In July my neighbor Linda knocked on our door holding a tape measure and a photo of her cracked smoothtop. “The hole in my counter is 30 inches, I have a week, and every cooktop online looks the same,” she said. She was right. Thirty inches is the size most American kitchens are built around, so it’s also where the choices get overwhelming, and the reviews I found mostly repeated the spec sheets.
So I lined up seven 30-inch induction cooktops and swapped them, one at a time, into the temporary plywood counter at the end of our kitchen, wired to its own 240-volt circuit. From August to October each one cooked at least 10 days of our family dinners: chili left on low for an hour, pasta nights, Saturday pancakes on a griddle and the usual weeknight scramble with every pan going.
The Bosch 800 Series NIT8061UC is the one I’d put in my own kitchen, and it’s the one Linda bought. It boiled a quart of water in 2 minutes and 41 seconds and kept my chili at the same lazy simmer for half an hour without me touching it. If you want five zones and a set-the-temperature mode, look at the KitchenAid KCIT730SBL. If you want most of the Bosch for less money, the LG CBIH3013BE is my value pick.
New to induction? Start with how induction works and check your pans with the magnet test. If your opening is wider, see my 36-inch picks, and if you’re comparing every size, my overall induction cooktop guide has them all. If you already know 30 inches is your size, keep reading.
My rankings at a glance
| Rank | Cooktop | Best for | Boils 1 quart in | Simmer swing | Circuit | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosch 800 Series NIT8061UC | Best overall | 2 min 41 sec | about 4°F | 40 amps | 8.9 |
| 2 | KitchenAid KCIT730SBL | Best five-zone 30-inch | 2 min 45 sec | about 5°F | 50 amps | 8.4 |
| 3 | LG CBIH3013BE | Best value | 2 min 38 sec | about 6°F | 40 amps | 8.3 |
| 4 | Frigidaire Professional PCCI3080AF | Best with knobs | 2 min 22 sec | about 8°F | 30 amps minimum | 8.1 |
| 5 | Samsung CC70F30S2DAA | Best scratch-resistant glass | 2 min 44 sec | about 7°F | 40 amps | 7.9 |
| 6 | Frigidaire Gallery GCCI3067AB | Best budget | 3 min 5 sec | about 9°F | 30 amps | 7.0 |
| Skip | Empava Flex 30-inch | Not recommended | 3 min 31 sec | about 16°F | 40 amps | 5.1 |
Boil times are the middle of three runs with the same quart of tap water on each cooktop’s biggest zone. The simmer swing shows how far a pot drifted above and below a gentle simmer over 30 minutes. Ratings are out of 10.
30-inch induction cooktop reviews
Here’s how each cooktop did in my kitchen, best first. Every one used the same pans and the same quart of tap water, so you can compare the numbers directly.
1. Best overall: Bosch 800 Series NIT8061UC
Quick facts: Zones: 4, including an 11-inch zone · Power: 17 power levels, SpeedBoost · Extras: AutoChef pan-temperature assistance · Fit: 30-inch class, 31 inches overall width
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 41 seconds; 6 quarts in 14 minutes and 5 seconds; simmer drifted about 4°F; fan very quiet. My rating: 8.9 out of 10.
This is the 30-inch cooktop I’d put in my own kitchen. What won me over was low heat: my chili stayed at the same lazy simmer for half an hour without me touching it, which none of the other 30-inch models managed as well. Seventeen power levels give you real in-between settings, so you’re not jumping from “barely warm” to “boiling over.”
AutoChef lets you pick a pan temperature level and the zone works to hold it. Bosch’s manual says the displayed temperature is approximate, and my thermometer read about 12°F higher than the screen in hot oil, close enough for frying. The 11-inch zone took my 12-inch cast iron with an even brown ring across about 9 inches in the flour test.
What I liked
- It held the steadiest simmer of the seven.
- It has 17 power levels and a large 11-inch zone.
- The pause button stopped every zone at once when the doorbell rang.
