You're missing a lot. Yes, you have to find one that has a burner configuration you like. My biggest burner is in the back right, but that's where I prefer it (next is the front left, which is fine). I too would go nuts if I had to go tap-tap-tap every time I wanted to change the power, but mine allows for direct selection of the power level, so if you want power level 9 you press the 9, and if you want to reduce it to the 3, you press the 3. Others do something similar with sliders. As for not using two burners on high, that is incorrect, you can use two burners on 9 (which is really 19 on mine, since there are half-levels), but it is true that you can't use two on the same side on "boost" at the same time. Boost is really only necessary when you want to boil a large pot of water. Mine has an off button for each burner (select the hob, then press off) or an overall "off" button, which you just press and the whole thing shuts off. I do like the 19 levels and I use half-levels regularly.

The point is, you're asking the right questions, but you don't have near enough information to make an informed decision. (Mine IS a cooktop, but the issues are the same whether it's a cooktop or a slide in range)

Beyond what sjhockeyfan said, there is your question about hob sizes, pan sizes, and how everything fits together when you want to use several large pans together. Have you seen this thread for a week or so ago?

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3708101/induction-dilemma-hob-size?n=16

There are photos and links to photos showing pan arrangements in various sizes and combinations which may answer your questions about stoves and cooktops.

Yup - have read all of that which contributes to some of my concerns and confusion. No clear winner there and lots of references to 36" cooktops.

FWIW, mine is a 30" cooktop.

I'm looking for a 30" range, not a cooktop. Does anyone have one that has the best of all the desired induction features?

Everyone's "best" differs. Some people card about individual job timers, some don't. Some care about the location and type of power selection burtons some don't. Have you tried searching for what you're looking for, either on AJ Madison or in a store?

Yup - would just like to hear from someone who loves their 30 inch induction range based on whatever their perception of best is. Have not read any such thing here yet - always some feedback about what they don't really like. Yes - looked at AJ Madison many times and have looked in the store. The conclusion I think I'm coming to is that because induction ranges are relatively new to the market (vs cooktops) some of them aren't quite perfected yet. And some like KitchenAid have a hard time even getting to market. Seems kind of like a new model year car - they perfect a few of the sub-optimal features in subsequent years. Fortunately my old range is still working so maybe there will be improvements by the time I have to get something. If not I'll splurge on the gas line.

As sjhockeyfan says and as you suspect, choosing a stove is all about design and engineering tradeoffs and trying to find a mix that works for you. That's true of all stoves, and not just induction.

For a 30" induction slide-in induction range, best thing is go find a store with display models and take your "two large pans" with you to check them out. (Fitting large pans together can be a problem with pretty much every kind of major brand stove, btw.) If you live in a big enough town, somebody may have one or more of the induction slide-ins hooked up. If all else fails, make a full scale replica of the burner layout on a piece of newspaper and at least see what fits on the top. (GE has CAD files available, too, if that turns your crank.)

Anyway, not knowing anything more about your preferences or the size of your "two large pans," I suggest you check out GE's PHS920 slide-in and Frigidaire's FGIS3065 and do it in person.

The GE has an 11" burner on the right and two reasonably spaced 8" burners on the left. The Frigidaire has a 10" burner on the right and an 8" burner on the left front. Both burners on both ranges will easily handle two 12" fry pans together. As always, it is the pan base diameter that matters when trying for the most even heat for saute/fry pans. The base of most 12" fry pans will be around 9" or so across. The rule of thumb for most induction cookers is that you can get pretty even heat for up to an inch larger diameter than the burner's nominal diameter.

The Frigidaire has has a rotary control interface for the burners (i.e., knobs). The GE has touchpad controls but does have an "on-off" button. Supposedly, the GE will have a wifi/bluetooth control connectivity sometime soon.

Whether either of these stoves will work for you is something you'll have figure out for yourself based on your own personal preferences and priorities.

As for not being able to use two burners at the same time on high like you can with other electric stoves, I think you may have misunderstood the difference between boost (which is extra-extra high) and the normal top end of the scale. Boost is the not the equivalent of high on a regular electric stove. Boost is far beyond regular high. It is a temporary allocation of power to get a very large jump over the power you would otherwise have available.

Remember that word, "available." Are you thinking you want to be able to have, say, four burners running at 3500 watts each and all at the same time. Ta'int enough juice to do that from a standard single-phase 240v 40Amp or 50 Amp kitchen outlet for any kind of electrical stove -- not for a coil burner, not for radiant smoothtop, and not for induction.. For that kind of power, you would need commercial 3-phase 400 Amp 240v power. And, yes, they do make those kinds of induction beasts for commercial kitchens. For those of us with residential electrical service, a boost function allows a short term re-routing of power within the stove to mimic the effect of having massive commercial power, but only on one of the burners in a zone at a time. Can't do that with regular radiant electric burners.

