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Stoves are disappearing from the kitchen and bathroom industry, at least to the naked eye. New stove concept from SKSnicknamed the “Concealed Induction Stove” appeared first on KBIS in Orlando and turns your everyday stone countertop into a fully functional induction cooktop.
We watched the stove in action. Well, sort of. The pot of water on top of the counter appears to be boiling with a constant stream of steam rising from within – and there is no sign of it actual Stovetop. Further examination revealed that the burner was not on and that steam was being produced by a small device located inside the pot.
You almost caught us, SKS. We still have questions…
How will it work?
SKS’s concept of a concealed induction cooktop was the talk of the conference room.
Simply put. Induction heating elements are installed below the worktop so you can boil, simmer and fry right there. Heat is transferred through the countertop surface and to the cookware above. Dials are mounted on the front of the unit, allowing for control. It’s beautiful, leaves clean lines on the counter and adds valuable countertop space. It also sounds like cleaning would be a dream. But how could something so inconspicuous and so hot not cause untold amounts of third-degree burns?
Obvious safety question
There are obvious safety questions and concerns about a product like this.
This concept, while cool, raised eyebrows but also raised some serious safety concerns. Michael Magmani, the brand’s Director of Product Strategy, was presenting to the media and conference guests, demonstrating how this cool stove concept works in practice.
According to Magmani, the unique features of induction heating enable this concept to work effectively without becoming a burn hazard. Induction transfers heat directly to the cookware, not to the stovetop. “There’s usually a little residual heat, but nothing close to the traditional glass top or cast iron grates that hover over gas stoves,” he explains. “Induction heat also cools much faster than other forms.”
Another burning question (sorry) we had was how the stove communicates whether the heat is on or not. Small indicator lights on the countertop are meant to show when the stove is on or hot, although they weren’t working when we saw the stove on the showroom floor. Brand representatives placed the boiling pot well guarded, and guests were asked not to get too close.
The type of countertop used is crucial
The type of countertop material used is crucial for a concept stove to function.
There are careful considerations to be made regarding countertop materials. According to Magmani, who walked us through the first-of-its-kind stove, “Ceramic porcelain makes the most sense for several reasons, including suitable conductivity, material density and the fact that it is one of the most scratch-resistant countertop surfaces.”
It’s also non-porous, so in theory it can better withstand inevitable hot food spills and constant cleaning.
While the promise of a hidden stove is compelling, it did leave us with some unanswered questions, and we were not allowed near the “stove” during our second tour of the cabin. Technicians were busy fixing the problem below, although the details of the problem were not clear.
For now, the concealed induction cooktop remains in the concept, with only a sneaky smoke-and-mirrors version available to be seen in the KBIS showroom. Magmani told us the cooktop will likely come to market a few years away, but SKS engineers and production teams are “full steam ahead.”