We’ve been researching a 30” induction range for almost two years now and since much information is spread out over many different discussion topics, I decided to compile my thoughts and findings.

Note that these are purely based on some of my personal subjective preferences and experiences, so yours may differ. Below are the ones that mattered to me:

1. Controls:

· Do they have knobs or touch panel controls?

· If it’s knobs, are they easy to see and made from a robust material or are they plastic?

· For touch panels, is there an individual control per burner, or do you need to tap the burner selection first and then adjust the power level?

2. Size of cooking surface:

· Will there be enough space to fits a few larger pots and pans?

· What is the layout of the larger burners?

· Front: easy to reach vs back: may need to reach over a pan

3. Cooking power:

· What is the max boost and the nominal power of the burners?

· Is there a bridge function?

· Do I need a 50A circuit or is 40A sufficient?

4. Oven:

· Size: not the biggest deal breaker for me

· Cooking modes: huge fan of convection baking and roasting.

· Racks and sidewall material?

5. Service and reputation:

· Is it a brand I feel comfortable purchasing?

· Do I have friends who have good or bad experiences?

· Will my dealer service the brand vs a 3rdparty?

With those disclaimers out of the way, I’ll go down the list of each brand I considered. As models change regularly, I will specify the detailed model as well, but I’m sure in a year or even six months there will be changes. But it can perhaps serve as a guideline.

The ones I looked at in detail are:

· Bertazzoni

· Bosch

· Dacor

· Electrolux

· Fisher & Paykel

· Fulgor Milano

· GE

· Miele

· Wolf

I will list some other brands at the bottom that I had a cursory look at, but didn’t quite fit my needs or preferences

Bertazzoni

If you’ve scoured the forums for pro-style ranges, the Bertazzoni name comes up quite a bit. An Italian maker that has been around for quite a while, just not very well known in the American consumer market. They make two models. One in their Master series MAST304INMXX and one in the Professional series PROF304INS. They also come in a variety of colors to match your kitchen décor. The Professional series comes with three racks instead of two, and has self clean. The Master series comes with two racks and has no self clean.

· Controls: Both have knob controls located on the front of the range. They look a little different, but the tear drop shape of the Professional series is appealing. They felt sturdy and easy to use. However no indicator light under the glass top to show the selected power level

· Cooking Surface: One of the smaller cooking surfaces compared to some of the others. It’s not bigger than my current radiant cooktop. They do have a bridge burner on the right hand side and the largest burner is on the left rear.

· Cooking Power: They have some of the highest rated burners, and yet only require a 40A circuit. This is why the oven is a bit smaller and has less powerful elements than some of the others

· Oven: I do like the oven size and layout. With stainless steel racks that slide in brackets on the side, I found them easy to move around and very sturdy. The size was more than sufficient for my needs. Lacked some cooking modes I was considering

· Service and reputation: This is probably the biggest unknown. Some reviewers have complained about inaccurate or malfunctioning ovens, but those seem to be applicable to the gas ovens. There’s not too much out there with regards to the induction ranges, so I would ask your dealer for advice in this area.

· Summary: The Bertazzoni PROF304INS is a top contender in our shortlist and definitely one you should consider if you are looking for an induction range with good functionality.

Bosch

A top player in the induction cooking world with a much-praised induction range. The Bosch Benchmark HIIP056U gets excellent reviews and is one of the most popular high-end induction ranges out there.

· Controls: This is my biggest challenge with the Bosch. The touch panel controls on the top feature a single power sliding scale. Without individual controls for each burner. one would have to select the burner, adjust the power, select the next burner, adjust the power, etc… I’m sure many people are fine with that or that one could get used to it. But for me, it is a dealbreaker.

· Cooking Surface: One of the better cooking surfaces with a large bridge burner on the left. The larger burner is almost center towards the read of the surface. While the smallest burner is on the front right.

· Cooking Power: Very similar in power to all other ranges in the list, so more than sufficient for the day-to-day cooking

· Oven: The oven is quite middle of the road with two oven racks but no full extension gliding rack. It also provides a warming drawer.

· Service and reputation: Bosch have an excellent reliability rating and my local dealer highly recommends them. They also service them and hence the Bosch ranks high in the reliability and service area.

