mrea0979 posted a question about this induction cook top.
the price caught my eye.
$499.50 for a 60 cm induction cooktop isn't too shabby.
was $999
if they can make a phone that heats up or a washing machine that doubles as a heater then surely their induction cooktops must also be good.
60cm Induction Cooktop - NZ64T5747EK/SA
Flex Zone accommodates varying sizes
Quick Start reduces time to start cooking
Intuitive temperature control
Built-in safety functions
Modern & elegant design
The front zone tops out at 3.6kw, so if it's accurate it would be way more powerful than a 1000w ceramic burner.
Ceramic burners always seemed kind of cheap and nasty to me. If gas weren't so expensive and being phased out I think most people would still prefer gas.
It appears the reviews linked are for a microwave and not the cooktop for some reason…
Looks like both of those reviews are for a microwave.
Keep in mind 2 years ago it was probably selling for 999 or more. In my general experience induction cooktops are the most powerful going around, so if it's not working for someone the problem is likely with them or their perceptions.
Can these be retrofitted size wise to replace an electric cooktop?
Usually- measure the dimensions
Cool cheers, will measure mine up
make sure you measure the cut out if you can, as well as the cooktop. You need the unit to fit into the existing cut out while the glass top has some overhang
;)
You might have to get a new cable run for induction vs electric as it can use more power
usually your cooktop and oven are on their own circuit, if that's the case should be ok, but get someone who knows to check if not. It's not the cable that isn't rated highly enough as everyone uses the same cable, it's just whether it's on it's own circuit and the breaker is rated appropriately.
alot of old houses, they will double off the cooktop from the oven circuit, so something the sparky will check when installing it
Even though they have their own circuit the cables might not be thick enough. I've had to replace the cable and the switch to support 32A as the old ones were fitted for ceramic plate only which had lower wattage.
I've seen quotes to pull the cable as cheap as $450 on Whirlpool, but in my town (Northwest Victoria) it was $650 6 months ago. This included the full installation of the unit, including widening the cutout from my gas hobs, running a cable on its own circuit, installing the now-mandatory 'power switch'. Not including removing the old gas hobs/capping the gas line - but that is a simple job and takes only a couple of hours for a complete novice with hand-tools.
Hopefully that gives someone a ballpark for that part of the job.
@ColPow11 - Curious if it was a regular sparky that did the job? Did they also widen the cutout, etc?
Be interested to hear stories of others that have done this. Require 3Phase? Cost of job? Etc
We got one (not this brand) put in when we put a new kitchen in a few years ago. IIRC the electrician ran a new cable from the fuse box, but standard single phase. Apparently it was a close call as to whether it needed a new cable or not, but he was already there wiring it in and putting in power points, so may as well get him to do it all at the same time rather than take the risk of having to call them back.
To confirm new cable even if old stovetop was electric? Thanks
Have no idea if running a cable is a big job or not, they go through the roof typically and then fish down the wall to back of unit?
@toecutter69: Yep, new cable even though it was replacing an old radiant electric stove.
Fwiw induction is excellent and I'd never go back to anything else. It's like gas without needing gas, and with a flat glass surface to wipe down.
Usually needs to be done to a new circuit in switch box as usually require like a 15amp. Last induction cooktop we installed required a new cable run just for it cant double off the oven like an old electric would of been.
correct, 10A = 2400W, 15A=3600W. they might even go to 20 on the breaker to avoid issues.
Thanks. Have a sparky in later next week, will ask them to ballpark it
@toecutter69: Pays to have an isolation switch in the kitchen as well especially if you have cats and tend leave your pans on the cooktop.
This one requires 32A, or 2x16A circuits. (Not sure if the latter is approved in AU.)
The isolation switch is required.
Some other induction cooktops can be set to only draw 16 or 20A max, so can be used on an existing 2.4mm^2 circuit.
Single phase
You'd need a 32A circuit. Some sparkies may tell you 20A is ok, don't believe them. New cable, and either new circuit breaker or upgrading the old one. Just do it. Induction cooking is really really nice.
We like future proof our place so we got 3 phase. consider what car you'll eventually get eg ev, and whether you'll need solar panels (likely yes), and whether you have a pool which may need a heat pump.
Total upgrade cost depends. Could about $2k for the oven/cooktop cable upgrade, 3 phase upgrade ~$7k (depends on how your meter board will reach fuse box though)
I guess you'd effectively be turning your current stovetop into a bench top.
Interesting the flex zone is literally just two linked burners
weird flex, but ok
For cheap induction cooker.. i would recommend ikea… manufactured by aeg i believe… and also i got previous years top of range for 700 bucks on runout from 1300.. works perfectly and you get 5 years warranty unlike even the major brands which only do 2 at most.
Size cut out of new is the same as old… so perfectly changeable when it gets old.
I do not trust samsung appliances at all.
Does ikea warranty cover electrician costs to remove and replace
They will send an electrician out I'm pretty sure
Included in the cost??
@iLikePizza: for warranty yes… you should ask them if you're unsure, mine has been working perfect so no issues here.
Agree that Samsung don't have the best record for reliability. I picked mine up from Aldi for $239 on clearance and it's been excellent for 5 years.
They’re manufactured by Electrolux, who happen to own AEG. They’re definitely not to the same standard as AEG. With that said, nothing wrong with IKEA cooktops.
