8 Best Induction Stoves for 2022
Updated: May 13, 2022Here's what you need to know to choose the best induction stove for your kitchen.
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What Is an Induction Stove?
Unlike conventional gas or electric stovetops which use thermal conduction (transfer of heat from a flame or electric element to the cookware), an induction stove employs a magnetic induction current.
How they work
Andrew Forlines, a chef and kitchen appliance technology expert, says when you place a pot on the glass-ceramic induction burner surface, the cookware heats up but the burner will only be warm to the touch. That’s because the surface draws residual heat from the cookware. The burner never gets red-hot like an electric cooktop so the food won’t burn. This makes induction stoves much easier to clean.
“One of the most common misconceptions about induction technology is that you must use ‘special’ or ‘induction-only’ pans on induction burners,” says Forlines. To work, the cookware must be magnetic. If a magnet sticks to the pot, then it will work. “Cast iron works very well on induction,” he says. Copper and aluminum do not.
Many people think gas burners are better than induction. Forlines disagrees. Induction, he says, converts 90 to 95 percent of usable heat into cooking. Gas is only 40 percent efficient. “Most of the gas you burn goes around the pan and into the air before the metal can absorb it,” he says.
Features to consider when shopping for an induction range or cooktop
“Across brands, there are a lot of performance similarities with induction since they source the electro-magnetic generators from the same manufacturers,” Forlines says. “The big differences are in the interface (user input and interaction), aesthetics (design, knobs versus touch screen controls) and burner layout (designated or non-designated burners, number of cooking zones).”
Forlines says induction ranges and cooktops generally require 220 to 240 volts and 30 to 50 amps. However, plug-in countertop single burners are available in 110 volts.
Key factors to think about when comparing induction stoves:
- Type: Your options are full-size ranges with ovens, cooktops only or stand-alone portable models. The latter is an inexpensive way to try out induction cooking.
- Price: This varies from around $100 for portables to $9,000 for “the works.” Because they’re operationally efficient, induction stoves can save money on utility costs over time.
- Controls: Power, temperature and preset controls are generally available in rotating knobs, push buttons or touch sensors.
- Interval temperature settings. The more temperature intervals available, the easier it is to adjust the heat.
- Smart connectivity: “There are also some induction burners that can be set by temperature, and/or have integrated app-driven, video-guided recipes for people to cook along with,” Forlines says.
- Handy extra features: A booster to boil water faster, pre-set cooking menus, automatic pan detection, and safety sensors like auto shutoffs and child locks are available on some induction stoves.
From portable to stylish to state-of-the-art, our list of the best induction stoves and cooktops will help you find the one that’s right for you.
Most Stylish Induction Stove
Feast your eyes on the 1950s-inspired Big Chill Retro Electric Induction Range. This totally cool, enameled beauty is sure to feed any kitschy or voguish obsession.
This stove isn’t just a period piece — it offers modern functionality, too. It features four cooktop zones, five cooking modes and nine heat settings on each burner. If that’s not enough, the glorious color choices are sure to draw you in. Choose beach blue, cherry red or lemonade pink, or tailor the look from a wheel of 200 premiere and custom hues.
Best Induction Cooking System
Want to take induction cooking lessons without leaving your kitchen? The Hestan Cue Seven-Piece Smart Cooking System gives you access to more than 600 video-guided recipes when you connect through its Bluetooth-enabled app.
Along with the induction cooktop, the Hestan Cue comes with an 11-inch stainless steel pan, a 3.5-quart sauce pot and a 5.5-quart chef’s pot, plus a smart temperature probe. You’ll have everything you need to create delicious meals in half the time.
Best Induction Stove Splurge
With state-of-the-art cooktop technology, the Miele 30-inch Induction Range features four induction cooking zones with 19,500 watts of power.
Aimed at the ardent home chef with dreams of becoming the next Jaime Oliver or Julia Child, the Master Chef Plus offers automatic programs that guide you step-by-step through more than 100 menu options, with everything from cooking modes to precise temperature settings. With a tap or a swipe, the M Touch feature intuitively works the stove like a smartphone.
It’s budget-buster, for sure. But if you want to improve the resale value of your home, it’s a strong choice.
Best Portable Induction Cooktop
Small enough for cooking on the go, the Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop is a single-burner induction hot plate you can set up on the kitchen counter, in a dorm room, office break room or in an RV — anywhere there’s a standard electrical outlet.
Easy to operate, the Duxtop offers lots of the important functions you’ll find in full-size induction cooktops, like a digital LCD sensor-touch control panel, “fast boil” and “keep warm” buttons, plus a child safety lock.
Best Induction Stove With Air Fryer
A mid-priced value option, the Frigidaire Gallery 30-in. Induction Electric Range provides an induction stovetop plus an air fryer built into the oven. Buy this and you won’t need that separate air fryer taking up space on your countertop.
Best Versatile Induction Range
The best-selling, versatile KitchenAid 7.1-cu. ft. Slide-In Induction Range is the one you’ll want for everyday meal prep. The cooking surface features four induction burners with bridge elements that work with large or unusually shaped cookware.
Cleanup is a breeze thanks to AquaLift self-cleaning technology that helps spills and grease disappear without scrubbing. A separate convection oven compartment lets you bake at different temperatures — a soufflé in one and chocolate chip cookies in the other!
Best Overall Induction Cooktop
The GE Profile Electric Induction Cooktop with five induction zones senses the size of the pan you’re cooking with and heats only the necessary area beneath it. What’s more, two nifty elements sync together to heat a large griddle or cookware evenly across a pair of seven-inch burners.
“It boils water incredibly fast but also can heat to a wide range of lower temperatures,” writes reviewer Tyler on homedepot.com. “As far as I can tell there is no minimum pan size diameter; I can heat a very small pot on the largest burner. The controls are intuitive.”
Best Induction Stove With Double Oven
Offering twice as much meal making in one range, the Café 6.7 cu. ft. Smart Slide-In Double Oven Induction Range in stainless steel features an edge-to-edge cooktop with five elements and two ovens. Both ovens are self-steam-cleaning, with the lower oven offering true European convection cooking.
