Fagor 670040240 110-Volt Portable Induction Cooktop
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Fagor 670040240 110-Volt Portable Induction Cooktop
Customer Review: Sorry, but it didn't do it for me
Summary: 2 Stars
I've wanted gas since I bought my house years ago, and I could have it (propane) if I remodel the cabinet space above the present cooktop (a Jenn-Air radiant) to give me at least 18" clearance above the rear burners for code purposes (I have 16"). I'd like to avoid that because, as we all know, one thing leads to another and that leads to lots of money spent for 2".
Since some claim induction is actually more responsive than gas (and without the drawback of wasted ambient heat production) I thought I'd try a single burner induction and I decided on the Fagor. I was planning on eventually buying a full unit in the 2.5K range if I loved it. I didn't.
I realize it's unfair to compare this single burner to one of the full-sized units on a dedicated 40 amp circuit, but hey, what else could I do.
The Fagor had a 20 amp circuit all to itself, and I used my All-Clad and Le Creuset pots and pans.
I didn't like the fan noise. I didn't like the whine from the pans (which, with my cookware, I'm sure was actually minimal). But I could have lived with that. What I couldn't live with (and why I returned it) is the lack of control in the low range.
It has six settings. The two lowest settings (1 & 2) cycle on and off (I used a watt/amp meter and 1 draws from 6 watts to +/- 465 watts and 2 draws from 6 watts to +/- 550 watts) so if you're simmering rice in a covered pan, for example, when the unit cycles off there is no simmering whatsoever, and when it cycles back on it resembles more of a low boil. My Jenn-Air doesn't do this (even though it also cycles) because the cooktop retains significant heat in the off cycle. It will effectively simmer over the full simmer range.
On the Fagor, if you move the control to 3 (a constant draw of +/- 615 watts) it will boil over. So, low heat cooking requires constant operator supervision and significant intervention (see Mark Wilden's review) which is a downward departure from my Jenn-Air.
The people who love it have their reasons and I'm glad it works for them. It's a very stylish unit and it works well in the upper ranges (4 draws +/- 865 watts; 5 draws +/- 1085 watts; and 6 draws +/- 1140 watts).
I'm relatively sure any issues I had with this model would largely disappear with the real thing, but I'd have to see the unit I wanted to buy in action, with my cookware, before I plunked down some real money. I certainly wouldn't spend +/- $2.5K based only upon my experience with this model.
Customer Review: This is a FANTASTIC product ...
Summary: 5 Stars
... and worth every single dollar even for those of us with fine wine taste on a beer budget! If you live in an urban condo or similar small space this unit & at most 2 of them could replace the traditional bulky stovetop & be stored in a cupboard when you have no time to cook. I have been test driving mine for 3 weeks now & have worked thru some initial touch pad issues - ATMs and voting machines don't like me either! - and can't stop smiling. Now I understand why even the classic chefs are switching to induction in commercial kitchens - such a relief to work long hours w/o the heat buildup. I live in a hurricane zone and from now on won't have to worry about cooking if we lose power for extensive periods - this light weight unit would work off a standard generator (110v;only 2 prong connection) or could be thrown in the car (literally) w/other emergency gear and used in a hotel, etc. I fell in love with the Fagor brand sev years ago after doing extensive research and eventually buying my first Fagor pressure cooker. I have since purchased different sizes of same for myself & given quite a few of the cookers as gifts to very special friends and relatives who share love of simplified gourmet cooking, fast/healthy cooking, & "greening up the kitchen" whenever possible - but always w/eye on the wallet. If I ever (1) buy a ticket & (2)win the lottery, I'll give one of these to everyone I know. After that I shall have a Fagor Euro minimilist kitchen designed especially for me!!!! ha ha PS: I do not work f/this company but if I lived near WallStreetWest in Jersey I'd apply for a job! Their customer service is remarkably responsive & friendly - hi Tina and Jenny - so the management must be as good as the products. Summation: GREAT BUY!Customer Review: Induction is the best way to go
Summary: 3 Stars
I initially ordered the Fagor cooktop, but because of the reasons stated in several of the reviews (the controls were difficult to use and noise) I sent it back afer one week and ordered the Sunpentown instead (Model 1881S). It turns out that the noise is about the same as it is on the Fagor, but the controls are much better. The Sunpentown has five keys (which beep and light up when pressed) that go from 420 deg down to 120 deg. If that isn't enough, the keys can be set to either cook or warm. (Fagor makes good products as I have used one of their pressure cookers for several years now. An induction burner is the perfect mate to a pressure cooker since the heat settings are so precise.)
I have had this product for about nine months and use it on a daily basis. We have a gas range with a black cooking surface which is almost impossible to keep clean. Since I've had the induction burner, I've retired the range since it is seldom used now.
Both of these burners have black ceramic surfaces and they are simple to clean up. I've never had a burnt on-spill that required a metal scraper to remove it as the burner doesn't get hot enough to burn the spill. As others had said, the burner doesn't heat up the kitchen.
As others have said, I've noticed that the heat doesn't exactly correspond to the size of the circles shown on the burner's surface, nevertheless, it is probably the fastest and most efficient way to cook food on any burner that's out there.
Make sure you watch Fagor's movie which is available on the preceding page. It graphically explains how these technological marvels work.
Customer Review: Induction cooking is great, but not this model
Summary: 3 Stars
This was my first experience with induction cooking, and, like everyone else says, it's fantastic. Keeps the kitchen cool, heats things faster, offers precise control, environmental, easy to clean - all good stuff.
But I'm going to try a different brand next time I buy an induction cooktop. Here's why:
1) There are only six heat settings. I've found that to simmer many items, I need a setting in between 2 and 3. So I have to stand over it and manually switch between the two.
2) It appears to cycle on and off (at least on setting 3). A pot of stuff will bubble for a while, then stop, then bubble for a while, etc. I don't know if this is normal for an induction cooktop, but obviously it isn't very smooth.
3) The controls are indeed difficult to get used to, though it can be done. You need to give them a rather sharp tap, instead of just pressing them. There's also a delay, so if you want to turn the heat down from 6 to 1, you have to tap at certain intervals.
4) It seems to produce a hot spot in the center of the pan. That part will bubble when the edges stay cooler. I don't know if this is normal with induction cooking. I use All-Clad pans.
All told, these negatives don't outweigh the positive experience of using an induction cooktop. But I'll try another brand next time. And there will be a next time, because compared to my lousy electric stove, induction cooking is wonderful!
Customer Review: Yes and, no
Summary: 4 Stars
I hate the Jenn-Air cooktop in the house I bought and, before I shelled out $3 - 4k for an induction cooktop to replace it, I thought I'd try this little one out.
My dislike of the Jenn-Air gas cooktop is the lack of "range". Low is too hot to simmer and high just doesn't get there to blacken meats. With only 6 heating levels, I did not expect the Fagor cooktop to have the precision I want. I was wrong, it excelled in both. I simmered a pot of chili quickly and it easily held it at just below simmer. I clarified butter in a steel bowl (more on that later) and it quickly separated and never boiled up to mess up the separation. I then took it outside, put it up on high with my Lodge fry pan and seared a steak like never before.
And, I sent it back. Of all the pots and pans I had, only three worked. Be sure you check your cookware to see if a magnet will stick before you commit to any Induction unit. None will work with aluminum, copper or some stainless steel pots or pans.
One other small issue was the fan noise and funny noise the controls make when the unit cycles on and off. I would have lived with that, but not a big investment in all new cookware.