· Summary: The Bosch Benchmark HIIP056U is an extremely popular model and has many features that fit the bill. The deal breaker for me are the controls. Some will disagree, but to each their own.

Dacor

Likewise Dacor has been a major player in high-end appliances for a long time. The Dacor Heritage HIPR30S was very high on my initial list. For an additional cost, it can even be color matched to the rest of your décor.

· Controls: Electronic touch panel control built-in on the top of the cooking surface. With individual power level settings for each burner that can be controlled by sliding your finger or just tapping the desired setting

· Cooking Surface: One of the better cooking surfaces with a large bridge burner on the left. The largest burner is situated in the middle and two more burners on the right with the smallest in the rear. One loses some cooking area due to the sliders that are located in the front.

· Cooking Power: Excellent power is provided to all five burners and the different oven elements. The range requires a 50A circuit to support the power needs.

· Oven: I personally love the Dacor ovens. They are consistent in temperature, provide very even cooking and are spacious.

· Service and reputation: While Dacor used to have a good reputation, it appears this is area of most concern. Since the Samsung acquisition, there seem to be more quality issues. The appliance dealer I have been working with has decided to phase out their Dacor product offering. They claim too many service and quality issues recently.

· Summary: While this range started out very high on my list due to my experiences with Dacor cooking appliances, it has somewhat unfortunately dropped down in the rankings. The reported reliability and service issues are too much for me.

Electrolux

Initially I had ruled out Electrolux due to the many issues people reported with the electronic touchpad of the model EW30IS80RS. But recently Electrolux introduced model ECFI3068AS to replace the previous model. Not much is available yet, but this is what I was able to find

· Controls: Front knob controls with an individual control per burner. Two additional knobs control the oven setting and temperature.

· Cooking Surface: I was unable to find one in person to measure, but based on images, it appears to be one of the smallest surfaces out there. Due to its vent in the rear and the counter depth appliance, the cooking surface is only 19” ½ to maybe 20” deep.

· Cooking Power: Likewise the burners seem to be underpowered compared to for instance the Bertazzoni and Dacor. But one only requires a 40A circuit

· Oven: This is where the Electrolux seems to make up for what it lacks on the cooking surface. Stainless steel racks, with one fully extensible gliding rack. All the oven programs I am looking for and spacious enough for our needs.

· Service and reputation: Perhaps a bigger unknown as there are not too many experiences yet with the model ECFI3068AS. On the previous model the control panel was the biggest cause of failure, but since that has been replaced with different controls altogether, perhaps the issue has been addressed. A friend has this cooktop in a 36” induction rangetop and is quite pleased with it.

· Summary: I only discovered the revamped model recently and information is hard to come by. Since we are making a decision soon, I think it will be out of contention. But it may very well worth your while to have a closer look at it.

Fisher & Paykel

The household appliance division of professional range manufacturer DCS, the appliances are stylish, robust and perform very well. More in particular the induction range Series 9 Classic OR30SCI6 caught my eye with its stunning design. More recently, they also released the Series 9 Professional RIV3304

· Controls: Front knob controls that are very responsive. The Classic has six controls lined up in a row. One for each burner and two for the oven. The Professional series has four control knobs for the burners and a front touch control panel for the oven. While testing out both, the Classic knobs felt better in the hand and had a small stop on each ½ power level. Which I actually liked as you have a sensory feedback when you reach the next power level. On the Professional, the knobs felt plasticky and loose.

· Cooking Surface: While the Fisher & Paykel is not a counterdepth appliance, the rear vent and front trim take away quite a bit of space from the surface. The depth is only just under 20”.

· Cooking Power: The burners are four staggered individual burners on the Classic model. On the Professional model, that is replaced with two bridge capable burners on the right, a large left front burner and a smaller burner in the rear. 40A circuit

· Oven: This is where Fisher & Paykel falls short for American standards. Made in New Zealand and with a 3.5 Cu.Ft. oven in the Classic and a 4.0 Cu.Ft. they are undersized.

· Service and reputation: My dealer does carry their wall ovens and services them as well. They like the wall ovens and, while being on the smaller side, highly recommend them.

· Summary: I personally like the design, feel and layout of the Classic series. If it weren’t for the very small oven size, the Classic model would be a lot higher on my shortlist.

