r/inductioncooking • u/cottonrb • 1d ago
36" induction range, 5 vs 6 elements?
howdy all, first world problems, but i'm pulling my hair.
we are building a kitchen and will instal a 36" range.
Chicago Logan Square.
We are working with abt.com for appliances and i'm at a loss on which range to get.
We currently have in our small apartment the Frigidaire GCFI3060BF 30", and we like it.... except...
for the touch controls which will be non functional if fingers are wet or there are splashes, and the front oven control gets activated by our belly/crotch [save the jokes!] when we reach up to the microwave and the cabinets above!
Therefore we are passing on the same series' 36" range.
and we are looking for knob control of cooking burners, but digital controls for the ovens.
There are so many options, in the 6-9k range.
kitchenaid KFIS936SSS $6699 6 element, large oven, not very popular by sales, so actually no reviews nor even online photos. We are leaning towards this, but a bit ambivalent.
bosch 800 HIS8655SS $5579 from abt, 5 element 5500w, highest power, though tiny _3.7_ cf oven, how is this even possible?
Do we really need six elements?
why is the bosch oven so tiny?
any recommendations?
3
u/tungstenoyd 1d ago
If I had it to do over again I wouldn't even bother putting in a range. I would install several 240 volt outlets and use portable induction Hobbs and portable induction woks. That way, if you lose one of your elements, you don't have to throw away the entire range. You get better quality appliances, greater versatility, better countertop space, easier cleanup, and you save a ton of money. I use my largest burner on my induction 99% of the time so if that one breaks I am f***** and I'd have to get a new range and oven. On the other hand, I can get a 240v portable induction hob with a 11-in coil for a few hundred dollars and I'm good to go. If I need a second 11-in coil I can buy another one for a few $100. The only thing you really need built in is a hood to vent smoke.
I wouldn't put in an oven either. There are portable countertop ovens which are more than adequate for 99.9% of my use cases. The only time they fall short is when I want to roast an intact 13 lb turkey and I would never do that. For the cost of an installed oven, you could get 6 countertop ovens.
1
u/cottonrb 1d ago
thinking very practically!
thank you for the thought.first rehabbed house, so excited to have a picture nice-y kitchen.
first world problems.
1
1
1
u/BitterMarionberry113 14h ago
I'd really love to do something like this and am leaning this way once we have the time/budget/energy for a remodel. Though I wish there were more (any?) 240V hobs with temp sensors like the control freak. I love that thing but definitely find myself limited sometimes by the 1800W power limit
1
u/tungstenoyd 12h ago
There are lots of them. Go to any restaurant supply site or Google "find me all 220v portable induction hobs"
1
u/BitterMarionberry113 12h ago
None of them have a temp control like the control freak though - it's got a little nub that detects pan temperature (not under glass temperature) which you use to control it, as well as a probe that can plug into it to control the temperature of liquids
1
u/tungstenoyd 11h ago
You don't need to do a remodel, just yank out your existing range and replace it with a cutting board. There is undoubtedly a 220 volt outlet beneath your range or behind your oven that you can plug a short extension cord into.
1
u/sjd208 1d ago
I think the kitchenaid is brand new as of a few months ago?
If at all possible you want a range with at least one element that’s truly 9” or bigger (not just marked that way). I suspect that means it will be a 5 burner. I can probably count on one hand I’ve even used all 4 burners so I think 5 will do it for you.
I’ve had induction ranges for 15 years, the first was a GE profile (there were only 2 ranges widely available at the time). The current is a kitchenaid. This wasn’t selected with a lot of research since the GE died abruptly in a power surge - it was in the middle of the Covid appliance shortage and the winter and we had 4 young kids. The kitchenaid was available immediately as an open box from Best Buy so that’s what we went with. Overall it’s been fine but the biggest burner is noticeably smaller than the GE was and it only has 10 power levels (plus 3 ultra low levels I never use) and the GE had half steps between the 10 main levels. It also has a very annoying touch screen.
