Editorial Policy
The short version: I write for families deciding whether to switch to induction, and for people choosing which cooktop to buy. Every buying guide is based on cooking with the products in my own kitchen. Nobody pays to be included or to rank higher, and I fix mistakes as soon as I find them. This page explains exactly how that works.
Who writes and checks the articles
Every article on Best Induction Cooktop Guide is written by me, Sarah Simon. I’m a home cook and mom of four in Tampa, Florida, and I’ve cooked on induction every day since 2017. I don’t use ghostwriters, and I don’t publish guest posts.
Articles about electrical work, circuits, breakers and installation are reviewed by Daniel Reyes, a licensed electrician, before they’re published and again whenever they’re updated. When an article has been reviewed, it says so in the byline.
What this site covers
For now, the site covers induction only: built-in induction cooktops, portable induction burners, the cookware that works with them, and the practical questions around buying, installing, using and cleaning them. I compare induction with gas and radiant electric where it helps you decide, but I don’t review gas or electric cooktops on their own.
How I choose what to write about
Most topics come from real questions: neighbors, friends, readers who write in, and the questions people search for most. I write the guide I’d want if I were buying for the first time, then link it into the beginner path and the related guides so you can find the next answer without hunting.
How I choose which products to test
For each buying guide I start with a long list: the best-selling and best-rated models, the ones readers ask about, budget options, and a few with mixed or poor reviews, because those are the ones people need warnings about. I narrow that list down by size, power and price, and I always test more products than I end up recommending. A guide that lists six picks usually comes from eight or more cooktops tested.
How I test
Every cooktop goes through the same tests in my kitchen: timed boils, a 30-minute low simmer checked with a probe thermometer, flour browning to find hot spots, a griddle test, everyday-use checks and at least a week of real family dinners. Built-in cooktops go into a temporary test counter on their own 240-volt circuit. The full method is on my How We Test page, and each guide has a “How I tested” box with what I did for that category.
How I rate and rank
Each product gets a rating out of 10 based on boil speed, simmer control, evenness, ease of use, build quality and value for the price. The ranking follows the ratings, and each pick gets a “best for” label so you can find the one that fits your kitchen and budget. If a product disappoints, it goes in “The one I’d skip” with the reason, instead of being quietly left out.
Independence and money
The site earns money through affiliate links, mainly Amazon. Commissions never decide what I test, how I rank it or what I say about it. Brands can’t pay for a review, a ranking or a mention, and they never see an article before you do. If a brand sends a free sample, I say so in that guide, and it’s tested exactly like everything else. The details are in my disclosure.
Sources and fact-checking
My own test results come first. For everything else I go to primary sources and link them in the article:
- the cooktop maker’s installation guide and specifications for power, breaker and cutout sizes
- ENERGY STAR and the U.S. Department of Energy for efficiency and energy-use figures
- government rebate pages for programs such as the HEAR rebate
- health agencies and published studies for questions about safety, indoor air and pacemakers
Electrical advice on this site is general information. Always follow your cooktop’s installation manual and local code, and hire a licensed electrician for wiring.
Updates and change logs
Cooktops change, prices change and better models come out. I check my buying guides regularly, retest when a model is replaced, and update the guide. The date in each byline shows when it was last updated, and every article ends with a change log listing what changed and when.
Corrections
If I get something wrong, I fix it as soon as I can and note the correction in the article’s change log. If you spot an error, a broken link or something that’s out of date, please tell me. I read every message.
Questions about this policy
If you’d like to know more about how a specific guide was made, send me a message and I’ll walk you through it.
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