Buying guide for best induction ranges
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Historically, the main debate over kitchen ranges has been whether you prefer electric models or gas. However, in recent years, a new player has emerged: the induction range. Providing quicker, safer, more precise cooking, better energy efficiency and faster cleanup, the best induction ranges can make your job easier than ever.
So, how does it work? An induction range features a cooktop with copper heating coils beneath an electrically powered ceramic cooking surface. The coils create an electromagnetic field that directly heats the cookware rather than the entire cooking surface, which is why only magnetic pots and pans are compatible with an induction range.
We’ve researched dozens of induction ranges to help identify the best models. Our top pick, the GE Profile 30-Inch 5.3-Cubic-Foot Smart Slide-In Induction Range, offers five burners and over 5 cubic feet of oven space, making it ideal for families. Its smart features also include guided cooking with automatic temperature and time adjustments based on what you’re preparing.
Editors’ picks
GE Profile 30-Inch 5.3-Cubic-Foot Smart Slide-in Induction Range
Editors’ Favorite
Dimensions: 37.25” H x 29.87” W x 28.25” D | Capacity: 5.3 cu ft | Burners: 5 | Type: Slide-in | Bridge Burner: Yes | Smart Features: Yes
The GE Profile 30-Inch 5.3-Cubic-Foot Smart Slide-In Induction Range combines form and function, delivering both convenient features that make cooking easier and a sleek, easy-to-clean design. It features glide-touch controls that let you adjust its settings with a swipe of a finger. Their smooth, seamless integration in the cooktop also means that food, grease and other debris won’t collect around them. This range is Wi-Fi enabled, too, allowing you to control its functions via the GE SmartHQ app on your smart device, no matter where you are.
If you need some help in the kitchen, you’ll love the guided cooking feature from Heston Cue, which provides video guidance from real chefs and automatically adjusts time and temperature. The cooktop is also optimized for sous vide cooking, featuring a precision cooking probe to ensure perfect results every time. The oven offers fast preheating and true convection cooking, too, so you can get weekday dinners on the table in no time.
The range’s stainless steel exterior features a fingerprint-resistant finish, making it easy to wipe away smudges and other marks. You don’t have to worry about cleaning the oven racks, either. Their durable construction means you can leave them in the oven during the self-cleaning cycle, so you never have to scrub away burnt-on food and grease.
Frigidaire 5.3-Cubic-Foot Front-Control Electric Induction Range
Great Value
Dimensions: 36.38” H x 30” W x 26” D | Capacity: 5.3 cu. ft. | Burners: 5 | Type: Freestanding | Bridge Burner: Yes | Smart Features: No
The Frigidaire 5.3-Cubic-Foot Front-Control Electric Induction Range may not have all the bells and whistles of higher-end models, but it’s hard to find an induction range that delivers faster, more consistent cooking results. Its induction cooktop boils water up to 50% faster than traditional gas and electric cooktops. It also offers a convection-bake setting with a fan that circulates the air, allowing you to bake your favorite recipes more quickly and evenly.
The cooktop makes it easy to maximize your cooking space. It features bridge burners that connect two elements to form a larger cooking surface for oversized pans or griddles. Because the induction technology ensures the cooktop provides steady, even heat, your cooking results are consistent every time.
You’ll also have an easy time cleaning up after cooking. This range’s induction cooktop doesn’t heat the entire surface like traditional gas and electric stoves, heating only your pots and pans instead. That means you can clean up splatters and spills as you cook, so they don’t have a chance to cook onto the surface. Its oven also has a self-cleaning cycle that lets you remove burnt-on food in just 3 hours with the press of a button.
Café 30-Inch 6.7-Cubic-Foot Smart Slide-in Electric Range
Best Double-Oven Induction Range
Dimensions: 37.38” H x 29.88” W x 26.88” D | Capacity: 6.7 cu ft | Burners: 5 | Type: Slide-in | Bridge Burner: No | Smart Features: Yes
If you have a large family or entertain regularly, the Café 30-Inch 6.7-Cubic-Foot Smart Slide-In Electric Range provides plenty of convenient cooking space. It features two ovens with a combined 6.7 cubic feet of internal space, making it easy to prepare a main course and side dishes at the same time. It’s a versatile oven, too, offering 10 cooking functions, including warming, proofing, no-preheat air-frying and convection baking.
The induction cooktop has five burners with edge-to-edge ceramic glass. The burners include an 11-inch element, which is perfectly sized for larger pots and pans. It can also boil a quart of water in just a minute and 41 seconds and maintains a consistent temperature, so it allows you to cook quickly and melt and simmer your favorite recipes perfectly.
