As soon as Thermador’s industrial designers and engineers applied the finishing touches to our newly debuted Freedom® Induction Cooktop, tons of superlatives sprang to our mind to describe this exciting new technology and what it means to culinary enthusiasts everywhere. But we decided to hold back and bite our tongues instead of throwing open the window sills and singing about this incredible innovation.
The Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop is the first full-surface induction appliance. It features the flexibility of a natural-mapping user interface that intelligently recognizes cookware size, shape and position to deliver heat without boundaries. We knew we had created a luxury appliance unlike any other seen in the American kitchen, but we just weren’t willing to be the ones boasting about it first.
Then, on Jan. 8 we debuted to the media the Freedom Induction Cooktop at the CES Unveiled media event in Las Vegas and, before we knew it, the superlatives were flying. In fact, we couldn’t have described our product better than the paparazzi of tech media and bloggers attending the event.
Some of our favorite headlines just one day after our debut:
Forbes called it, “The World’s Sexiest Stove.”
GIZMODO said, “Cook Anywhere You Please on This New Induction Cooktop.”
San Francisco Chronicle said, “First Smart Phone, Now Smart Stovetop”
WIRED calls it, “the Techie Chef’s Dream.”
MSNBC says this “Smart Cooktop Knows Where Your Pots Are.”
Thermador Industrial Design Manager Graham Sadtler, center, accepts the Popular Mechanics CES 2012 Editor's Choice Award for the Freedom Induction Cooktop.
Famed British tabloid The Daily Mail didn’t bother trying to come up with the ultimate superlative or tagline, instead using what we think is a quite all-encompassing headline: “Futuristic Cooktop Heats Pots and Pans Wherever You Place them on Its Surface.” They also wrote, “it is an incredibly clever induction hob which may revolutionize the way we cook.”
We especially like how Popular Mechanics put it: “[the] Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop is an evolutionary leap,” and a “technological leap forward for home cooking.”
CES couldn’t have gone better for Thermador. In the sea of new HDTVs, laptops and accessories for iPods and iPads, Thermador stood out. And when the dust settled at CES, Thermador received one more accolade: the Freedom Induction Cooktop was winner of the Popular Mechanics CES Editor’s Choice Award.
Yes, the tech media and bloggers have instantly fallen in love with our new induction technology. But what really matters to us comes in July, when our new product is available to all culinary enthusiasts to use in their own kitchens. Then we will officially have something worth singing about.
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Wow! As a corporate chef and sales director for White’s Appliance in Easley, SC, I can’t WAIT to get this unit into our live kitchen and show it off!! This is the most innovative cooking product I’ve seen! This is the “techie french top”. Leave it to Thermador to kick everyone else to the curb and surge ahead with such amazing technology. Great Job!
awesome range-the new freedom induction cooktop is the future here today
I love to cook and entertain and was planning on converting my electric cook top to a gas stove. Now I will hold out until July so I can get my hands on the Thermador Freedom. I can’t wait to have several pots and pans going at one time. It’s amazing that the appliance will immediately heat up to the designated temperature. Thank you Thermador!
How many pans can it control at once?
Paul,
The Freedom Induction Cooktop can accommodate up to four cooking vessels of any shape or size at once.
Can’t wait to replace my gas cooktop with this, was going to replace it with induction any way but I’ll wait until the Freedom is available. Too bad it can’t hold five pans but that’s okay.
Wow! I loved my Miele 36″ induction cooktop, but this is sure beautiful. Next remodel.
What size? I have a 54″ Thermador over dual ovens…
I love, love, LOVE my Thermador Induction cooktop! Everyone who sees it wants one. I don’t mind missing out on this model in return for the year or so I’ve cooked on the Thermador ‘old’ electric induction – no more burn-over, speedy and safer cooking ease.
Question: We are soon moving to a house with only 30″ radiant heat cooktops – does the Freedom Induction Cooktop come in the 30″size?
To answer the question regarding its size, the Thermador Freedom Induction Cooktop is 36″.
I have stayed away from any new cook tops because my >20 year old Thermador electric cook top still works perfectly,the stainless steel top is very easy to clean,esp. from all the frequent spill overs.How easy is it to clean this new one esp. from burned in food?
Looks nice. How easily does it clean up? I’m really sick of having to pamper my ceramic cooktop.
I have heard that you can only use pots/pans that are able to attach to a magnet, not most stainless steel, etc. pots. Can you clarify please what kind of material your cookware has to be. Thanks
The Freedom Induction Cooktop has a glass surface, so cleaning it is very easy. Just use anything you normally would use to clean glass. Plus, since the cooktop does not get hot, you need not worry about the food burning into the surface. You simply wipe it off.
The Freedom Induction Cooktop can work with any pot or pan that is magnetic. If you can attach a magnet to your cookware, it will work on the cooktop.
When will the Freedom Induction Cooktop be available to purchase?
Hello Vanessa,
The Freedom Induction Cooktop currently is available for pre-order, and will be available to purchase this summer.
I bought an induction cooktop 18 months ago. I love it — better than gas. I am now remodeling a vacation home and will definitely consider the Freedom cooktop. Note that you can purchase induction disks to place between your non-magnetic cookware and the induction cooktop. They work almost, but not quite as well as placing a magnetic pot directly on the cooktop. I mostly use magnetic cookware but there are times I like to cook with my beloved French copper, so the disk comes in handy.
Also, most manufacturers state that the cooktop does not get hot. That is technically correct but in reality induction cooktops do get hot. Although the induction itself does not heat the cooktop, the pot gets hot and then transfers heat to the cooktop. One really cool thing about induction is that you can wipe up spills immediately, with the burners on, without your kitchen towels catching on fire. You also can put paper towels under and around your pan while cooking to catch splatters and make clean up easier.
Can’t wait to lay eyes on the Freedom.
Want one!
We had a Thermador Induction cooktop installe during our kitchen remodel last year. I love it more than i can describe. I wouldn’t want to cook with anything else..except, maybe tthe freedom. Does the freedom come with the mirrored surface? if not, I love my induction top more than the Freedom.
Hi Jill,
As of our initial launch this summer, the Freedom Induciton Cooktop will be available only with the black surface. Perhaps down the line we can come out with a mirrored surface, as well–thanks for the suggestion!
can a rectangular device (like a griddle) work on this or does it have to be round?
Hmmm…. I’m seeing a surge in “smaller is better” living. Cook-anywhere surface should be more space efficient so smaller tops should work much better.
I would like to see this applied to that market as well, then I’ll be interested in buying. LOVE my Max Burton PORTABLE induction cooktop! But I would welcome the opportunity to “get real” without pigging out on 36 inches!
This is the cooktop I’ve been looking for for yearss. Now that I’ve found it, I’ve gotta buy it. And I don’t care if it matches my kitchen, I an make my kitchen match my great cooktop. Thank you , I really want this Freedom cooktop. Nothing else will do.
Hello John,
The Freedom Induction Cooktop can handle individual cookware of up to 21 inches x 13 inches in size–making it the largest cooking surface in the industry. And it can do so while cooking with other pots/pans at the same time.
I know the Freedom is coming out in 36″ but are there plans for a 30″ one in the next year? If so, I may wait for it. Would love to replace my gas one with this!
Is Thermador planning to make the Freedom Induction Cooktop in a 30″ size or
am I totally out of luck????
Regarding a 30-inch version of the Freedom Induction Cooktop, there is always a possibility for that down the road. For now, we’ve decided to focus in on the 36-inch size. We’ll keep you posted–thank you for your feedback!
Really nice design and style and good articles, nothing else we need .
Just put up a new website for the induction range. Thanks !