BergHOFF Touch Screen Induction Burners are designed to meet a variety of cooking needs for different customers. However there are three versions to this series:
a) Single – with one heating element
b) Double
– with two larger heating elements that can function simultaneously
C) XL – designed for students, camping; efficient for quick meals
In this article, I will refer to the second version, with double touchscreens and two heating elements. The manufacturer doesn’t give specific names for the model, so it may help you to know that this review is actually about the 2204221 BergHOFF Induction CookTop.
Technology gives us new opportunities to improve our life. So, why not take this advantage? With induction cooktops we spend less time to clean the stove, we cook faster, we minimize accidents in our kitchen, we feel our children are safer when they keep us company while we cook, we eliminate gas smell, we create a more ergonomic space in our kitchen. And the benefits don’t stop here.
BergHOFF 2204221 is a cheap electric burner with two areas for cooking. There are a lot of people who would like a simple induction cooktop (to start with), but they encounter that the most cheaper induction cooktops have just one heater.
One heating element might not be enough when you cook everyday or when you usually prepare more complex foods and you need two burners at the same time. For instance, if you would like to cook steak with white sauce, you would need a burner to fry and a burner to prepare the sauce. So, if you need an electric induction cooktop with two burners this might be a great solution.
1. Controls
This unit has two heating elements and touch screen keys for each of it. These few controls are very intuitive and simple (with little icons) so that even people who are not so acquainted with technology would easily understand how it functions.
The control panels are set a little bit lower than the surface in order to prevent any accidents such as to hit the control keys with a bottom of a pot. There is also a small area made of plastic and this separates the control panels from the cooking surface.
From right to left, under each heating element, you can see the control panel that is the same in both cases. This means you can easily control the two heating elements at the same time.
So what are the controls?
1. the ON/OFF button – You can find it on the right of the control panel. Press it and you will activate the Power light. The unit gives a “beep” that means it is ready to go. Then the led display will start to blink. From this moment, you have almost 10 seconds to place a pan on the heating element in order to cook. If you don’t do this or if the pan is not compatible with induction cooking, the unit will automatically turn off.
2. the Timer (the icon is a clock in a little square) – This is placed near the ON/OFF button and it helps you set the cooking time. You can set the cooking time when you know how many minutes takes to finish that specific recipe. In this case, when the timer reaches to “0”, the cooktop will automatically shut off. This is great because it gives you flexibility and efficiency. You don’t need to stay near the pot till the end. Meantime you can do other activities.
After you press the Timer, you will be able to use the + and – to set the time for cooking. It goes from 5 to 5 minutes, up to 150 minutes.
3. the Temp (the icon is a thermometer in a little square)– This is near the Timer and it helps you set the desired temperature while cooking. The temperature can be set from 150F to 450F. To set a specific temperature before cooking press the Temp button. On the display, you will see the default temperature and you can the use + and – keys to adjust the temperature according to the recipe. When you have reached the desired temperature, just press the On/Off button.
4. the Heat (the icon is a flame in a little square) – This helps you adjust the heating level. Just use the + and – control keys.
The Heat, Timer and Temperature have LED lights that will turn red when activated.
On the display, you will see the time, the temperature and the power level that you have selected for cooking. In case of technical problems, the unit will display error codes that will help you figure out how to solve the problem.
Remember: the two heating elements of the unit have their own control panel, each with its set of control keys, as mentioned above.
2. Surface
The surface is made from solid ceramic glass with a black synthetic finish on its edges. It is black and there are actually two areas, very well delimitated. The Logo of the manufacturer lies on the center of the two heating surfaces and there are some white curves that highlight an elegant and modern design.
Like all induction surface, this is easy to clean with a soft cloth and water. Anyway never use hard cleaning agents or abrasive sponges.
You have to use pans and pot with a plane magnetic base. For best results, the manufacturer recommends you to use cookware with a diameter between 12 and 26 cm.
a) Induction pans and pots:
– steel or enamelled cast iron
– iron, steel or enamelled cast iron
– 18/10 stainless steel and aluminium if the pan is ready for induction
b) Non-Induction pans and pots:
– ceramic, glass
– pans and pots with a diameter less than 12 cm
– stainless steel, aluminum, bronze or cooper – if it is not marked as ready for induction
– pans and pots with feet
– pans and pots with rounded base (such as Woks)
If you want to avoid problems with incompatible cookware, it is recommended to invest on high-quality pans and pots.
3. Heating Elements
BergHOFF 2204221 has two heating elements that are placed under the ceramic heating surface and that are based on the induction principle.
