Island cooktops look beautiful in remodel photos, but the photos never show where the smoke goes. When a reader asked whether a downdraft induction cooktop could replace the hood she didn’t want hanging over her new island, I realized I had no real answer, only the airflow numbers printed on the box.
So I tested five downdraft induction cooktops in the temporary plywood counter at the end of our kitchen and, for the big built-ins, in a working island at a local kitchen showroom. On each one I boiled a tall 6-quart pot on the back zone to watch the steam, held a smoking incense stick over a skillet on the front zone, seared steaks and listened to the fan on every setting.
The JennAir JIDT730SBL is the one I’d choose for a 30-inch island. Its 345 CFM (cubic feet per minute) downdraft cleared steam from a boiling pot better than any other model I tried, and it can vent outside or recirculate. For a 36-inch island, the Fisher & Paykel CID364DTB4 pulls up to 400 CFM. If your budget is under $1,000, the GTKZW 30-inch with downdraft is the best budget option, and it has real knobs. One honest warning: no downdraft caught steam from a tall pot as well as a good overhead hood.
If you don’t need a built-in vent, my overall induction cooktop guide has far more choice, and if you’re after dials, see induction cooktops with knobs. Before you plan the cabinet, read how installation works. If the island is where you’ll cook, keep reading.
My rankings at a glance
| Rank | Cooktop | Best for | Size | Steam from a tall pot | Skillet smoke | My rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JennAir JIDT730SBL | Best overall | 30 inches | Good | Very good | 8.7 |
| 2 | Fisher & Paykel CID364DTB4 | Best 36-inch | 36 inches | Good | Very good | 8.5 |
| 3 | GTKZW 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft | Best budget, with knobs | 30 inches | Fair | Good | 7.4 |
| 4 | 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft (3-speed) | Best budget with a 3-speed fan | 30 inches | Fair | Fair | 7.0 |
| 5 | 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft (10 power levels) | Also good | 30 inches | Fair | Fair | 6.9 |
Steam was judged by eye against a dark wall with a 6-quart pot at a rolling boil on the back zone. Smoke was judged with an incense stick over a 12-inch skillet on the front zone, with the fan on its highest setting. Ratings are out of 10.
Downdraft induction cooktop reviews
Here’s how each downdraft cooktop did, best first.
1. Best overall: JennAir JIDT730SBL
Quick facts: Zones: 4: 8-inch (3,000 watts boost), 7-inch (2,100 watts), two 9 × 9-inch (3,000 watts boost); Flex-Choice XL and automatic bridging · Ventilation: 345 CFM; vented or recirculating; very quiet on level 1 · Controls: Touch sliders; 9 power levels plus boost · Electrical: 120/240 volts, 40 amps (40 amps cord kit sold separately) · Size / cutout: 30 7/8 × 22 1/16 × 7 7/8 in · cutout 28 27/32 × 21 5/32 in · List price: $4,999 at AJ Madison
My results: Steam capture good; skillet smoke capture very good. My rating: 8.7 out of 10.
JennAir is a Whirlpool premium brand, and this is its 30-inch induction downdraft. The flex zone and automatic bridging handle griddles well, and the fan is quiet on low. It captured skillet smoke almost completely and did the best job with steam of any 30-inch model.
It’s expensive for a 30-inch cooktop and needs a separately sold cord kit. Check the installation guide for the cabinet space the fan needs below.
What I liked
- It captured smoke and steam best of the 30-inch models.
- It can vent outside or recirculate.
- Its flex zone bridges automatically.
What I didn’t like
- It’s expensive.
- The power cord kit is sold separately.
My verdict: Buy it if you want the best-performing downdraft for a 30-inch island. Skip it if your budget is under a few thousand dollars.
2. Best 36-inch: Fisher & Paykel CID364DTB4
Quick facts: Zones: 4 zones, 2,100 watts each (3,000 watts with PowerBoost); SmartZone pairs two zones · Ventilation: Up to 400 CFM on boost, 365 CFM on level 9; 9 speeds plus boost; ducted to the outside (rear outlet) · Noise: 1.83 sones at minimum, 9.95 sones on boost · Electrical: 208–240 volts, 32–34 amps · Size: 36 × 20 1/4 × 8 9/16 inches · Price: About $6,949
My results: Steam capture good; skillet smoke capture very good. My rating: 8.5 out of 10.
The F&P gives you the most airflow here and a full 36-inch width. On boost it pulled steam well but was loud enough that I wanted to turn it down. It’s ducted only, so plan the duct route early.
What I liked
- It has the most airflow, 400 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
- It has nine fan speeds plus a boost setting.
- It’s a full 36 inches wide.
What I didn’t like
- It’s very expensive.
- It must be vented outside.
- It’s loud on boost.
My verdict: Buy it if you have a 36-inch island and can duct the air outside. Skip it if you need to recirculate or want a quiet fan on high.
3. Best budget, with knobs: GTKZW 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft
Quick facts: Zones: 4: 1,500/1,800/1,500/1,800 watts; 6,600 watts total; bridge griddle zone · Ventilation: 360 CFM, recirculating · Controls: Knobs; 10 power levels; 140–518°F; timer; child lock · Electrical: 220–240 volts · Size / cutout: 30.31 × 20.47 × 10.62 in (with downdraft) · cutout 29.92 × 19.48 in
My results: Steam capture fair; skillet smoke capture good. My rating: 7.4 out of 10.
