trove: My Miele odor comment was intended as a zinger directed at Miele due to various complaints on this forum about dishwasher odor (probably not confined just to Miele). Some who have looked into this in depth have recently blamed it on humidity acting on microscopic food particles not flushed by the dishwashing process, and on dirty liquid in the dishwasher plumbing left over after operation. I know I have had odor problems at times with my Optima, but due to onset of winter have to wait until summer to try to verify whether either cause of blame is consistent with my observations. Miele has to conform to European laws relating to energy efficiency, and this also affects water usage. It may be that old style American dishwashers remained more sanitary in humid conditions after their drying cycle. I don't recall odor from childhood dishwashers, but I think my family's dishwasher was run more often than my Miele. kas

It's not particular to Miele, or any particular model. If you're actually using it as a work space, rather than just as a place to set stuff down, you should lock the unit so that the controls won't be upset if you cover them up, or have a pool of water, or sense a knife or something and think it was a cooking vessel (which would only matter if you accidentally turned on the element in question). I haven't checked your model's manual for how you enter and exit child lock, but the most common thing is that you hold your finger (or palm if your fingers aren't warm enough) on the power switch for five seconds. Very easy. You don't want to do anything that will nick the glass, however, because scratches can develop into cracks. It would be worthwhile if you want to use the area on a daily basis to chop on, put potentially scratchy things on (like a cooling rack with metal feet), etc., to have either a cutting board, or maybe a Formica topped piece of Masonite, that fits over the unit when you're using it for counterspace. If you're just using it for mixing bowls, ingredients, etc., and there's nothing scratchy/nicky or metal involved, and if the controls don't beep at you for being covered, you don't really need to put it in lock mode. I do that all the time on my induction.

Surface mounting makes replacement easier because it doesn't need a highly customized hole. Nominal 30" units run from 28"-32". With flush, you'd need an exact fit. With surface, you only need there to be enough support for the edges. A slightly smaller or larger unit might fit, or the counter can be adapted for it to fit (e.g., a little more plywood underneath, or a slightly enlarged hole). I have a stainless frame (which looked better near the stainless gas with black grate than all black would have). I have no need to hang pots over the edge, but there's nothing about the frame that would prevent it. I'm guessing you're talking about the kind that's just a vertical border, and that might be a problem, however... If your pots are that oversized, you may not like the cooking. There will be a distinct hot spot in the middle where the inductors are. An inch in diameter (half an inch all around) over is expected. An inch in radius (an inch all around) over is perfectly doable. By the time you get two inches past the ring, you're losing a lot of ease of cooking. That said, you can use a silicone mat, both on the stove and on the counter, to equalize the height. Marble is rock. It can take a hot pot. What you don't want do, especially where it's weakest, is thermal shock, which could promote cracking, so a trivet is a good thing to have. If it warms along with your pot, gradually, it'll be fine. As to scratches, etching, spots, etc., that's another story entirely, but all of the above can be helped by the silicone mat.

Thank you so much everyone for your great advice. We have been agonizing over this for too long. For the Wolf v. Miele 36 inch induction cooktop, the Miele definitely seems to have more functionality. But it seems maybe Wolf is easier to use with the touch controls versus number touch controls on the Miele? Also, this may be silly, but the Miele in straight black seems to show more fingerprints. Also Wolf now has a new 36 inch transitional induction cooktop with silver rim with what looks like more a charcoal grey surface rather thank straight black (it is black with a lot of dots so looks more grey). I know silly to rely just on aesthetics though but we are having an all white kitchen and the lighter color cooktop would be nice but maybe still really looks dark or maybe can’t even really see the cooktop when in the kitchen and not really in front of it. So there are all those considerations. What do you think? Still go with Miele? Another consideration is qualifying for a package. Whatever we pick for the induction cooktop plus oven qualifies us either for $1000 rebate from Subzero-Wolf (with fridge/freezer) or 10 percent discount off Miele. So if go with Wolf induction, then need 1 Wolf oven. We plan to stack a regular oven with combi steam so that means then Wolf oven and Wolf steam oven but it does seem that Miele has a much better combi steam. Could do the Miele induction cooktop, Miele combi-steam, and Miele oven, but have the issues with the cooktop described above. And from a silly aesthetic perspective, we prefer the Subzero-Wolf professional look, but silly to base appliance selections on look. What do you think? Worth it to go all Miele for ovens and induction? Or is the Wolf sufficient and get the look? Some people really like the M Wolf oven (apparently fixed chipping issues or made easier to replace) but bad not to have convection bake and convection broil? Then E might be better because has both but then lose the Wolf gourmet features and maybe chipping issue. Re Wolf steam some people really like it and a new model looks better but maybe mostly improvements with facade. Go with all Miele? Ok to have Miele contourline clean touch stainless ovens and induction in all white more traditional kitchen (white shaker cabinets and white silestone counters)? And ok to mix with Subzero built-in fridge/freezer and Wolf low profile wall hood? Soo very much appreciate your feedback. Thank you!!!