[UPDATE TO THE REVIEW BELOW after using the cooker about 10 times (10 hours over a 5 month period) it has quit working. The fan runs and the display indicates all is well, but no heat is generated in the pot (and yes, it is an induction-compatible pot).]
ORIGINAL REVIEW: I couldn't find the power rating of this device anywhere on the web. I decided to risk buying it because the device looked well thought-out. The label on the underside rates it at 1500 Watts max. I measured around 1430 Watts (active power) and around 1530 VA (apparent power) using a Kill-A-Watt meter with the burner running at max power. It has 9 power settings down to a 100 W simmer.
In a large-diameter pan it brought 2 qts of water from room temperature to a boil in 10 minutes. Based on the pattern of the boiling activity the device seems to have an active heating area 5-6 inches in diameter, which is consistent with the recommended minimum pot diameter of 5 inches.
The 3-star rating is due to the small diameter of the active heating area. I bought this thing in part to cook down garden produce like tomatoes in broad shallow pans prior to freezing or canning, and it doesn't seem very good for that. I'm used to cooking with gas, and a gas burner spreads the heat across the bottom of the pan (much of it escaping around the sides, unfortunately). The induction burner focuses the heat much more precisely, so if you cook in smaller diameter pans it may suit you well. BTW, it has a fan that is not exactly whisper quiet but wouldn't bother me.
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When I received an unpacked the cooker it was pretty much what I expected: Beautiful design, reasonable craftsmanship. The plastic bottom seemed a little bit cheap, the pull-out controls a bit flimsy but from there to the top: very nice, nothing to complain about.
Now, let's put the thing to work. First disappointment: It has no power switch. Yes, it's nice to see the word "circulon" lit up in red but the on/off switch does not turn the unit off completely, you have to pull the plug.
The next surprise came when I put it to use: Oh my, what a noise! Yes, I expected the buzzing sound typical for some induction cookers, but this cooker has a cooling fan that runs constantly and produces a noise level somewhere between a mixer and a modern hair dryer. All the time. No, it's not thermostat-controlled. Imagine using the nice temperature-hold functionality (which could do with a few more levels) holding the proper temperature while preparing a pot roast: You probably will feel like three hours under a hair dryer in a hair saloon.
Bottom line: Beautiful, fascinating, effective and so noisy that I sent it back the next day.
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I had this burner for 6 months and just about completely stopped using the burners on my stove, but after 6 months the little thing that pops out in the front broke. (See the picture, this is where the controls are located and the screen tells you what the settings are.) First the screen went blank so you couldn't tell what the settings were and then about 2 weeks later, it quit working all together. Maybe something in the way we were using it caused it to break. I'm buying a different induction burner today with a different design (not one with little pop out controls).
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I've used two other portable induction burners, but this one has some great extra features: A detailed instruction book is the first great help. At 1500w, it has power to boil & fry very quicklya real time-saver. It's wider diameter allows use of 12 and 14 inch skillets in addition to smaller ones. The "Hold" temperature feature was what I selected this model for and does it deliver! I can set a constant temperature to cook, for instance, pancakes or steaks without burning them. No electric griddle needed. The Circulon Infinite 6qt Saute Pan I got to use with it has become my favorite cookpan. The Gift with purchase is an awesome value as well. This is a great induction burner to start with and keep!
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I have checked out the unit to find that it works the way it was advertised
5 inch working unit in about 12 inch surface, and heats up the "magnet-sticking" cookwares fast.
I am not sure how many times it is going to work since I only tried it once at a store.
Best price seems to be $99.95 at Crate and Barrel (+shipping around $10~$15)
Too delicately designed for my taste that I did not purchase the item. If there will be a sturdier model with larger surface, I would buy it. Until then, I will do the fast boiling in my Chef's Choice tea kettle, fast braising in my pressure cooker, travel cooking on my travel butain burner, and slow cooking in my Crock-Pot slow cooker.