Fulgor Milano

Like Bertazzoni, Fulgor Milano is a long standing appliance manufacturer from Italy. While the brand is unknown, their OEM manufacturing business has been supplying induction range components and tops to many other high-end brands. The model that I like is the Fulgor Milano Sofia F6PIR304S1. It can also be customized in a few different colors and the novel idea is that the range ships in stainless with a replacement door and trimkit in your chosen color. This allows you to always switch back to regular stainless steel if desired.

· Controls: Front knob controls that are solid machined aluminum. Four controls for the four individual burners and two for the oven. In addition, there is an indicator light for the selected power settings on the top under the glass. The oven temp knob felt a little loose, which makes it a little easy to accidentally change the temperature on the oven range.

· Cooking Surface: The largest cooking surface of any of the ranges I was able to look at. Even with the rear vent and measuring to the indicator lights, it is over 20” ½ deep. This does mean that the appliance is quite deep at 29” overall.

· Cooking Power: The burners are four staggered individual burners without a bridge function. They are also some of the most powerful burners on any induction range and consequently the range requires a 50A circuit.

· Oven: One of the largest and best equipped ovens in the line-up. Three staggered oven lights provide excellent visibility. Stainless racks of which two are regular sliding and one is a full extension gliding rack.One can purchase an additional gliding rack as an option.

· Service and reputation: While the brand is only now starting to become more popular in the United States, a few reviews out there mention some issues. But again they are mainly pertaining to gas ranges, not induction. My dealer has had very few service calls, claims they have an excellent relationship with Fulgor Milano and said they are very responsive. When I put it to the test by emailing them with a few product inquiries, I got a response within 24 hours. Follow-up emails likewise were responded to within hours. That’s impressive.

· Summary: While it went largely unnoticed, this is now one of my top three choices. I have some reservations about the oven controls, but find myself scratching my head to find anything negative about it. The remaining uncertainty is the unknowns of a new brand to the American market.

General Electric

GE has a few different product lines, so I focused mainly on the GE Profile model PHS93XYPFS and the GE Café model CHS90XP2MS1. Both models are very similar, with the Profile being a more modern look versus the Café being a more industrial type look.

· Controls: The Profile has touch panel controls on the top at the front of the cooking surface, while the Café model has knobs on the front of the range. Both have individual burner controls with an indicator of the used power level at the top.

· Cooking Surface: Large and includes a bridge burner on the left. The main, large 11” burner is situated at the right front. I also includes a fifth warming zone.

· Cooking Power: Limited by a 40A circuit, the power is a little less than the makers who opted for a 50A requirement. But it has more than sufficient power levels for regular every day cooking.

· Oven: The racks feel flimsy and cheap. The oven side walls are some form of semi-coated black enamel. The single gliding rack is very stiff and lightweight. Overall, I found the oven to be somewhat disappointing for a $5,000 range.

· Service and reputation: Based on feedback from personal friends, it’s been a bit hit and miss.

· Summary: The GE models were a top contender for quite a while, especially thank to some of the cooking features such as a remote probe for sous-vide cooking, temperature control when using a specific pan. However for a little more investment there are options that I personally liked better.

Miele

One of the most reputable, reliable and longest standing home appliances manufacturers in Europe. No surprise then that their induction range is considered the best of the best. Reliable, excellent proprietary service network, great cooking surface with sufficient power, an oven that is large enough and has many features. The Miele HR 1622, now in its third generation HR 1622-3 I, is the top of the top

· Controls: Four knobs, two on each side, for individually controlling each burner. An electronic touch panel in the front of the range tilts upwards when activate to provide access to all the oven controls. It has all cooking functions one can imagine and even provides steam baking when hooked up to a waterline. The only induction range to offer that feature.

· Cooking Surface: Large with four individual burners that cannot be bridged. Second in size to the Fulgor Milano above, it offers a 21” deep glass surface when measure edge to edge. The burner layout is staggered, leaving what Miele calls a “resting zone” in the rear left corner.

· Cooking Power: Given the required 50A circuit, the burners are some of the most powerful on the market. An additional feature is that the induction zones can adjust somewhat to size, so you don’t have to find the perfect fitting pot or pan.

· Oven: This is perhaps the most impressive feature of the Miele range. Large, with dual convection fans, it can be manually set to a wide variety of cooking modes. Or it is equipped with Miele’s Masterchef that can walk you step-by-step through shelf placement, temperature, duration, etc… to make cooking as easy as possible.

