I tested it
Built-in · 30-inch
KitchenAid KCIT730SBL
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. com also named it the best 30-inch induction cooktop.
My verdict
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.
My test 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.
| Boils 1 quart in | 2 min 45 sec |
|---|---|
| Simmer swing | about 5°F |
| Circuit | 50 amps |
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)
Pros and cons
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 notes
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.
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