Very nice induction cooktop
Pros:
Induction cooking rocks.
Fits into 30-inch space.
Variable sized hob.
Good power.
Cons:
Electrical connection block is difficult to wire. A professional would be recommended for installation.
The Bottom Line:
I would recommend this unit because it has met all my expectations and has worked for me.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I got hooked on the idea of induction cooking after quite a bit of research. I didn't have room for the standard sizes, but this 24-inch model was just the right size. Three cooking surfaces was more than enough. After researching brands and models I couldn't find any reason not to go with Diva, so I took the plunge and bought it. It seemed to have plenty of power and adequately sized cooking hobs, as well as a variable hob that takes a range of cooking vessel sizes, which is very convenient. I use that one the most.
I was bent on installing this unit myself, which I did. I had a custom cabinet built and then cut a hole in the top and fit the cooktop into that. Easy enough. The difficult part is that the wiring block on the bottom is very difficult to work with. It requires a minimum of 8-gauge wiring, but the wiring block terminals are small and close together. Very difficult for an amateur to work with. In the end, I used three individual 8-gauge wires that I could pre-bend and individually insert into the wiring block. Those wires were later wire-nutted onto an 8-gauge "pigtail" plug that I could plug into the existing 240-volt electric outlet. Once that's done, the unit is ready to rock.
I love cooking with this thing. It heats up fast and even without burning the cooktop surface. Even while boiling water or frying steaks, you can comfortably lay your hand down right next to the pan. So you don't get food burnt onto the surface that has to be chiseled off. Although the product documentation says that burnt sugar stuck to the surface will destroy the surface, so wipe it off in a hurry.
I sometimes cook popcorn in an 8-quart stockpot and I would usually burn some at the bottom. No more. It all pops evenly without any burnt spots at the bottom. Most of the advantages of this model I assume are common to induction cooktops in general. Although I have heard some of them make annoying sounds while cooking, this one does not.
I was worried about the top surface scratching, and although pans slide around very easily, I haven't noticed any scrathes yet. Which reminds me, I'm thinking of getting some silicon pads to keep my pans from sliding, cuz it's a bit annoying if they slide around like a hockey puck.
