are also good choices. I’d go for the touch pad versions vs knobs. They’re much easier to clean.

Don't be fooled. The GE Profile PHP7036DTBB ($1700) and Monogram ZHU36RDTBB ($3300) have the same diameter and wattage induction elements. GE Appliances sometimes sells nearly the same appliance under its multiple brands: GE, Profile, Cafe, Monogram.

@wdccruiseCan you bridge the Profile? I know it doesn’t have the bridge element but I actually don’t know if that matters. Can you just turn on both burners?

My GE Profile range does have the bridge / sync burners function in it. Don’t know about cooktop only.

Besides timers some cooktops have 17 levels of output control vs 10 levels in others.

@bry911: "Can you bridge the Profile?"

As shown in the tables linked above, the PHP9030 and PHP9036 have the "sync-burners" feature.

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36" cooktop cutout sizes:

• GE Profile/Cafe: 33.875" wide x 19.125" deep
• Bosch: 34 7/8" wide x 20" deep (would not fit in GE cutout)
• Frigidaire FPIC3077RF: 33-7/8" to 34" wide x 19-1/8" to 19-1/4" (would fit in GE cutout)