Using Samsung’s virtual flame stovetop is like cooking with fake fire

by Kwame Opam

Jan 6, 2015, 7:37 PM UTC

Samsung came out with their NE9900 virtual stovetop late last year, so we had to get a closer look here at CES. Unlike gas ovens, induction stovetops don’t need flames to cook food. It’s a greener solution, but it can be hard to tell if the stove is hot when in use. The virtual stove is lined with a series of blue LED lights that can be seen on your pots and pans while cooking.

The blue lights correspond intuitively to how much heat is being produced — the higher the virtual flame, the hotter the stove. The flame can of course be seen on lustrous metals like stainless steel, but also on cast iron. It's an elegant solution that you may never have asked for, but could make real use of if you find yourself in the kitchen often. The range currently retails for $3,000, though, so it may be awhile before everyone's cooking with LEDs.