· Service and reputation: Miele is one of the most reliable brands out there. Several people are mentioning that the installation can be finicky and if the installer doesn’t take good care of the appliance, the internal electronics can shift, leading to a stove that’s dead on arrival. So it’s highly recommended to work with a reputable installer and ensure the range is in fully working order prior to them leaving. Otherwise, service calls are few and far between.

· Summary: The service aspect is perhaps what concerns me the most. It’s definitely the top of the line appliance with the most features. It is also the most expensive one out there. Combine the cost with the risk of longer service wait times, and perhaps this is not for everyone. For me, it remains a strong top three contender.

Wolf

Wolf have been around for many years, have an excellent reputation and are very well equipped. Consequently, they are pricey. Only second to Miele on this list. Wolf recently updated the previous induction model IR304PESPH with the instantly recognizable red knobs to a model in the Transitional line IR30450ST.

· Controls: All the controls are now a touch panel control situated at the top front of the range. Individual power controls for each burner, of which the two on the right can be bridged. The oven control panel is located just below the burner controls.

· Cooking Surface: While it looks large given the 28” ¼ inch overall depth of the range, the front metal trim that contains the oven control panel and the burner touch controls take quite a bit of space away from the cooking area. I measured it at only 19” ½ deep.

· Cooking Power: Wolf requires a 50A circuit. This to ensure there is sufficient power for both the induction burners and the convection ovens four heating elements. The biggest burner is on the front left, the smallest on the rear left, with the two bridge burners on the right.

· Oven: The Wolf oven rivals the Miele oven is size, stainless steel racks, of which two are full extension gliding racks, dual convection fans and, like Miele, a guided cooking mode called “Gourmet”.

· Service and reputation: Wolf prides themselves on quality and their own service department if something were to go wrong. They have an excellent reliability rating. The new model has an edge to edge glass cooktop on three sides. There have been reports of cracks or chips in the cooktop due to careless installers, bumping against a stone backsplash or the stove hitting the countertop on the sides. The solution is to install a small stainless backguard and raise the stove above the countertops on the sides.

· Summary: This is the final of my three top contenders. The quality, reliability and features of the Wolf range are near unparalleled. The downside of the Wolf range remains the smaller surface of the cooktop.

Other brands

Here are some brands I contemplated and briefly considered as well:

· Beko: I cannot find sufficient information and have no dealer close by.

· Blomberg: Likewise. There is only one dealer in my area and they didn’t have any showroom floor models

· Frigidaire: They do have a few induction models, but the touch controls were cumbersome, so I didn’t pursue their model much further

· Jenn-air: Model JIS1450DS was initially very appealing. It has a large cooking surface, four burners and one of the largest ovens available if you include the baking drawer. I discounted it for the controls. A single power bar requires you to select the burner, adjust, select the burner, adjust.

· Kenmore: While the brand seems to be still around and now sold at other Big Box stores, the brand seems to be on its last legs after the Sears closures.

· Kitchenaid: The Kitchenaid KSIB900ESSoffers a large capacity oven, a large cooking surface and gets very good reviews. But like the Jenn-air above, it leverages the same single power control approach. But if that’s not an issue, this may very well be a very good option to consider

· LG: I considered LSE4617ST and LSIS3018SS. However, since my daughter had very negative experiences with her LG fridge and washer, I decided not to pursue the brand

· Samsung: They have some models I looked at. The virtual blue flame is a nice touch. But based on friends horrible experiences, it’s a brand I’ve limited to electronics. Yes, I have a Samsung TV but I’m staying away for large appliances

· Viking: Viking always elicits a wow factor. It has four identical 9” burners that each can provide up to an impressive 3,700 watts of cooking power which offers a lot of flexibility. The Viking 5 series VIR53014BFW is definitely worth looking at. But at an additional $2,000 higher cost than Miele or Wolf I didn’t think it’s worth it.

So there it is. The most comprehensive induction range write-up I could think of. I attach some image of cooktop layouts, front images, etc… all scaled to be identical 30” width to provide an idea how they compare to each other.

Remember this is all my personal preferences and yours may differ

Good luck, thanks for reading this far and happy cooking

Features comparison (more images in comment)