What I didn’t like
- It costs more than the LG.
- It measures 31 inches across, so check the trim and backsplash clearance.
- A splash of pasta water on the controls paused it once.
My verdict: Buy it if you want the best everyday 30-inch cooktop. Skip it if you need knobs or five zones.
For more, see my guide to Bosch induction cooktops.
2. Best five-zone 30-inch: KitchenAid KCIT730SBL
Quick facts: Zones: 5, including an Even-Heat bridge zone on the left and a Temp Cook center element · Power: 18 manual power levels; boost up to 3,700 watts on the bridge and center elements for up to 10 minutes · Extras: Temp Cook: set a pan temperature from 120°F to 400°F; Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the KitchenAid app · Fit: 31 3/4 inches actual width, edge-to-edge glass; cutout 29 1/2 inches × 20 7/16 inches · Circuit: 240 volts (V), 50 amps (A)
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 45 seconds; 6 quarts in 14 minutes and 20 seconds; simmer drifted about 5°F; fan quiet. My rating: 8.4 out of 10.
Five zones on a 30-inch cooktop sounds like a squeeze, and it is when every pan is big, but on a normal weeknight I ran pasta, sauce, a skillet of greens and a small pot of rice at once without bumping handles. Reviewed.com also named it the best 30-inch induction cooktop.
Temp Cook is the reason to choose it: you set an actual pan temperature, from 120°F to 400°F, instead of a number from 1 to 18. I set 350°F for pancakes and my thermometer read 344°F on the griddle surface; the second batch came out the same color as the first. The Even-Heat zone on the left links two elements for a griddle, and my pancakes browned evenly from end to end.
What I liked
- Temp Cook lets you set a real pan temperature.
- It fits five zones and an Even-Heat bridge into a 30-inch space.
- Pancakes on the bridge came out very consistent.
What I didn’t like
- It needs a 50-amp circuit, more than most 30-inch models.
- Its edge-to-edge glass is 31 3/4 inches wide, so check your opening.
- Five large pans don’t fit at once.
My verdict: Buy it if you cook several dishes at once or want temperature-based cooking. Skip it if your panel can’t take a 50-amp circuit.
For more, see my guide to KitchenAid induction cooktops.
3. Best value: LG CBIH3013BE
Quick facts: Zones: 4 fixed elements, no bridge listed · Power: Main element up to 4.3 kilowatts on boost · Extras: Dedicated simmer settings, cookware-compatibility indicator, pause, timer, Wi-Fi (LG ThinQ app)
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 38 seconds; 6 quarts in 13 minutes and 50 seconds; simmer drifted about 6°F; fan quiet. My rating: 8.3 out of 10.
The LG gives you most of what matters for less money. Its big element boiled my quart in 2 minutes and 38 seconds, just three seconds behind the Bosch, and the money you save can go toward the electrician or new pans.
The cookware indicator was more useful than I expected: it flagged my old aluminum-base sauté pan as not compatible, which explained years of uneven searing. There’s no bridge, so it isn’t the pick for a long griddle; across two zones my griddle browned in two patches with a pale strip in the middle.
What I liked
- Its boost element is strong for the price.
- It has simmer settings, a pause button and a timer.
- The fan is quiet; I could easily talk over it.
What I didn’t like
- It has no bridge for a griddle.
- It has touch controls only.
- Its simmer wandered a little more than the Bosch’s.
My verdict: Buy it if you want a capable 30-inch cooktop for less. Skip it if you griddle often.
For more, see my guide to LG induction cooktops.
4. Best with knobs: Frigidaire Professional PCCI3080AF
Quick facts: Zones: 4, including a two-element bridge on the left · Power: 11-inch main element: 3,600 watts, up to 5,200 watts on boost · Extras: Backlit knobs with residual-heat indication
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 22 seconds; 6 quarts in 13 minutes and 10 seconds; simmer drifted about 8°F; fan quiet. My rating: 8.1 out of 10.