4. Power/Watts
This unit has a maximum power of 1800 W (left and right heating elements – it uses power sharing). There are 10 different levels of power that you can set and you can see it on the display. In order to plug the cooktop, you need a standard power outlet of 110/120 Volts and 20 Amps.
5. Sensors
The unit has multiple sensors that will announce you when something goes wrong. Usually, when you see an error code starting with an “E” on the display, you should know that there is a problem and you need to call a technician or you can read the error message that corresponds to the error code in order to solve the problem.
In the pack, you will find the user manual, where there are mentioned all error codes that can be displayed in case of a problem. The manufacturer gives you some tips on how to solve the problem and make the error code disappear.
6. Ventilation
Some customers complain that the built-in fan is a little bit noisy. It has 70 Decibels and sometimes when you use large pans and pots at the maximum heat setting, the fan seems to overheat after some seconds. Anyway, if you are looking for totally quiet, an induction cooktop is definitely not a solution for your needs.
The manufacturer warns that you should not insert any objects or tools in the ventilation slots because this can cause an electric shock. Also, you should not block the ventilation slots because this may overheat the unit. It is recommended to place the cooktop on a stable and level surface and you should keep a minimum distance of 5 to 10 cm (2″ to 4 “) to walls.
The unit could be installed in a kitchen counter, with an 11.75×15 inches cutout and a shelf tray about 2.5 inches below the top of the countertop. However, it is not designed to be “built in” and, in fact, it is more practical to move it all around, depending on your needs.
7. Safety Features
For safety purpose, the unit turns off automatically if there is no pan or pot on the surface for some time. The same if the pan is not “induction ready”.
Another safety feature is connected to programmed cooking. When the time that you have set expires, the cooktop will shut off. So you don’t need to worry about any accidents.
8. Accessories
In the package, you will find the Double Toch Screen Induction Cooktop and the user manual with lots of useful information and tips.
There is no induction cookware included in the price, so you need to understand that you will need specific induction ready pans and pots…sure, unless you already have it.
9. Dimensions
The unit dimensions are 23.5 wide x 14.5 deep x 2.5 high inches. It may be a little bit larger but if you need the two heating elements this may be the best solution in your case.
The shipping weight is 14.2 pounds, but the appliance weighs about 6-7 pounds without the packing materials.
10. Pros
– Variable temperature setting – you can cook different types of meals.
– It is safe and innovative – It only heats up the pan. The surface of the stove will remain cool.
– Double burner – It has 2 heating elements that can be set to the highest level of power at the same time.
– Stylish and modern design
– The kitchen will remain cool – the heat from the stove is only concentrated on the pan.
– Simple and very easy to use (two control panels for each heating element)
– It helps you save time
– 150 minutes cooking time
– Very fast – it heats up the pan in a few seconds.
– It helps you cut down on energy usage
– It shuts off automatically if there isn’t a pan on the surface
– No worry about over-cooking
– It cools down immediately upon the removal of the cooking pan
– Easy to clean
– Ten level powers
– Great power (1800W)
11. Cons
Normally, there are few negative comments on the product.
– Squeaking sounds – Some consumers complain there are squeaking sounds when the temperature is set at the lowest range. It seems the noise will disappear once the temperature gets higher.
– There is no slow heat up or cool down like with electric burners.
– Unit has 6-inch coil maximum
– Needs special cookware
– Quite large in comparison with the single model
– Doesn’t maintain temperature well (e.g. a searing pan doesn’t maintain a searing heat for very long)
– Some customers complain that it has hot spots which burn food.
– Some customers complain about the plastic frame around the ceramic glass that can easily crack
– Needs to have more calibration for specific temperatures.
– The touch keys are rather sensitive and pets could, by accident, turn on the cooktop
12. Consumer Ratings
After reading customers ratings and reviews I came to the conclusion that this double touch screen Induction Cooktop from BergHoff is quite well appreciated. 78% of the customers awarded 4 and 5 stars to this unit (they are pleased with the cooktop’s performance) while 13% were not pleased with the acquisition and awarded just 1 star.
These customers usually complained about problems like: they couldn’t use their sets of cookware because they are not induction ready, the plastic around the surface is cheap and can easily crack, they couldn’t set a very precise and steady temperature, the dimensions of the appliance were too big etc.
13. Price
In my opinion, BergHOFF Double Touch Screen Induction Cooktop worths its price. It is thin and flat, it looks classy and modern, it is quite portable as it weighs just 15 pounds, it has 2 heating elements that can work simultaneously, it has a great power.
It is a good solution if you are looking for a double cooktop model, but you don’t want to make holes on your kitchen counter.
