Best Induction Cooktops of 2021
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.
Induction cooktops come as close to perfection as any product Consumer Reports tests. As rare as it is for any product to receive a perfect score in CR’s tests, one induction cooktop in our ratings hits that bar with a score of 100. And four models earn scores of 95 or higher.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t go wrong with an induction cooktop. Multiple models we’ve tested fail to deliver the rapid boil times and steady simmering for which induction is known.
Start with our cooktop buying guide to learn more about the advantages of induction, or delve right into our electric cooktop ratings. Read on to learn more about induction, and see some of the very best induction cooktops from our ratings.
So what is the secret to induction’s success? The power and precision of the electromagnetic field, below the glass surface, that quickly provides heat.
“Since you’re heating the pan directly, you’re not losing time while heat transfers from a radiant electric burner,” explains Tara Casaregola, who oversees cooktop testing at Consumer Reports.
Price doesn't track with performance. Some lower-priced models in our ratings actually heat faster and simmer more steadily than high-end models.
How We Test Induction Cooktops
We test every cooktop at low and high heat. Just about any cooktop will fare well enough when cooking over medium heat, but a stellar model will also boil quickly and simmer steadily. “The extremes between low- and high-heat tasks are where we really see differences,” Casaregola says.
For high-heat cooking, we use a standardized pot, filled with about 4 quarts of water, on the largest cooktop burner. We jack up the burner to the highest setting and note how quickly the water heats up.
For low-heat cooking, we use the smallest burner to melt chocolate and then simmer water and tomato sauce, gauging how well cooktops hold a steady simmer temperature without dropping too low or scorching the contents of the pan.
We test 30- and 36-inch induction cooktops from brands such as Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, KitchenAid, Samsung, and Whirlpool. We also test pro-style induction cooktops from Bosch, Dacor, GE Monogram, and Thermador.
Do You Need Special Cookware?
If you’ve considered an induction cooktop or range, you’ve probably heard that not all cookware is induction-compatible. Any magnetic pot or pan will work on an induction cooktop. If you’re shopping for new cookware, check the Features & Specs tab of our cookware ratings to find out which sets are induction-friendly.
CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of six of the best induction cooktops from our tests.