With built-in Wi-Fi, this range lets you control its settings via your smart device. It’s also compatible with voice commands through your smart home assistant. It lets you download cooking upgrades directly to the range, too, so you have access to even more features.
LG 6.3-Cubic-Foot Smart Induction Slide-In Range
Best Smart Induction Range
Dimensions: 36.5” H x 29.88” W x 29.31” D | Capacity: 6.3 cu ft | Burners: 4 | Type: Slide-in | Bridge Burner: No | Smart Features: Yes
The LG 6.3-Cubic-Foot Smart Induction Slide-In Range features a powerful, highly efficient induction cooktop that is 5% to 10% more energy-efficient than traditional electric models and three times more efficient than gas cooktops. Since it heats the cookware directly, the cooking surface stays cool, reducing the risk of burns and making cleanup easier. Its 3,900-watt power also lets you bring water to a rapid boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. The induction burners can conveniently adjust to cookware of different sizes, too.
The range’s oven also helps reduce cooking times. It features LG ProBake Convection technology, which includes a combined two-speed fan and a powerful rear heating element for faster, more even cooking. It automatically uses the lower speed for baking and the higher speed for roasting and air-frying, ensuring perfect results every time.
Wi-Fi-enabled, it allows you to use LG’s ThinQ app to adjust settings and download new features. Maintenance is just as easy, too. It offers both a 10-minute EasyClean cycle and a full self-clean mode for deeper cleaning.
Bosch 800 Series Industrial-Style Induction Range
Best Industrial-Style Range
Dimensions: 36” H x 30” W x 26.5” D | Capacity: 3.9 cu ft | Burners: 4 | Type: Freestanding | Bridge Burner: No | Smart Features: No
With its commercial-inspired design, the Bosch 800 Series Industrial-Style Induction Range is the perfect model for serious home chefs. It offers four powerful induction elements, including a 3,700-watt element with Boost mode for a little extra power. It also has an indicator that alerts you when the elements have residual heat, ensuring safe operation.
The range’s oven has a 3.9-cubic-foot capacity, so it’s big enough to accommodate your main course and several side dishes. It also features a convection setting with a third heating element and a fan to evenly circulate hot air for faster, more even cooking. It offers eight cooking modes, too, including bake, convection bake, convection roast and convection broil.
While it boasts a sharp, industrial look, it also has an extremely user-friendly design. The side-opening doors provide a more ergonomic way to access the oven. They have dampened hinges to close softly, too, so you don’t have to worry about them slamming shut.
Induction range vs. electric range: What’s the difference?
An electric range uses electricity to heat resistive coils for each burner on its cooktop. They indirectly heat the pots and pans that sit on them by a process known as conduction.
An induction range also uses electricity to power coils beneath the cooking surface. However, instead of heating your cookware indirectly, the coils create a magnetic field that directly heats the pan. As you’ve probably guessed, this process is called induction.
The ovens in both electric and induction ranges use electric heating elements to bake, broil and roast. Depending on the model, they may also feature a fan to circulate the air for convection baking, which usually reduces cooking times and ensures more even results.
Benefits of induction cooking
- Energy-efficient and eco-friendly: Induction cooking is more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly than traditional gas or electric cooking methods. An induction range is up to 10% more efficient than an electric range, and it doesn’t emit toxins like benzene and nitrogen dioxide into the air like a gas stove can. Its energy efficiency is especially appealing to many homeowners because it can lead to lower energy bills.
- Faster, more precise cooking: Because induction cooking heats the pans directly, cooking times are greatly reduced. The United States Department of Energy estimates that it can boil water between 20% and 40% faster than standard electric and gas ranges. An induction range is also more responsive, so you can control the heat more precisely. When you raise or lower the temperature, the change in heat occurs almost instantly.
- Easier cleanup: You don’t have to worry about spills or splatters when cooking on an induction range because the cooktop is completely smooth. And you can easily wipe away any messes right away because the cooking surface stops heating as soon as you remove your cookware.
- Safer cooking: An induction-compatible pot or pan is required to create the electromagnetic field that heats an induction cooktop. That means if you accidentally turn on the stove without any cookware on it, it won’t get hot. In general, an induction cooktop doesn’t get as hot as a traditional electric range, so there’s less risk of burns.
Drawbacks of induction cooking
- More expensive: An induction range is usually more expensive than a standard electric model. Converting from a gas stove to an electric setup is also pretty pricey.