Whether and how much that kind of convenience matters to you is up to you. As always, "best" is a question of best for whom for what within what budget. If that seems frustrating, well, we've all been there.

Great to hear that you are happy with the Electrolux. It looks to me like it has a good hob layout - more like I'm used to with gas.

bruce2782 I'm glad you posted your Electrolux review as that is my likely choice for a range as well. I hadn't considered the freestanding and assumed we'd go with the slide in for the sleeker look but your review is making me reconsider and the hob layout is certainly nicer on the freestanding.

Yup - just compared the slide in and freestanding and the freestanding features are nice.

This gets really confusing. On the Electrolux site there are 3 induction ranges shown. Googling for reviews I find this one which is called a freestanding but looks like a built in/slide in. It's well reviewed but doesn't seem to show on the 'current' Electrolux site. I'm also confused about the warming drawer vs oven on the 2 slide in ranges shown. The freestanding appears to be a warming drawer only. Sorry for butting into your thread 3katz4me but we seem to be on a similar quest. I am now totally confused.

EW30IS80RS

Oven 2

• Type: Mini oven

• Bake: 1500 Watts

• Interior Light: Incandescent

• Rack Configuration: 1 Rack

• Oven 2 Interior Color:Cobalt Blue

• Window (Size): None

• EW30IS65JS

• Oven 2 Specifications

  • Oven 2 Type: Drawer
  • Oven 2 Bake: 1500 Watts
  • Broil: Broil Variable (400-550F)
  • Convection System: Dual Fan Convection
  • Oven 2 Interior Lighting:Incandescent
  • Oven 2 Rack Configuration:1 Rack
  • Oven 2 Interior Color:Cobalt Blue
  • Oven 2 Window (Size):Large

EW30IS65JS has been superceded -- at least it seems to be listed as discontinued on numbers of vendor web sites.

EW30IS80RS seems to be the replacement version.

Your this one is a regular radiant electric smooth top, not an induction range. If you want an induction version of "this one," I think you have to get it under Electrolux's Frigidaire brand, model # FGIS2065 (a less feature rich range sold for less than half the price of the EW30IS80RS).

The reason E'lux calls "this one" a "freestanding" range is that it does not have the extended cooktop lip that most "slide-ins" have had. That lip (kind of like a narrow hat brim) overhangs and masks the gap between the range and adjoining countertop. Major brands have regarded that lip as a characteristic of models sold as "slide-ins." Also, many slide-ins were sold without finished sides. Take away the lip and add finished side panels. and E'lux decided to call it a freestanding range with front controls. GE did the same thing when it came out with its "Cafe" ranges five or six years ago.

The freestanding Electrolux induction range that bruce was talking about is, I think, the EI30IF40LS which is a more traditional-looking freestanding range with backsplash mounted controls.

I have found the Electrolux website a little less clear than mud in clarifying things. I found the scenario JWVIDEO is describing when I shopped in late 2014, in that obsolete models were listed with no clear differentiation or indication that it was an old model. I thought a little about the slide in at the time and part of me wishes we got that since we are remodeling the kitchen now and it would look nice, but there was one big obstacle to slide in for us. It only came in wave touch, which adds substantially to the cost. By the time we got all the appliances in Wavetouch it was like $4K+ more for similar features. I could not justify the cost when we were already at what I considered high end for our budget. Additionally I like the IQtouch panel better in that it is nice to always see the controls, so the Wavetouch added only a few esoteric features in my mind. The only feature of the Wavetouch that I wish I had is the temp probe that is not in the range version. I ordered a MEATER from kickstarter and that will work in the long run.

The big difference the slide in has over the range is a "second oven". In the range it is a warming drawer with 3 temp settings. Keeping in mind I have never used the drawer for more than sheet pan storage you will understand why I put low value on the feature. Also with the new model having stainless down there instead of black glass I think the older model and freestanding are more visually appealing.

I think many people, including myself, over analyze the minutia of the features when shopping. Bottom line is I looked at the specs today and I do not think I know how to use about 1/2 of the claimed features/modes. Almost anything new is a big upgrade for most people over what they had, since it has many more features than what you are used to.

If you only want slide in then looks like you are stuck with the Wavetouch, but if freestanding is good then the IQtouch is a fine choice..

Keep in mind pairing if you are shopping for multiple appliances as we were. In our case the range and the refrigerator drove the decision process on what line to buy. We really do liked the Elux FD counter depth refrigerator and when paired with a the induction range it made our mind up on brand and series. We considered the Kitchenaid, but liked this range better so went with Elux.