Summary of the choice review (86% expert rating but not a recommended product).
Pros
• Excellent for performance.
• Large rectangular flexi cooking zone accommodates various size cookware.
• Obvious as to which control for each cooking zone.
Cons
• Controls are too close to the cooking zones.
• One control setting is used for all cooking zones.
• Saucepan/pan larger than 21cm in diameter may not be efficient.
• May not have even heat distribution when using flexi zone.
• Can be difficult for a larger finger when selecting temperature setting.
• Some guessing required as some number settings are not displayed on grading.
• Fan noise is noticeable during operation.
Cons is a long list but nothing that bad really IMO
One setting for all zones is a serious limitation.
All induction cookers have fans,i wouldn't say that is a con as my cooking trends to be louder than the fans.
Just to clarify they mean you have one control (the slider) to adjust the temperature of each zone. This can be fiddly and annoying during cooking. Not that all zones can only be set to one temperature.
Also when cooking you should usually have the exhaust fan going which is going to be way louder than a cooling fan for an induction cooktop.
Samsung Australia delivery times are notoriously awful, something to keep in mind if you want something soon-ish.
Question for the induction cooktop owners out there please: is induction better than gas when doing Asian stir fry which requires really high heat ? I ask because gas covers bigger area of the wok base and heat would be more evenly distribute whereas induction cooktop only covers the bottom of the wok which is only a small area. My home is using ceramic and I really don't like it and set up an outside kitchen with portable gas stove but it would be nice if I don't need to go outside to cook especially in winter.
I'd say it will be even worse as you have to align the frying in the middle of the heating zone for it to work properly. We've noticed that it can be pretty annoying some time as if you pick up the cookware to stir or anything you have to put it back right in the middle otherwise it might stop heating until you re-align.
Splitting your two questions - hotter? Yes. Much hotter and much faster to get to that temperature.
Better for stir fry? No. The hot part of the hobs is limiting factor here. You won't get an even heat across the whole pan without paying a fortune. And you have to use a flat bottomed pan, even with the most expensive units.
The most expensive induction units have two things cheaper ones don't - very large magnet coils to cover a wider pan (that is, the induction coil is only heating directly the part of the pan it touches, the rest of the pan is heating by conduction). The other thing is not relevant to your question - but it is how low the power draw can get and still work effectively. Induction hobs do 'low heat' settings by turning the coil on and off. This can be a pain to cook with until you work out what's happening. It isn't a low heat all the time, like gas or classic electric, instead it is hot-then-off. Mine is a unit from IKEA with a mild version of this and that isn't really a problem for me - but it is noticeable. I think if you were preparing delicate sauces it would be a big problem.
it takes a while to learn how to stir fry without burning the foot, induction gets very hot and burns easily.
also you cant use a proper wok so you'll have to learn how to work around that.
otherwise if you're really into wok cooking, induction isnt really going to cut it unless you get a proper industrial induction cooker, they are actually great but you need like a 30 amp outlet or something i think, i havent really looked that much into it.
if i were u.. i'll upgrade the ceramic to induction cause its just so much better and keep the outside kitchen, cause thats what asians do LOL…
Pretty much for everything other than a wok, induction is better imo
Thank you for all the replies, really appreciated !
I cook Asian food 80% of the time, considering the limitation induction has on wok cooking, I will invest the money to put in a proper gas stove like Fotile or Roham.
For wok stir-frying, you can buy a curved portable induction stove that fits the shape of the wok and gives you that all-around heating like gas. You're right that a standard induction stove won't do the job properly.
Can’t add it to cart, or can’t select a delivery date (where??)
Same here - can't add to cart on Chrome or Safari
Same, could it be out of stock?
Looks to be out of stock now - buy now button has changed to "get stock alert"
Samsung induciton cooktops are junk! We had the missfortune of buying one. The electronics failed 3 times under warranty in 3 years and was repaired each time (BTW it takes weeks for them to get parts and repair it so you have no functioning cooktop for the duration). Then if failed for the 4th time just out of warranty and it went to the tip! Replaced it with a Bosch induction cooktop. So much better in every way - build quality, reliability, performance, etc.
Just don't waste your time and money with Samsung
thats a shame to hear, was it the same cooktop?
It looks very similar. Same burner layout etc. This might be the replacement model of ours.
Seems typical for Samsung appliances.
Just the TV's are good.
The phones I find fairly junky.
White goods are hopeless.
Their upper tier cameras were sensational but then they deleted the lines and never returned to making cameras.
I still have my NX1 and it works very well.
I havent had any issues with their phones or TVs either
From my experience, I'd swap phones and TVs on your list. Their TVs are junk.
Would be good if you could actually buy it.
out of stock now
That's what I meant, it was out of stock immediately after the deal was posted, which suggests low stock and ineligible for posting here?
Is it true that induction cooktops require very strong rangehoods to stop condensation? Thats what i was told by some salesmen
Never heard that before, rangehoods should be for all cooktops depending on what you cooking
back in stock fyi
This review doesnt give much confidence in it, anyone have one of these?
3 out of 5 stars.
Does the job
Ed411
2 years ago
The functions are a little weak for the price but it does the job. The power seams weaker then a standard 1000W.