If you’re coming from gas and hate touch panels, start here. You turn a real knob, and the backlight shows which zone is on and which is still hot. On boost, the 5,200-watt element gave me the fastest quart of the seven, 2 minutes and 22 seconds.
The trade-off is cleaning: after a boiled-over pot of pasta water I had to wipe around four knobs, which a flat touch panel avoids. The bridge gave me pancakes that were even end to end, with slightly darker spots over the coils.
What I liked
- Its real knobs are easy to use with wet hands.
- It has a bridge for a griddle.
- It boiled a quart faster than anything else in my test.
What I didn’t like
- There are more edges to clean around the knobs.
- Its fan was the loudest of the name brands, about as loud as a bathroom fan.
My verdict: Buy it if knobs matter.
For more, see my guide to induction cooktops with knobs.
5. Best scratch-resistant glass: Samsung CC70F30S2DAA
Quick facts: Zones: 4, including a Sync Burner · Power: 4.3 kilowatts Power Burner · Extras: Anti-Scratch Matte Glass, Wi-Fi (SmartThings), ENERGY STAR certified
My results: 1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 44 seconds; 6 quarts in 14 minutes and 30 seconds; simmer drifted about 7°F; fan very quiet. My rating: 7.9 out of 10.
The matte glass is the point of this one. After six weeks of my cast-iron skillet on it, I couldn’t find a scratch, while a glossy cooktop showed two fine marks in the same spot. It also hid fingerprints and water spots better than the glossy models.
It was the quietest of the seven; I could hear the TV over the fan. The Sync Burner ran my griddle at one setting with evenly golden pancakes, one corner slightly pale.
What I liked
- The matte glass resists scratches and smudges.
- Its Sync Burner handles a griddle.
- Its fan was the quietest in the group.
What I didn’t like
- It has touch controls only.
- On the lowest setting my soup crept from still to small bubbles and back.
My verdict: Buy it if you cook on cast iron every day and want glass that still looks new after months of use. Skip it if you need a very gentle simmer or prefer knobs.
6. Best budget: Frigidaire Gallery GCCI3067AB
Quick facts: Zones: 4: two 8-inch at 2,300 watts (3,600 watts boost), two 7-inch at 1,800 watts (2,600 watts boost); left bridge · Extras: Auto pan detect, front touch controls, ENERGY STAR, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant · Fit: 30 5/8 inches wide; cutout 28 1/2 inches–29 7/8 inches × 19 5/8 inches–20 1/2 inches · Circuit: 240 volts, 30 amps minimum
My results: 1 quart boiled in 3 minutes and 5 seconds; 6 quarts in 15 minutes and 40 seconds; simmer drifted about 9°F; fan quiet. My rating: 7.0 out of 10.
This is the most affordable name-brand 30-inch I’d buy, and the 30-amp circuit can save an electrical upgrade in an older house. The flexible cutout range (28 1/2 to 29 7/8 inches wide) also makes it a friendly swap for an old cooktop.
It handled weeknight eggs, rice and pasta without trouble. The largest element is 8 inches, so my 12-inch skillet browned only in the center 7 inches in the flour test.
What I liked
- It needs only a 30-amp circuit and fits a range of cutout sizes.
- You get a bridge and boost at an entry-level price.
What I didn’t like
- No element is bigger than 8 inches.
- It was the slowest name brand to boil a big pot of pasta water.
My verdict: Buy it if you want a name-brand cooktop on a budget, or your older house only has a 30-amp circuit. Skip it if you often use a 12-inch skillet or big stockpots.
The one I’d skip
Empava is the best-known budget built-in induction brand on Amazon, so I tested its Flex 30-inch four-burner model. It couldn’t hold a gentle simmer: on the lowest setting the burner kept switching fully on and off, my rice went from boiling hard to sitting still, and it scorched twice. It was also the slowest in every boil test and the loudest, about like a hair dryer on low. If your budget is tight, the Frigidaire Gallery above is the better buy.
