Madison, Wis. (May 10, 2005) – One of the
best-kept secrets of European and commercial kitchens is now available to North
American homeowners. After extensive research and technological advancements,
Wolf Appliance Company will debut its breakthrough induction cooktop at retail
showrooms in fall 2005. A leading manufacturer of premium cooking appliances,
Wolf is one of the first to make residential induction cooking available in the
United States and Canada.
Induction cooking uses the
transfer of magnetic energy rather than flames or electric elements to generate
heat. When an iron or magnetic pan is placed on the cooktop, electricity passes
through coils beneath the glass surface to produce a magnetic field that heats
the pan directly. Within this magnetic field, molecules in the pan vibrate at
very high frequencies, and the friction creates instant heat. The result: the
cookware is the heating element.
“While induction cooking is
relatively new to North America, it is a proven technology that has been used
in Europe for decades by professionals and
homeowners demanding the best in performance,” said Jim Bakke, president and
chief executive officer for Wolf Appliances Company and Sub-Zero Freezer
Company. “Induction cooking brings incredible benefits to consumers in today’s
busy world, and Wolf is proud to continue its tradition of superior cooking
equipment and exceptional craftsmanship and innovation with the introduction of
our induction cooktop.”
The 15-inch wide unit contains
two heating zones, a 6-inch diameter front zone and an 8.5-inch diameter rear
zone, for a total of 3,600 watts of power. While the zones are simultaneously
capable of producing 1,800 watts each, a special “Hi-Power” mode on the rear
element can increase its power to an intense 2,200 watts by diverting power
from the front element. This allows a cook to quickly boil water or sear meat
and still maintain normal cooking functions in the front.
In addition to the power afforded by induction cooking, it also delivers:
- Energy Efficiency: Since energy is supplied directly to the
cooking vessel, nearly 90 percent of the energy gets used to cook;
consequently, if a homeowner places a 6-inch pan on a 12-inch induction zone,
only the 6-inch pan heats up. Gas and electric cooktops, by comparison, can
lose up to 55 percent of radiant heat that goes up the side of the cookware.
Speed:
Since heating and adjustments are immediate, cooking can be over 50 percent
faster than more traditional methods.
- Controllability: With more than ten levels
of power on every element, homeowners can keep sauces and chocolates melted at
50 watts of power or, with the touch of a finger, activate the “Hi-Power”
feature to boil water in half the normal time. The even distribution of heat
also ensures no hot or burned spots.
- Safety: Since less heat is released into the room with an
induction cooktop, this means a cooler kitchen and a cooler cooktop. This in
turn means increased safety since heat is generated only when cookware is
present. Nearby spoons and forks will not be heated, and there are fewer risks
of burned fingers. In addition, if a pan is removed for more than 30 seconds,
the unit will automatically shut down.
- Simpler
Cleanup: The surface does not heat up, so overflows and spills do not stick or
burn, and the glass top can easily be wiped down.
The induction cooktop has the
same user-friendly controls as Wolf’s electric cooktop: illuminated touch
controls with graduated lighting; hot-surface indicators on both zones; universal off and child safety lock keys; and
“True Melt” and “True Simmer” settings on all elements. Additionally, the
induction cooktop features built-in sensors to detect boil-dry situations and a
temperature limiter to ensure that the safe operating temperature of glass ceramic is
never exceeded. The smooth glass surface features a subtle crosshatch pattern
to reduce the visibility of scratches. The black ceramic top is also resistant
to staining, impact and heat and is finished off with Wolf’s Classic Stainless Steel trim to match any of the other full-size or
modular units offered.
The induction unit joins Wolf’s six other 15-inch integrated modules that are designed to allow homeowners the
ability to mix and match multiple cooktop units.
Consumers can choose among the following units to customize
their cooking area: electric cooktop; electric grill; electric steamer; electric
fryer; gas multifunction cooktop and dual burner cooktop; and the new induction
cooktop. The new unit is CSA certified in the United States, and as with all Wolf
products, it has a full two-year warranty and five-year limited warranty.
The induction cooktop works with
all magnetic stainless steel and iron cookware.
For further information or to reach a Wolf distributor in
your area, please visit wolfappliance.com or call 800-332-9513.