I tested it
Built-in · 24-inch
Bosch 800 Series NIT8461UC
Bosch skipped the four-small-zones idea, and that's exactly why I like it. The front-left zone is a full 11 inches, the same size as the main zone on my 30-inch cooktop, so my 12-inch cast-iron skillet sat on it with heat right out to the edges.
My verdict
My verdict: Buy it if you want one big zone that takes a 12-inch skillet and a simmer you can trust. Skip it if you'd rather have four zones for small pans.
My test results
1 quart boiled in 2 minutes and 45 seconds; the lowest setting held a slow, steady bubble.
| Boils 1 quart in | 2 min 45 sec |
|---|---|
| Gentle simmer | Very steady |
| Pans that fit at once | 3, including a 12-inch skillet |
Quick facts
3 zones (11, 7 and 6 inches) · the big zone boosts to 3,600 watts · AutoChef pan-temperature control · 240 volts, 30 amps · cutout 22 × 19 1/4 inches · about $2,049 at Bosch
Pros and cons
What I liked
- Its big 11-inch zone fits a 12-inch skillet.
- It holds a gentle simmer without pulsing.
- It needs only a 30-amp circuit.
What I didn't like
- It has three zones, not four.
- It's the most expensive cooktop in this guide.
My notes
Bosch skipped the four-small-zones idea, and that’s exactly why I like it. The front-left zone is a full 11 inches, the same size as the main zone on my 30-inch cooktop, so my 12-inch cast-iron skillet sat on it with heat right out to the edges. On a busy Tuesday I had that skillet browning chicken, a saucepan of rice and a small pot of green beans going together, which none of the four-zone models managed without pans bumping.
It boiled a quart of water in 2 minutes and 45 seconds, the fastest of the five, and its lowest setting kept my tomato sauce at a slow bubble for the whole half hour without the on-off pulsing the cheaper models had. AutoChef earned its place too: I set it for frying, and the skillet stayed at the same heat through three batches of cutlets. It only needs a 30-amp circuit, which made the wiring simple.
The catch is the price. It costs roughly twice as much as the budget picks, and you only get three zones. If you often cook with four small pans at once, the Sharp below suits you better. You may also see the older NIT8460UC in stores; the NIT8461UC is the current model.
Comparing Bosch’s other series? Read Bosch 500 vs 800 vs Benchmark.
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