Best Induction Cooktops of 2024

Most 30-inch induction cooktops have four cooking elements. These four deliver impressive heating performance in our tests.

Most 36-inch induction cooktops have five cooking elements. These four models shined in our lab tests.

We test 30- and 36-inch induction cooktops from such popular brands as Frigidaire, GE, Samsung, and Whirlpool. We also test pro-style induction cooktops from brands like Bosch, Monogram, and Thermador.

Regardless of whether the cooktop is gas, electric smoothtop, or induction, each is tested at low and high heat. Just about any cooktop will fare well enough when cooking over medium heat, but a stellar model will also boil quickly and simmer steadily. “The extremes between low- and high-heat tasks are where we really see differences,” says Kenneth Sutton, who oversees cooktop testing at Consumer Reports.

For high-heat cooking, we use a standard pot filled with about 4 quarts of water on the largest cooktop burner. We crank up the burner to the highest setting and note how quickly the water heats up.

For low-heat cooking, we use the smallest burner to maintain simmer and melt temperatures, gauging how well a cooktop holds a steady simmer temperature without dropping too low or reaching temperatures hot enough that you’d scorch delicate foods like chocolate or tomato sauce.

Here are answers to some of the common questions people have about induction cooktops, including how they function, compatible cookware, and potential drawbacks. 

As a special type of electric cooktop, induction models harness the power and precision of the electromagnetic field, which lies below the glass surface, to quickly heat. “Since you’re heating the pan directly, you’re not losing time while heat transfers from a radiant electric burner,” Sutton says.

Induction is about 10 percent more efficient than traditional electric smoothtops and up to three times more efficient than gas. That increased efficiency can easily shave several minutes off the time to boil a pot of water.

If you’ve considered an induction cooktop or range, you’ve probably heard that not all cookware is induction-compatible. The truth is, any magnetic pot or pan will work on an induction cooktop, and you may already have pots and pans that do. (Test them out by seeing whether a magnet sticks to them.)

If you’re looking for new cookware, check the Features & Specs tab on the model page of any cookware model or set in our cookware ratings to find out whether it’s induction-friendly. You can also take a magnet with you when you’re shopping in a store.

Yes. Cast-iron cookware is a magnetic metal and works on induction. That’s true for solid cast-iron pans as well as enameled cast-iron pots and Dutch ovens.

Aside from the minor issue of cookware compatibility, the biggest drawback to induction cooktops can be price. They tend to cost a bit more than other cooktops, but prices have dropped considerably in recent years. Plus, people who buy induction cooktops may qualify for up to $880 in rebates under the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Learn what to consider if you’re choosing between an induction and a conventional electric smoothtop, and read more about the pros and cons of induction.