At a fraction of the JennAir’s price, the GTKZW gets you an induction cooktop, a 360 CFM recirculating downdraft and real knobs. Smoke capture was decent; steam from tall pots escaped more. Owners mention some units that didn’t work and a smallish cooking area. It recirculates only, so it won’t remove heat and moisture from the room.
What I liked
- It costs much less than the alternatives.
- It has knobs.
- It needs no duct.
What I didn’t like
- It can only recirculate the air.
- Some owners report units that didn’t work.
My verdict: Buy it if you want knobs and a downdraft for under $1,000 and can’t run a duct. Skip it if you want a long track record.
4. Best budget with a 3-speed fan: 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft (3-speed)
Quick facts: Zones: 4: two 1,800 watts and two 1,200 watts (the maker lists both 6,000 and 6,600 watts totals); 9 heat levels · Ventilation: 3-speed downdraft · Electrical: 220–240 volts, hardwired · Size / cutout: 30.31 × 20.47 × 2.55 in · cutout 29.92 × 19.68 in · Safety: 99-minute timer, auto shut-off, overheat protection, child lock
My results: Steam capture fair; skillet smoke capture fair. My rating: 7.0 out of 10.
A simple, low-cost downdraft cooktop. Owners like its speed and touch controls; it has few ratings so far. Capture was weaker than the GTKZW’s.
What I liked
- It costs much less than the alternatives.
- Its controls are simple.
What I didn’t like
- The maker doesn’t state its airflow.
- It has few owner reviews so far.
My verdict: Buy it if you want the simplest budget downdraft. Skip it if you want to know the airflow before you buy.
5. Also good: 30-inch Induction Cooktop with Downdraft (10 power levels)
Quick facts: Zones: 4: 1,500 + 1,800 + 1,800 + 1,500 watts; 6,600 watts total · Controls: 10 power levels; 140–518°F; 99-minute timer · Electrical: 220 volts built-in · Size: 30.31 × 19.68 × 10.03 inches
My results: Steam capture fair; skillet smoke capture fair. My rating: 6.9 out of 10.
Very similar to the GTKZW without knobs. Fine for a budget island. Few owner ratings so far.
What I liked
- It’s inexpensive.
What I didn’t like
- It has few owner reviews.
- The maker doesn’t state its airflow.
My verdict: Buy it if price is your top concern. Skip it if you want proven airflow and plenty of owner reviews.
Not recommended: a “downdraft cooktop” listing that says it works with aluminum and glass
One budget 30-inch “electric cooktop with downdraft” is sold alongside true induction models and is labeled as induction in its specs, but its own description says it works with aluminum, copper, glass and ceramic pans. Induction can’t heat those materials, so the listing contradicts itself. Until the seller clarifies whether it’s induction or radiant, I’d avoid it.
How downdraft induction works (and its limits)
A fan under the counter pulls air through a vent strip in the cooktop, across a grease filter, and either out of the house through a duct or back into the room through a charcoal filter. Because smoke and steam naturally rise, a downdraft has to pull them sideways and down, so it works best on low pans close to the vent and less well on tall stockpots. In my tests, steam from a tall pot on the back zone partly escaped on every model; skillet smoke on the front zones was captured well.
Induction pairs well with downdraft because it heats the pan rather than the air, so there’s less hot air rising.
Ducted vs recirculating downdraft
- Ducted (vented outside): removes smoke, grease, moisture and heat from the house. Best performance; needs a duct route through the floor or cabinet back.
- Recirculating (ductless): filters grease and odor through charcoal and returns the air to the room. Easier to install, but moisture and heat stay inside and filters need replacing.
How to choose a downdraft induction cooktop
Airflow (CFM)
More CFM captures more, but placement matters as much as power: downdrafts work best with low pans near the vent.
Venting
Choose ducted if you can. Recirculating is a compromise for islands with no duct path.
Cabinet space
The fan box takes cabinet space below the cooktop. Check the installation guide before planning drawers.
Electrical
Most need a dedicated 208/240-volt circuit: electrical requirements · installation.
Would a hood be better?
If you can fit an overhead hood, it usually captures more. A downdraft is the answer when a hood isn’t possible or wanted.
Comparing sizes? See best 30-inch and best 36-inch induction cooktops.
FAQ
Are downdraft induction cooktops any good?
Good ones work well for skillet smoke and low pans near the vent. They capture steam from tall pots less well than a strong overhead hood.
What is the best induction cooktop with downdraft?
In my tests, the JennAir JIDT730SBL was the best overall, and the Fisher & Paykel CID364DTB4 was the best 36-inch model.
Does a downdraft induction cooktop need to be vented outside?
Not always. Some recirculate through charcoal filters, but venting outside removes heat and moisture too and works better.
How many CFM do I need for an induction cooktop?
Induction produces less rising heat than gas, so it needs less airflow. Built-in downdrafts in my tests ranged from about 345 to 400 CFM; follow your cooktop maker’s and local code guidance.
Can you put a downdraft induction cooktop on an island?
Yes. Islands are the most common place for them, because they avoid a hood hanging over the island.
Is a downdraft better than a range hood?
Usually not for capture, because smoke rises. A downdraft is best when a hood isn’t practical, such as on an island with an open ceiling.