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An Introduction To Induction Stoves
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"Most of the information was passed down, but it's my understanding that the first ones were extremely expensive and a little more prone to quality issues," said Lori Wood, Sears' buyer of cooking appliances. "If one element went bad, you would need a new cooktop, and it was costly to repair."
But Wood said the technology has been greatly improved and consumers are buying. They met the annual sales projection in only six weeks, Wood said.
"It makes your life easier," she said. "It's speedier, easier to clean and you don't have to go to school to learn to cook on it. The product today is a lot better than it was before."
Connelly said it will take some time before data is available on the reliability of the new induction cooktops. Another question mark is how much it will cost to get them repaired.
"Certainly the plus side has to do with safety," he said. "One of the advantages is when you walk away there is no open fire. It has some inherent safety advantages that you can't put a dollar value on, and that's what we find so attractive. The hope is, like with so many other technologies, the price will eventually come down."
The Pros
· Heat can be adjusted instantly with precision, just like gas.
· More energy efficient than gas or other forms of electric.
· Keeps kitchen cooler than gas or electric. Heat does not radiate into the room.
· Cook top cools immediately, providing less burn hazard for curious cats and children.
· Easier to clean because spills don't burn onto cook top.
The Cons
· Expensive, typically $1,799 to $3,650.
· May have to buy new cast-iron or stainless steel pots.
· Inconclusive evidence about whether those wearing pacemakers can be adversely affected.
· Too early to tell if there will be repair problems.
· Problem for small kitchens unless Viking's portable unit is used. Most experts say ovens cannot be installed under cook tops.
· May have to hire electrician to increase the amps in your breaker box for some models that use up to 50 amps of power.