Well I obviously had a DUH moment - jwvideo thanks for pointing out this one is a radiant - I completely missed that. My last range was a KitchenAid slide in with the lip you refer to and it eventually collected gunk at that lip line. I assume a lip-less model will collect gunk in the crack between it and the counter eventually - to-ma-toes to-mah-toes.

bruce you are so right about the Elux website. If they can't keep discontinued model off there then what is the consumer to do? The nearest showroom to me that has any Elux models on the floor is 45 minutes away, I've been there 2x to look at everything and will obviously have to do more research. We can recess our refrig so don't need the counter depth and thought we'd go all Elux, too. BUT..... that Frigidaire smudge proof stainless really is amazing. I spoke at length with the maintenance person at the appliance showroom - he was walking the floor removing fingerprints which he says is a full time job there. He highly recommended the Frigidaire finish - knows nothing about features of course so we checked out the Frigidaire refrig and dishwashers while there. The Elux refrig is certainly prettier on the inside but I didn't see a big functional difference and dishwashers were very comparable in my mind so we may have a split kitchen which is fine with our layout. I promised myself I would NOT over analyze building this house - it's not easy.

I've been looking at them on the AJ Madison website. They have the discontinued models but when you do a compare they clearly point that out. Much as I prefer the look of a slide in the freestanding seems better. And I don't really like the look of their slide in induction compared with other slide in ranges. I need to go take an in person look at the freestanding one.

If I had to go 45 min to see them I may have made a different choice, but I am probably jaded from being in a large metro area. We had 4 places with Elux displays within 15 min of home, plus the big box stores and Sears can price them.

As I recall for pricing I looked at AJ Madison and then someone pointed me to Sears where they were having a sale and several prices were even better. The local specialty appliance place had no problem pretty much matching AJ Madison, but they overplayed their hand on all the deliver/install/setup type fees and I ended up buying at HH Gregg ( a regional semi big box, that displays Elux) where they met the best prices and the fees were as good as any other, plus i got some rebate store gift cards. Their delivery and install people did a fine job.

I went and looked at the freestanding Electrolux tonight. It's nice looking and I like how the entire cooktop space is utilized and laid out and I want a warming drawer which it has. I doubt I'd use the bridge but the two hobs on that side are decent sized. I'm about ready to pull the trigger but also considering picking up a convection microwave at the same time and I need to sleep on that.

I have all clad and Le Creuset but I'd need a couple other inexpensive induction capable pans to replace the revere ware I currently use on occasion. Any recommendations?

I'm chiming in to add that I have an Electrolux slide-in that I've used for over a year that I am very pleased with. I would recommend it and if I moved I'd buy another.

Regarding cookware, I have LC enameled cast iron and some of their new stainless nonstick pans. But my latest finds, which are among my favorites, are budget friendly from Ikea. They have a solid feel, but aren't too heavy, have nonstick interiors and glass lids with silicone handles. I think a 2 qt. pot was around $30. They have an attractive bronze metal exterior.

Here's mine - I love cooking on it!

Even if you do not like the bridge, it works with the griddle which they sent for free when we filled out the warranty card on time. We had induction previously so the cookware was all fine. I have a set of the LC enameled, some Lodge cast iron, and for the fancy stainless I have been very happy with Demeyere. http://www.demeyere.be/default.asp?CID=908&SLID=1

I have a LC wok which I would not do again and have yet to find a wok I really like. For non-stick I found some reasonable pans at Target.

We put the matching microwave above the range.

http://www.electroluxappliances.com/Kitchen-Appliances/Microwaves/Over-the-Range/EI30BM60MS/

I do not use the microwave much and we never considered anything else but the visually matching unit. It is OK, but that is probably all I would say about any microwave. I wanted a speedcook oven, but they do not have one and I did not have a 220 line available, so it got nixed. I just looked at some of the reviews on the page for it, and most are my biggest complaint is the slow response of the buttons. If you expect a real convection oven in the microwave you will also be disapointed.

Ours was replaced when new due to a problem with the convection oven heat being out of control. The side with the fan turned cherry red and the stainless become discolored on first use.

I was VERY concerned about being able to fit multiple large pots/pans on induction. I ended up with the GE Profile slide-in, and it has been great! I have no complaints at all. I've been able to fit everything I've needed to. There are times when we have 3 or 4 burners going at once.

I bought the Tramontina set from Walmart, and also use my Le Creuset.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tramontina-8-Piece-18-10-Stainless-Steel-Tri-Ply-Clad-Cookware-Set/19581112

I have that same 8-piece Tramontina set and love it (I only use the pots - for pans I use Kitchen Essentials non-stick, Lodge cast iron, or my favorite, a Zwilling ceramic).

Okay - I think I've made the decision to go for the Electrolux freestanding. And I think I might get this set of cookware from Amazon to replace my old revere ware for when I need extra pans in addition to my all clad and le creuset.

induction cookware

Burner configuration is the most important. Anything else, you can get used to. My Kenmore induction is going on 6 years and I have few complaints.