GE PHP9036SJSS 36 Inch Cooktop with 5 Induction, 3,700-Watt Element, Pan Size Sensors, SyncBurners, Red LED Display, Kitchen Timer, ADA Compliant Fits Guarantee, Black

We had a GE profile 36" electric cooktop for almost 8 years & it broke last month .... the glass cooktop itself actually broke due to something being dropped on it. It wasn't repairable or under warranty any more. We looked into natural gas replacement first but found out it would cost $800 - $1000 just to have the gas line run to the kitchen so we decided it wasn't worth all that. We opted for the induction cooktop instead. It fit right into the same hole that had been cut out in our granite counters for the previous 36" electric cooktop so that was a true blessing. We did have to run higher gauge electrical wire (6 gauge) and put in a larger 220 breaker because the induction requires 50 amp 220 power to ensure that all burners have enough juice to operate on high at the same time if ever needed. We were able to do that ourselves and it just cost us the price of the materials which was much less than the gas line would have costs us!So far it is working great and is super fast! Had to adjust how I was cooking a bit because you can boil water on this cooktop in less than 5 minutes easy. I did have to purchase some new pans but we were due for that anyway. I purchased light weight cast iron that was enamel coated to prevent scratching of the glass cooktop. I also bought a Scanpan CTX frying pan. Let me tell you, that scanpan CTX is awesome & I have more on my Christmas list for this year :) If you don't want to buy all new pans, you can try one of the induction metal discs that you put on the burner but I didn't see such good reviews for those on Amazon.We have all GE profile appliances in our kitchen and they have been maintenance free for us these past 8 years so I am hoping that this induction cooktop will follow suite. I also purchased the extended warranty through Amazon as well. We also have a home warranty for our major appliances as well in case anything goes haywire.On a side note, if anyone is interested, I saw an advertisement for induction that showed someone putting a paper towel on the cooktop element and then put their pan on top of that to show that the paper towel wouldn't burn but the water in the pan would still boil. I'm not that brave (to use a paper towel) BUT I did get (off of Amazon) a set of 4 reusable silicone baking sheets/mats. These are super thin like a sheet of paper & will work up to 500 degrees with no issues in the oven. I put one of those between the induction burner & the pan and it was great! I didn't have to worry about the pan scratching the cooktop and it made cleaning up the cooktop much easier after cooking because most of the "spills" were on the baking sheet & I just washed it off by hand in the sink & let it air dry in the dishwasher for next time. Definitely recommend trying that.

WORKS VERY NICE. WIFE IS PLEASED. EASY YO CLEAN ETC. FAILED AFTER 2 YEARS. GET WARRANTEE.

I’m a chef, so the gold standard of cooking is gas. However, where I live gas is an extra expense that has to be stored on your own property in a tank. After much research, this was my next best option. I’m pleasantly surprised how much control I have with induction. Changing the setting even one degree is immediate. The heat distribution is better than gas, because it encompasses the entire pan; not just the center. Great stove top. The right bottom burner is the most commonly used, so I wish there was one more that size. The temptation to wiggle the pan on the stovetop is an adjustment that takes a minute. My old habit yielded a scratch in the first week. Lesson learned. Thankfully all my cast iron cookware works brilliantly on induction. If it’s not enameled, I recommend placing a paper towel under the pan while cooking. Slight scratches are now forming as with all glass cooktops, but it’s much easier to clean than a conventional glass cooktop because the burner itself doesn’t heat up; only the pan. Just maybe there’s a new gold standard in stovetops.

I have been using this unit for about 3 months now, and it would have gotten a straight 5 star review if not for the controls.First the good: It cooks marvelously. It is fast, efficient and quiet (most of the time, depending on the pan). You can control the power precisely and easily and the reaction is immediate. This was my first induction cook stove, and all my fears were unwarranted. Some units apparently have issues with shutting off because of moisture on the cooktop, but I have not had this issue. Absolutely 5 stars!HOWEVER the controls SUCK. Not just a little bit, but almost to the point of making the unit return-worthy. They are printed in grey on a black surface, and only when a unit is on is there a light showing. Under ANY condition these controls are very difficult to see. But if you have lights above the stove, they become IMPOSSIBLE to see because of the glare. There are no physical buttons, so cannot feel anything, you have to do it visually, which is horrible. I am in my mid-forties and do not need reading glasses, but this is a daily challenge. Additional grease spots on the stove makes things significantly worse because they are about the same color. I added two pictures of the controls of a not-clean stove, and the problem is clear from both angles.My parents (70 years old) will visit in a couple of months, I will test, but my assumption is that they will not be able to use the unit for this reason. Period.Obviously a unit designed by the marketing department rather than engineers where usability is actually a factor.Additionally, because the controls are touch only, they are easily turned on or off by a cat (or I assume other pets) walking over the unit. It does have a lock-out feature, which is a button you need to touch for 3 seconds, locking all other buttons until it is unlocked. And yes, a cat standing in the right spot, will lock and unlock the stove. Which has happened multiple times in the last 3 months. The solution is shown in the third image: a permanent cutting board on the controls when not in use.For a unit of this price and quality, I simply do not understand how GE can think these are acceptable controls. Guess they must've installed a Samsung at their own home :-/But there is an upside: I am developing the same skills as blind people have: I can use the unit with my eyes closed.