Viking Induction or Gas Cooktop, what would YOU do?

16 years ago

I posted here instead of the appliance forum since there seems to be more induction talk here...We have been teasing ourselves for over 2 years with a kitchen bump out & remodel. There was one major purchase (major to me anyway) I made in anticipation... A Viking 4 Burner All Induction cook top!

I found a great deal on one that was used as a display in a Home Improvement show (never hooked up, just displayed)so I jumped on it. I know, I know, I put the cart way before the horse!

Now, very long story short, we have given up on the dream and realize we'll either have to make do with the existing footprint(making me very unhappy) or move. Meanwhile, other projects still must be completed and we spent a pretty penny on the Viking so and my DH asked me to it on CL so we can recoup the expense and move on (I can't use it if we don't enlarge the space)

I put the cooktop on CL, but I've also seen a home I'm interested in. It's new build and the builder says we can use it there if I decide to buy, but that the home comes with a "professional style" gas cooktop. My Husband says the gas one is fine with him, and it will go with the other appliances.

IF we buy the house must be built, so we are talking many months away. I have no idea given the current market if I will be able to get this new place, or even if my home will sell soon enough (we are not yet ready to go on the market). So hanging on to the Viking is risky.

So, finally, my question to you all is....What would you rather have...a bought and paid for Viking All Induction or a "Professional Series Gas Cooktop" and a couple grand back in our pockets??

I think my DH has always wanted gas, since he's had it before, but I wanted the induction for the fast heat and easy clean up and I love the look of the Viking to boot.

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Comments (11)

loves2cook4six
16 years ago
We have an induction cooktop which we love (de Dietrich) but given the repair history and lack of customer support with Viking products, I'd say get rid of it if you can and come out ahead. If it's out of warranty when it's installed and doesn't work, you'll be out the money for the cooktop anyways.

If you ever do build the house, you can see about a builder credit for the gas cooktop if you decide to do induction.
chapnc
16 years ago
Excellent point about the warranty! You don't want to let it sit in a box for a year and then find out it doesn't work.

Let it go to someone who can use it. You'll find another when you build or buy a new house. With any luck, you'll even be able to find new features at a lower price 1 or 2 years out.
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janjan212 Unfortunately, buying an expensive item without a warrantee is like rolling a dice that the unit will work well enough for a few years. If this is a drop in cooktop, then it is not easily replaced because of the cut out in the countertop. I wish you the best but unlike free standing appliances, built in appliances are much more tricky to buy and sell. What if you donated it to Habitat for Humanity and take the tax deduction. Since you have the receipt, you MAY be able to take the full value deduction. (I don't know the rules... You need ask a tax person.) Depending on your tax tracket, selling it at 1/3 of the original price or taking the full value deduction maybe about equal in "value" to you....
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homey_bird
16 years ago
I have never used an induction range however in my apartment rental I have worked with an electric top and now in my house, I have gas. IMO gas wins hands-down from the perspective of heat control and cost. There are so many different items that can be best cooked using gas and not electric coil. The difference is cooking on fire and cooking on heat. Fire can never go out of fashion, IMO.

Also a lot of people I know who buy induction seem to be really sold on its "coolness" of technology than the utility.

Having said that, if safety is your main concern, induction is safer than gas, hands down.
janjan212
Original Author
16 years ago
When we bought, I asked the retailer about the warranty, and he said many many people pre-purchase appliances for remodels and months go by before they are installed, he said once a licenced electrician installs the unit, that's when the warranty would start. I understand that can't be an indefinite period of time, but it should still be ok.

I've never worked with gas, but I love the "idea of induction.
beatrix_in_canada
16 years ago
@ homey bird,

preparing gas to electric coils does do NOTHING to understand pros and cons of induction. With induction you do not cook "on" heat. It's the pot that get's heated up, not the surface it's on. In terms of heat control induction is as good as gas. Where electric coils are VERY slow to heat a pot of water induction will do this task QUICKER than gas.

There are some cons to induction:
- If you love cooking with copper pots induction is not for you. However, I do have some stainless steel pots with some copper in the bottom that still have a finish allowing them to be used on induction
- If you regularly use an open flame e.g. for flambaying than gas is easier to use.

Other than that I only see advantages in using induction

@ janjan

since the house is not even built yet, could the builder give you a credit for not installing the gas cooktop and then you go ahead and install your induction cooktop?
weissman
16 years ago
Warranties really depend on the manfacturer - some let you start them when you install an appliance but others start them on date of purchase or date of delivery.
cubby14
16 years ago
Well, for what it's worth, I would definately go with the gas. I have had both and currently have the Viking induction (no gas available in current house)while I like the induction a bazillion times better than the old electric cooktop I had it still isn't the same as a gas flame. It does have the benefits of being very responsive like gas and does boil water even faster than gas. However there are certain things I miss like using my double grill pan. It just doesn't heat the whole thing, only where the burners are and putting my roasting pan right on the stove to make gravy instead of transferring the juices to another pan (roasting pan not induction cabable) and using open flame to flambe or burn off alcohol when cooking. Also you have to take into consideration the expense of new cookware if your old stuff isn't induction capable. I have had no problems with my Viking induction at all so can't help with warranty question.

hope that helps.
janjan212
Original Author
16 years ago
Beatrix--

I asked the Agent that represents the builder about using the induction rather than the gas unit and she replied that the builder generally builds custom homes (although this is his first "development")and he can & would work with modifications. Since it was so early in the game I didn't get specific about credits etc. When I previously bought a home to be constructed, I learned that the credits they usually give are not as much as you would pay retail and usually didn't seem worth it, however that was another time and another builder, so I am certainly going to ask...just not holding my breath. I also wanted to get a farmhouse sink rather than the one they have, so maybe we can work that in. I guess the best thing for me to do it continue to list the Viking, and if & when the time comes and we havn't sold it, my DH and I can duke it out then!
glennsfc
16 years ago
Cook on both. Like both. Seductive blue flame of gas is cool, but then the speed and responsiveness of induction is awesome.

If I were building new, I think induction would be my first choice...just a matter of how you cook, what you like cooking with (pots and pans) and what your expectations from the cooking appliance might be.

You will recoup most of your investment in the Viking cooktop. Check Ebay for current pricing on new demo units and especially check the completed listings for an idea of what you can expect.

I jumped on several great deals on the appliances in my kitchen and was never disappointed with my impulse shopping. However, I did have to redesign a portion of my kitchen to accomodate the 30" wall oven!
edwina 1330
16 years ago
it is an amazing thing to make a cup of tea and the water has boiled before you're able to get your tea cup and tea ready. It is really a great thing. Love love love it. Only problem is for roasting peppers but i usually do a bunch at one time in oven. Had to get a new stovetop espresso pot in steel but found one. I hear it's a green choice very efficient and they look so sleek. We got ours for 1000.00 from sears outlet. 36 inch kenmore.
emilynewhome
16 years ago
I LOVE induction cooking! We used it for 13 years in our previous home. It was GE and although it did require several repairs the first couple of years we were very pleased cooking with it.
When we replaced it with a GE electric model before putting the house up for sale this past summer, I could not believe how difficult it was to adjust to the slow heating up and cooling down of an electric cooking surface.
In our present rental we have gas and IMO induction has it beat hands down. Induction cooktops are very safe, only heating up the cookware, you get instant temperature change, and since we first bought, there are a lot more manufacturers in the induction cooking market to choose from.
I do realize that if you aren't fortunate enough to have a back-up generator and you experience power outages then gas would make more sense.

Viking Induction or Gas Cooktop, what would YOU do?

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loves2cook4six

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