Best Induction Cooktops of 2023

The top models from CR's tests offer rapid boiling and steady simmering—and they're not necessarily the most expensive

By Paul Hope

Updated January 1, 2023

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overhead view of induction cooktop against white background — Induction cooktops harness the power of the electromagnetic field, below the glass surface, to quickly heat pots and pans.

Induction cooktops come as close to perfection as any appliance Consumer Reports tests. The majority score well enough to recommend, and three of the models in our ratings have an Overall Score of 95 or higher. (In our past testing, one now discontinued model even earned a perfect Overall Score of 100.)

But you still have to shop carefully. Multiple models we’ve tested in the past failed to deliver the rapid boil times and steady simmering for which induction is known. And even some of the top performers are hindered by subpar reliability.

Start with our cooktop buying guide to learn how induction cooktops set themselves apart from conventional electric cooktops, and what might work best for you. CR members can also delve right into our electric cooktop ratings, where they can sort according to size, price, predicted brand reliability, and more.

How CR Tests Induction Cooktops

We test every cooktop—gas, electric smoothtop, and induction—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,” Casaregola says.

For high-heat cooking, we use a standardized pot filled with about 4 quarts of water on the largest cooktop burner. We jack 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 melt chocolate and then simmer water and tomato sauce, gauging how well a cooktop holds a steady simmer temperature without dropping too low or scorching the contents of the pan.

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

CR members can read on for ratings and reviews of five of the best induction cooktops from our tests.

Do You Need Special Cookware for an Induction Cooktop?

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 is induction-friendly. You can also take a magnet with you when you’re shopping in a store.

Best Induction Cooktops: 30-Inch

Best Induction Cooktops: 36-inch

Paul Hope

As a classically trained chef and an enthusiastic DIYer, I've always valued having the best tool for a job—whether the task at hand is dicing onions for mirepoix or hanging drywall. When I'm not writing about home products, I can be found putting them to the test, often with help from my two young children, in the 1860s townhouse I'm restoring in my free time.