- Specific cookware required: To create the electromagnetic field that powers heating on an induction cooktop, the right cookware is essential. Some pots and pans, such as anodized aluminum and aluminum, aren’t induction-compatible because they aren’t magnetic.
- Learning curve: If you’re used to cooking on a traditional electric or gas range, switching to induction cooking may require some adjustment. An induction cooktop heats and cools more quickly, so you’ll likely need to watch your pot more closely. Cookware must be centered perfectly over the heating elements and sized appropriately for even cooking, too.
- Noise: Induction ranges often make a high-pitched buzzing or humming noise at higher heat settings, which may be annoying for some homeowners.
Key features to consider
Size and design
The standard size for most ranges, including induction models, is 30 inches wide, which fits easily in a wide range of kitchens. A 30-inch range usually has four to five burners and an oven capacity between 4.8 and 5.8 cubic feet, so it can fit a large turkey and several pans.
If you need additional cooking space, a 36-inch induction range typically provides six burners and an oven capacity of 5.8 to 6.5 cubic feet. It’s usually large enough to hold a 25-pound turkey or several trays of cookies. For especially large families, you can opt for a 48-inch or a 60-inch range. These ranges usually offer six to eight burners and dual ovens. A 48-inch model usually provides 7 to 9 cubic feet of oven capacity, while a 60-inch range provides 9 to 11 cubic feet of oven space.
Size is only one part of the equation if you want to ensure an induction range is a good fit for your kitchen. Choosing the right color or finish is essential if you want it to blend in with the rest of the decor. The majority of induction ranges have a stainless steel finish, making them a good fit for most modern kitchens. However, you can also find models with a black stainless steel, matte black or white finish. If you prefer a bolder look, you can opt for a colored induction range in shades like red, blue, forest green, turquoise or yellow, though you’ll usually have to pay more.
Slide-in range vs. freestanding range
All ranges – induction and otherwise – come in one of two styles: slide-in or freestanding.
There isn’t any real difference in performance between the two styles, so in the end, it all comes down to aesthetics.
What looks better in your kitchen? Is the seamless look of a slide-in important to you, or would you rather save money on a freestanding range?
Pick the style that’s right for your kitchen.
Slide-in range
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These are intended to blend into your kitchen cabinetry, offering a more seamless look. As the name suggests, these units slide right into a space between your cabinets. The top of the range should be even with your countertop.
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The control knobs for both the stove and oven are located on the front of the range. There is no control panel sticking up behind the burners and blocking your backsplash.
Freestanding range
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Freestanding ranges are not designed to blend into your kitchen cabinetry. Most models have finished sides so they can stand alone almost anywhere.
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The control panel sits at the back of the stovetop.
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Freestanding ranges are typically less expensive and easier to install than slide-in ranges.
Special cookware required
Because an induction cooktop generates heat via magnetic induction, it requires compatible pots and pans to cook food. All cookware used on an induction range must be magnetic so the stove's coils can create a magnetic field. If you place an incompatible pot or pan on the cooktop, you’ll often get an error message.
Many types of traditional cookware, including cast iron and many stainless steel varieties, are induction-compatible. However, other metals traditionally used in cookware sets, such as aluminum and copper, aren’t magnetic on their own. They require a bonded, magnetic stainless steel base to work with an induction stovetop.
Modern cookware often features a coiled spring symbol on the bottom of pans if they are induction-compatible. However, if you’re ever unsure whether cookware is induction-ready, grab a magnet from the fridge and see if it sticks to the bottom of your pan. If the magnet sticks, your cookware is ferromagnetic and ready for use on an induction range.
Cooking zone flexibility
Some induction ranges offer flexible cooking zones that make it easier to cook with griddles and other larger pans. These models have a bridge burner or element that lets you activate two adjoining burners to create a larger cooking zone. Some induction ranges even let you activate all their burners at once to create an extremely large cooking area.
Most induction ranges with a bridge burner activate the two vertical burners or the front and back elements on the same side of the cooktop. However, some models offer side-to-side bridge burners, so the elements on each side of the stovetop activate when the setting is engaged.
Controls and learning curve
Induction ranges usually have touch controls. While these controls have some definite benefits, such as giving your appliance a sleek look and making cleaning easier, they can take some getting used to when transitioning from a traditional electric or gas range with knob controls. They are extremely sensitive, so you can accidentally hit a button when placing cookware on the stove or cleaning the surface.
Turning on the burners is typically a two-step process: you power up the burner, then choose a heat level with a separate control. Instead of the usual low, medium and high settings that knob controls offer, an induction range’s touch controls often feature as many as 10 heat levels, so it can take some experimenting to figure out which setting is right for each step of a recipe.