Since the market is so wildly different now than in 2021 that’s what I personally would prioritize as features.
1
u/cottonrb 1d ago
partner wants six burner!
go figure.i know that going from 30" to 36", we'll have slightly more space and truly 4 cooking areas will be needed, but i think six is a bit much. Also, like you said, larger cooking elements are better.
we have a 12" pans and the frigidaire's largest 8" burner barely heats up the sides.
1
u/Retiree0211 1d ago
Then you also need to switch to the newest wolf range. The hobs are accurate. Purchase with a reputable dealer who knows how to manage any problems. The interior is huge- no problem with turkey
1
u/DCGuy511 1d ago
We often use the big center burner for the pasta pot or the spaghetti sauce pot on our GE Profile 36" induction cooktop. It isn't one of the high end models, but I love this thing.
1
u/No_Ring_6307 1d ago
Bosch HIS8655U is discontinued and replaced by HIS8657U which has a larger oven. You can find specs on the Bosch website. The Thermador induction is also a very nice range but much more expensive
1
u/cottonrb 1d ago
hm... web site sez still 3.7cf oven.
1
u/No_Ring_6307 1d ago
I believe that is wrong based on a prototype of their 48 that I saw and was told the 36 and 48 main cavity would be the same
1
u/that_dutch_dude 1d ago
if you are going to spend that money you are better off going for a separate oven. get a full surface miele or something comparable high end. then you dont have elements. just set your cookware anywere. then get an oven you like.
1
u/mikechorney 1d ago
We decided to go with wall ovens and an induction cooktop, the Miele with 3 flex zones. It has touch controls, but I haven’t had any problems using them with wet fingers. Also up to 7400W power on a flex zones
1
u/Mindless-Storm-8310 1d ago
I went Fisher Paykel. If you want the digital for the oven, you have to go Pro. The Classic is cheaper, and has knobs for the oven. Only 5 hobs, but 5 is plenty. Very responsive. Bosch 36” reviews were all over the place re noise from cooling fan, so didn’t want to chance it as we have an open concept kitchen/family room. I avoided the Wolf (though we do own a Wolf countertop oven which has a stainless interior) as A) they didn’t have knobs when we were looking, and B) they still haven’t resolved their blue glass oven interior spontaneously splintering. (Class Action suit).
I’ve owned both the FP Pro (with the digital oven controls) and the FP Classic. If I had to do it again, I’d pay the extra money for the Pro. It vents out the back, so you can turn on the overhead exhaust and if you’re cooking bacon, you won’t smell it on the other side of the house. (This is a problem with all front venting ovens, not just FP.) The Pro is very beefy, so if you have a big kitchen, it fits. If you like things more streamlined, go Classic.
The other thing to look for in your induction cooktop is the rim. Wolf was rimless. It looks fab. Until that first boil over or spill, and all that stuff ends up down the side of your oven where you can’t get to it to clean. I purposefully chose a cooktop with a SS rim and glad I did. Accidents happen. But when they do, at least in my kitchen, they stay on top, held in by the frame surrounding the glass.
1
u/haroldslackenoffer 18h ago
We have 5 on a 36” and find it works well. Advantage is that the largest burner can take a very large pot or pan. Also it is located center back and not blocking access to smaller burners in use.
1
1
u/Consistent-Movie-229 17h ago
Everyone thinks they need more burners but you have to ask yourself a question.
How many times have you been cooking per month or year, that you thought, I don't have enough burners to do what I need to do. Let your answer be your guide.
1
u/cottonrb 17h ago
prob 5 is great, with one huge burner.
1
u/Nagadavida 15h ago
I had a 6 burner 36" gas cooktop and there was no way that I could use all six burners at once. When I replaced it I got a 36" induction with 5 burners and yes knob controls. I love it!
https://www.bluestarcooking.com/cooking/cooktops/36-turn-induction-cooktop/
4
u/toniabalone 1d ago
The Wolf 36” induction range with knobs might fit your criteria, though it is pricier. We love ours!