It may not have too many features and a super-glossy finish, but the Waring WIH400 is a reliable cooktop for everyday use, letting you unveil the inner chef, whether it’s a mere fried egg or a more complicated dish.
With a solid stainless steel housing and a more than enough cooking area, the device fits any kitchen and any need. Completely NSF and ETL approved, the Waring WIH400 is the perfect choice for those who are in search of an affordable cooktop with features similar to the high-end class of induction cooking devices.
1. Controls/Display
1. Heat Mode Button – lets you adjust the power (watts) to cook with
2. Temperature Mode Button – for adjusting the temperature
3. Timer Mode Button – lets you set a cooking time
4. LCD Display
5. Adjustment Control Buttons for heat, temperature and timer
6. On/Off Button (Power Button)
7. Stainless steel housing
8. Cooking surface (Schott ceramic glass)
As seen in the picture above, the easy-touch controls are quite intuitive and well-positioned, with the multi-purpose adjustment buttons (marked with plus/minus) set off from the rest of the controls for easy access.
The temperature settings range from 120°F to 500°F (79°C to 260°C) with the following intervals: 120F, 140F, 160F, 180F, 210F, 250F, 280F, 320F, 380F, 420F, 460F, and 500F.
There are two drawbacks in what regards these settings: first, the intervals are somehow randomly chosen, it would have been better to increase by 10 degrees for each setting, thus allowing for a more accurate setting.
Furthermore, the temperature settings will default to Fahrenheit once the appliance is turned off, forcing those who are used to the Celsius scale to go through the repetitive task of setting it again.
One interesting feature is that the timer can be set from 1 minute to 10 hours, one of the longest ranges for such an appliance.
A word of caution, though: once it reaches zero, the timer WILL NOT automatically turn off the device. Also, when counting down the last minute, the display will show the seconds starting from 59.
2. Surface
Featuring a large 11″ x 11″ Schott ceramic glass surface, the Waring WIH400 can easily accommodate pots or pans with a flat bottom surface of 4 .75 inches to 10 inches in diameter.
Because it’s a ceramic surface, it must be cleaned with a damp cloth and warm soapy water in order not to scratch the cooking surface. The housing can also be cleaned with warm water and soap.
Do not use abrasive substances for the cooking area or corrosive substances for the stainless steel housing.
Caution! Never immerse the appliance in water, it is not designed to be cleaned that way or under a pressurized water jet.
3. Heating Elements
The Waring WIH400 has one heating element made of ceramic glass encased in a stainless steel housing. Although the element is quite large, it is advisable to ensure the cookware meets the required dimensions (from 4.75″ to 10″ in diameter), otherwise the device will display an error code (see Sensors for further information)
4. Power/Watts
Voltage: 120 V
Wattage: 1,800 Watts
Amps: 15A
Hertz: 60Hz
Plug type: NEMA 5-15 P
The appliance requires proper grounding in order to avoid risk of injuries. If a ground-type wall outlet is not available in the installation area, an adapter should be used to enable a two-slot outlet to be used with the three-prong plug of the device.
It is advisory that the installation be made by a qualified electrician in order to avoid risk of injury and/or damage to the electrical wiring and/or the device.
Caution! Use of an adapter is forbidden in Canada!
4. Sensors (for a list of error codes see below)
– Automatic small-article and pan detection designed to protect the cooking surface as well as avoid the risk of injury
– Internal temperature sensor which monitors the temperature inside the appliance and turns it off in case it exceeds a certain level
– Voltage sensor designed to protect the internal wiring. See error codes below for further information.
– Overheating in TEMP mode sensor which protects the cooking surface from overheating and damage.
Here is a list of the error codes, their causes and possible solutions, according to the instructions manual of the unit:
ERROR CODE |
CAUSE |
POSSIBLE SOLUTION |
|---|---|---|
“—-” and the unit beeps |
There is no cookware or no suitable cookware on the range. The power will completely shut off within 60 seconds if there is no cookware or the wrong type of cookware on the unit. |
Make sure your pot/pan is induction ready. Check diameter of pot/pan; it must have a flat bottom between 4.75″ and 10″ in diameter. |
E1, E2 |
Voltage is under 78V. Voltage is over 145V. |
Make sure the power source meets the requirements |
E3, E5 |
The heater is damaged. |
Contact the nearest service center/customer support center. |
E6 |
The thermal protection has shut the unit off due to overheating in the TEMP(erature) mode. |
Unplug the appliance and let it cool for 20 minutes, then plug it back in and use it. If it still does not function, c Contact the nearest service center/customer support center. |
E7 |
The temperature inside the unit is too hot. |
Unplug the unit and let it cool for 20 minutes. Once the range has completely cooled, be sure it is positioned away from the wall and there are no obstructions to the airflow. Plug the unit back in and continue use. |
E9 |
Malfunction has been activated or triggered |
Unplug the unit. Plug the unit back in and continue use. If it still does not function, c Contact the nearest service center/customer support center. |
5. Ventilation
Due to its stainless steel housing which may get warm during longer periods of operation, the device must be used in a properly ventilated area (the air vents are sometimes not enough to ensure a proper airflow, so you may be faced with occasional errors – see below).
6. Safety Features
The safety features implemented by the sensors detailed above are a good choice, but the cooktop lacks one important safety feature: the child lock/safety lock present in other similar appliances. Of course, the Waring WIH400 is not a top of the range product, but still, such a feature would have been a nice addition.
7. Accessories
As with any induction cooktop, the Waring WIH 400 can only be used with cookware suitable for induction cooking, i.e. made of ferromagnetic materials such as cast iron or stainless steel. Also, the unit comes with a three conductor cord set for proper grounding.
8. Dimensions
Weight: 7 pounds
Gross weight: 13 pounds
Size: 14x14x6 inches
Package size: 16.7×8.6×8.6 inches
Cooking surface: 11×11 inches (including metal surface: 13 x 13 inches, approximately)
9. Pros
-small-article and pan detection for efficient energy use
-easy touch controls
-solid stainless steel housing
-error codes for easy troubleshooting
-Celsius and Fahrenheit temperature settings
10. Cons
-no automatic shutdown when the timer reaches 0 (zero)
-temperature setting intervals are quite random, not which can be a bit of a hassle when in need for a more precise temperature for some dishes
-ceramic glass surface which can be easily scratched with cooking utensils
-defaults to Fahrenheit once unplugged
-no child lock/safety lock
10. Consumer Ratings
On the whole, the Waring WIH 400 cooktop got good consumer ratings on selling/reviewing sites, the only major complaint of most of the users being the lack of a more precise temperature setting interval, which would have allowed for a better control over the cooking process.
11. Price
Currently selling at this
great rate on Amazon + Free shipping with Amazon Prime, 1 year standard warranty included.
12. F.A.Q.
1. Can you use this cooktop for simmering bone broth for 48 hours or more?
As a tip, you do not need to simmer to make bone broth: a temperature setting of 180 F will work just fine. For 48 hours or more, you may want a slow cooker that you could leave going overnight or a stove that you did not need to mess with so frequently.
13. User Manual
Let us know in coomments and will send by email.