You’ll need to get accustomed to some other differences when cooking on an induction range. Cookware heats and cools much more quickly than on a traditional stovetop, so you may not have time to do all your chopping and other prep work while you’re waiting for a pot to come to a boil, like you would with your electric or gas stove. It’s also essential to place pans directly in the center of the burner on an induction cooktop to ensure that they heat properly.
If you’re used to lifting a pan off the stovetop or shaking it from side to side on the cooktop to move the food around inside, you may need to reach for tongs or a spatula instead. Lifting your cookware off the burner stops the heat, which can lead to uneven cooking. Some induction ranges have a lock setting that lets you move the pan around on the burner while maintaining the heat, but there’s usually a learning curve to this feature, too.
Noise
Induction ranges often make a high-pitched humming, buzzing or clicking noise when turned on. These noises can be due to a variety of factors, including the range’s cooling fan for its electronic components. However, it is mainly due to the energy transfer from the coils to the pan, which is why the sound is typically most noticeable at higher heat settings.
The noise usually lessens when you reduce the heat on your cooktop or add ingredients to the pan to lower the temperature. Additionally, usually heavier, flat-bottomed cookware is less likely to vibrate and make noise on an induction cooktop.
Induction range prices
An induction range can be quite expensive, but it’s worth noting that due to the range’s high level of efficiency, you may see a drop in your electric bill after installing one. Here’s what you can expect to get for your money.
$1,500 to $2,000
For this price, you can mainly find smaller freestanding ranges with four induction burners and a narrower convection oven. These ranges may not offer some of the special features that more expensive models have, such as baking drawers or touchscreen controls.
$2,000 to $2,500
For this price, expect to get a slide-in induction range with up to five heating elements on the stovetop and a convection oven below. Many come with limited warranties included in the purchase price.
$2,500 to $3,000
For this price, you can find a slide-in induction range with all the bells and whistles. Many feature extra-large convection ovens, touchscreen controls, baking drawers, and special self-cleaning systems.
Some ranges in this price bracket are Bluetooth-compatible, so you can control them with a remote device.
$3,000 and up
For this price, you can get the type of large, professional-grade range that is usually only found in restaurant kitchens.
Tips
- Use an analog kitchen thermometer with an induction range. The magnetic field emitted by the range can interfere with digital thermometers.
- Try a plug-in induction burner first. If you want to give induction cooking a try without committing to buying an expensive induction range, get a plug-in induction burner and see how you like it. The burner will perform exactly like the ones built into a range.
- Don’t clean your induction cooktop with bleach. Abrasive cleaners not designed for glass or ceramic surfaces can damage the range.
- Use care when moving pots and pans on the stove. Induction cooktops are not scratch-resistant, so be careful when moving things around on the stovetop.
How we analyzed
Not all Induction ranges are created equal, so finding the best model for your kitchen can be tricky. To identify the top induction ranges, we analyzed customer reviews from several online retailers to determine which models best met user expectations.
Specifically, we evaluated the number of burners and oven capacity each induction range offered, how quickly and evenly they cooked, how many cooking functions it offered, how easy it was to use and clean and how convenient it made meal preparation. Ultimately, we considered over a dozen models and chose the top induction ranges based on cooking performance and versatility, capacity and ease of maintenance.
FAQ
Q. What’s the difference between a range and a cooktop?
A. A cooktop is a standalone, flat cooking surface with burners for pots and pans. It’s designed for recipes that call for sauteing, searing, frying, simmering and boiling. A cooktop is typically installed into a countertop or kitchen island. A range combines a cooktop on top with an oven below. It can perform all the same cooking functions as a cooktop, as well as baking, roasting, broiling and more. It’s usually installed flush with a wall between cabinets or counters to maximize space.
Q. How do I clean my induction range?
A. Induction cooktops, in theory, should be easier to clean than traditional cooktops, since the only area of the stove that gets hot is the burner in use. For daily cleaning, wipe the cooktop with a slightly damp sponge. For bigger messes, use glass or ceramic cooktop cleaner (you can also use white vinegar). Wipe the cleaner off with a dry rag. For stuck-on residue, use a ceramic scraper. Make sure your cooktop is cool before cleaning it. Most of the convection ovens found in induction ranges are self-cleaning.
Our expertise
Jennifer Blair specializes in kitchen, cleaning and home design, having written more than 100 articles on these topics for BestReviews. She has extensive knowledge of air fryers, blenders, toaster ovens, robot vacuums, cordless vacuums and other home appliances and regularly tests appliances from her home.
