Not Bosch, Not Frigidaire: Consumer Reports Gave This Electric Induction Cooktop Top Marks

If you are looking for a new cooktop, checking out an electric induction model should be at the top of your to-do list. The unique pros and cons of induction have completely upended the decades-old debate between gas and electric cooktops and stoves. The technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat pans, gives cooks all the power and responsiveness of gas, with the more eco-friendly nature and easy cleanup of electric. And if you want an electric induction cooktop that will really show you what this new technology is capable of, Consumer Reports (CR) will point you towards the LG Studio CBIS3618BE.

The testers over at Consumer Reports have put several dozen induction cooktops under the microscope, and the 36-inch LG Studio CBIS3618BE eked out the highest rating in both the 30- and 36-inch categories, beating strong competition from big names like Bosch and Frigidaire, but mostly other LG models. It landed a near-perfect score and was excellent at all measures of performance. In CR's testing, the LG Studio CBIS3618BE was equally good at high heat — measured by how quickly it could boil water — and low heat, which measures the ability to maintain a steady, even temperature without overheating food. 

The LG Studio CBIS3618BE was handily among the highest-rated cooktops for reliability in CR's studies, meaning it was least likely to experience a serious problem, and it also scored very well in customer satisfaction, meaning those who purchased it were highly likely to recommend it. LG's induction cooktops in general score very highly when it comes to owner satisfaction and brand reliability for customer feedback.

While performance and reliability are the most important aspects of buying a new cooktop, the LG Studio CBIS3618BE also has some nice features that put it over the top. There are touch controls that feature WiFi-connectivity for use with a smartphone, as well as a child safety lock. It has five different heating elements, with four of them being large, and it even has a customizable heat zone on the left, which lets you combine multiple heaters to fit pans of different shapes and sizes.

The one downside to induction cooktops can be the expenses, and it's certainly an issue here. As a new technology, induction can be solidly more expensive than gas or traditional electric cooktops, and the LG Studio CBIS3618BE clocks in at just over $2,800. Part of this likely comes from being a larger model, but thankfully if you are worried about price, LG also has some more affordable options that nearly matched the Studio's score. 

The site's second-highest-rated induction cooktop was the LG CBIH3017BE. It's a smaller 30-inch model, but it matched the other's performance and comes in more than $1,000 cheaper. There is also the LG CBIH3613BE, which measures 36 inches and only costs $1,249 right now, but doesn't feature the extensive heating options that the LG Studio does. And all those LG options are solidly cheaper than most other brands. The clear message is this: If you want an electric induction cooktop for almost every budget, Consumer Reports says LG.