What “30-inch” really means: cutout and fit
A 30-inch induction cooktop is a size class, not an exact measurement. What matters is whether the cooktop’s required cutout matches the hole in your counter. In this test, the overall widths ran from 30 5/8 inches (Frigidaire Gallery) to 31 3/4 inches (KitchenAid), and the required cutouts differ too.
| Model | Overall width | Cutout (W × D) |
|---|---|---|
| Bosch NIT8061UC | 31 inches | See the installation guide |
| KitchenAid KCIT730SBL | 31 3/4 inches | 29 1/2 inches × 20 7/16 inches |
| Frigidaire Gallery GCCI3067AB | 30 5/8 inches | 28 1/2 inches–29 7/8 inches × 19 5/8 inches–20 1/2 inches |
Measure your existing cutout, then compare it with the installation guide for the exact model before ordering. A cutout that’s slightly small can be widened; one that’s too big usually means a new countertop. For more, see my guide to how to install an induction cooktop.
What circuit does a 30-inch induction cooktop need?
Every 30-inch built-in induction cooktop needs a dedicated 208/240-volt circuit, and the breaker size depends on the model. In my group it ranged from 30 amps (Frigidaire Gallery) to 50 amps (KitchenAid). If you’re replacing a radiant electric cooktop, your existing circuit may already be enough; if you’re replacing gas, you’ll need a new circuit. Always follow the model’s installation guide and have a licensed electrician confirm it. For more, see my guide to induction cooktop electrical requirements.
Features worth paying for on a 30-inch
- Power boost: a short burst of extra wattage on one element. Every cooktop here has it; it’s what gets a pot boiling in under 3 minutes.
- Fine power levels or a temperature mode: 17–18 levels (Bosch, KitchenAid) or set-a-temperature cooking (KitchenAid Temp Cook, Bosch AutoChef) make low heat easier.
- A bridge or sync zone: two elements linked for a griddle (KitchenAid, Frigidaire, Samsung). See flex-zone induction cooktops.
- Matte or scratch-resistant glass: worth it if you cook on cast iron (Samsung).
- Knobs: only Frigidaire Professional in this group.
Not worth paying extra for unless you’ll use it: Wi-Fi apps. Every function I tested worked from the cooktop itself.
30-inch vs 36-inch induction cooktop
Stay with 30 inches if your counter already has a 30-inch cutout and four zones cover a normal dinner. In my kitchen, a pasta pot, a saucepan and a skillet of chicken fit comfortably. Move up to a 36-inch cooktop only if you regularly run four or five big pans, or you’re remodeling anyway. For more, see my guide to the best 36-inch induction cooktops.
FAQ
What is the best 30-inch induction cooktop?
In my testing, the Bosch 800 Series NIT8061UC was the best 30-inch induction cooktop overall, with the steadiest simmer of the seven. The KitchenAid KCIT730SBL is the best five-zone option, and the LG CBIH3013BE is the value pick.
Will a 30-inch induction cooktop fit my old cooktop’s cutout?
Often, but not always. Compare your existing cutout with the cutout in the new model’s installation guide. Widths vary; for example, the Frigidaire Gallery accepts 28 1/2 to 29 7/8 inches, while the KitchenAid needs 29 1/2 inches.
How many amps does a 30-inch induction cooktop need?
Most need a dedicated 240-volt circuit of 30 to 50 amps. In my test group, the Frigidaire Gallery needs 30 amps and the KitchenAid KCIT730SBL needs 50. Check your model’s guide and have a licensed electrician confirm it.
Can a 30-inch induction cooktop have five burners?
Yes. The KitchenAid KCIT730SBL fits five zones into a 30-inch class cooktop, including a bridge zone. Five large pans won’t fit at once, but five mixed sizes will.
Is a 30-inch induction cooktop big enough for a family?
For most families, yes. I cook for six, and a pasta pot, a saucepan and a skillet fit comfortably on every 30-inch model I tested.