Stoves are disappearing at the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, at least to the naked eye. A new stove concept from SKS, dubbed the “Hidden Induction Stove,” debuted at KBIS in Orlando and transforms an everyday stone countertop into a fully functional induction cooktop.
We saw the stovetop in action. Well, sort of. The pot of water sitting atop the counter appeared to be boiling with a steady flow of steam rising from within — no sign of an actual stovetop. Further inspection revealed that the stove wasn’t on and the steam was being produced by a small device sitting inside the pot.
You almost got us, SKS. Still, we have questions…
How will it work?
There are obvious safety questions and concerns about a product like this one.
The concept, as cool as it is, raised eyebrows but also some serious safety concerns. Michael Magmani, the brand’s director of product strategy, was giving the pitch to the media and convention guests, explaining how this fascinating concept stove 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 cooktop surface. “There’s usually a bit of residual heat,” he explains, “but not anything close to a traditional glass top or the cast-iron grates that hover over gas burners. Induction heat also cools down much faster than other forms.”
Another burning (sorry) question we had was how the stove communicates whether the heat is on. Small indicator lights on the countertop are meant to show when a burner is on or hot, though they weren’t working when we saw the stove on the showroom floor. Reps from the brand had the boiling pot well guarded, and guests were asked not to get too close.
