You may have seen my post about induction & my experience with getting a 5 burner Diva only to find out that it would not fit my cabinets. I easily sold it & have a 30inch Bosch on the way. With just my husband and I, I rarely use all 4 and usually just 2 for now. During the holidays I use all 4 and hoped for a 5...oh, well. If you are not a gourmet cook and only cook for 2-3 people I would guess that you would not use all 5. You are the best judge though & will also get lots of good opinions here. Good luck. OBTW what brands are you looking at?

If I end up with induction I'm getting the GE php900 30" with 4 burners. I currently have 4 electric coil burners in a similar configuation but only 3 work. It's just me, DH and 2 teenage DDs. 2 or 3 times a year I wish I had 5 burners but daily I like the extra 6" of counter space. We use our cook top A LOT but rarely all burners at once.

Consider what would work best for you. You've make the tough part of the decision with knowing you want an induction cooktop. HTH

our family of four eats at home every night. i'm a pretty good cook and love to entertain. i almost never use more than three burners at a time. so i opted for the miele 30" induction cooktop, replacing a kenmore 36". i'm so looking forward to my roomier and more streamlined countertop.

I did the 30" GE induction 15 months ago - I've never yet wished I had a 5th element. We are a family of four, I cook a fair amount, and I've hosted a holiday dinner or two during that time. Good Luck.

I have a diva 36", 5 burner. I have never used 5 burners, usually 2 or 3. However, the configuration, with the 5th burner in the middle, allows me to use 2 large fry pans at once without crowding. I think the 30" would feel too tight. The cooktop can be used for extra counter top in the event you are only using 2 burners. Often I have all the chopped veggies, etc set up on the cutting board right on the cooktop. I don't cut or chop on the cooktop, just use the space if and when I want. So check out how the burners lay out with your most often used pans. You probably won't need the extra burner, but may want the extra space.

I agree with lucypwd...I always use the 5th middle burner because it is large and I can plunk the frying pan right in the middle, leaving plenty of room for the other pans. I have only used all 5 a couple of times so that is not the issue. But it's nice to have lots of room to work with , and if someone wants to help out,they are not in the way.

I think it's more a crowding issue for many of us than actually needing the extra burner. But the different cooktops have so many different burner configurations, I suspect it's possible to find a 30" that allows two big skillets.

I too do a lot of prep on my cooktop--I really prefer chopping onions under the hood! So I don't consider it wasted counter space to have 36" when you only use 2 burners.

But I dunno which I'll get to replace my old one. Mine is 34", but with 30" of cooktop (4" of controls on the side). I will be keeping a 36" hood, though.

I replaced a six-burner Jenn-Air ceramic cooktop with a 4-hob Diva 30" induction, and it's been a total pleasure. I've never used more than 3 hobs at a time.

Thanks for all the replies!

I am looking at GE, either the 30" or 36," mostly for price, also because I have read some good reviews here. Also, GE and Kitchen Aid have been the only brands that I can find that come in all black without the stainless strips on the top and the bottom. I'm guessing that it would be easier to clean.

I've never tried induction, but I'm so excited. It is one of the things I am looking forward to most.

Question for those who have replaced 36" with 30"--isnt there a gap in the counter? How does that work?

If I replace my 34" with a 30", it'll be with a new countertop (and everything else). I think that's what you have to do to downsize.

The GE and KA models are pretty nice and have good layouts. Many of the framed models just look too bulky. (Have you seen the Viking? Ugliest, bulkiest, most retro of them all, plus more expensive. It looks like it predates my 1980s induction cooktop!)

Have you really had an induction in the 80s? Before looking into kitchen remodel, I had never even heard of them! It seems like such great technology, wonder why they are not more popular.

I have never tried induction cooking but I am sooo excited.

I hardly ever use two burners. I decided to get a two burner induction and a large multipurpose gas.

O goody...I get to trot out my cooktop photo!! :) Kenmore, 1983 (or close to that--I forget). Here when I moved in 2.5 years ago. Hated it. Hated it hated it hated it now kinda like it. Now I'm an induction Luddite and don't like how the new ones take more work to select a power level. (I think the decor in this kitchen calls for a Nagel print...)