CookTek commercial induction cooking and holding

Buying CookTek

CookTek is an American induction specialist. The company was created in 1994. Its Helios hobs and woks are designed and built in the USA. Almost everything it makes is induction: hobs, woks, planchas, multi-zone ranges and a family of buffet and holding units. CookTek states that 94% of the energy drawn reaches the pan. It puts gas at about 35% and conventional electric at about 50%. That matters in a tight kitchen with weak extraction, a front-of-house cooking station or a hotel buffet. The brand suits restaurants, hotels, contract caterers and serveries that want fine control and a cooler working area. In the UK, the hobs, woks, ranges, planchas, wells and buffet warmers carry a 5-year parts and labour warranty. The UK distributor lists the hobs, woks, ranges, stock pot, full size planchas and FaHeater as NSF approved.

The families split by job. Helios single and double hobs are the everyday units, with 2.5, 3.0 or 3.5 kW per zone, countertop or drop-in. Helios Standard has a knob, and Helios Touch adds a touch screen. The woks use a bowl-shaped coil and come as countertop, drop-in or built into a wok cooking table. The 4 and 6 zone ranges and the full size planchas are three phase. The floor standing stock pot range takes pots up to 560 mm across. For buffets, Incogneeto hides under a stone counter, Silenzio drops into it, and Dolphin chafing dishes sit on top. SinAqua dry wells and Souper soup kettles hold food without a water bath.

Settle four things before you order. Supply: the Helios hobs and woks are rated 200 to 240 V. The multi-zone ranges, the full size planchas and the stock pot range need 415 V three phase. Pans: induction needs magnetic cookware, and a wok needs a pan of the right profile. The pan FAQ below gives the rule. Cut-outs: the drop-in hobs and woks have a stated cut-out. Check the specification sheet, or ask us, for the drop-in ranges and planchas. Measure the counter before you cut. Ventilation: each CookTek unit has ventilation and ambient temperature requirements on its specification sheet, so give it air. If any of this is unclear, call us and we will get an answer from the UK distributor.

CookTek: common questions

Which pans work on CookTek induction hobs and woks?

Any pan with a magnetic base. CookTek says induction needs magnetic cookware, and gives stainless steel and cast iron pans as examples. The hobs detect the pan on their own and only send power when one is in place. Woks are stricter. The pan must have the right profile, about 36 cm across. It must rest on the metal rim rather than the glass. CookTek supplies a matched stainless steel wok pan. An unsuitable pan voids the wok warranty. If you are unsure, send us a photo of your pans and we will check with the UK distributor.

What is the difference between Helios Standard and Helios Touch?

The control. Helios Standard has a rotary knob with 20 power steps and a colour display. You can also set it by temperature rather than power. Helios Touch keeps the knob and adds a capacitive touch screen with 100 power steps. You set a level by touch or by turning, whichever is quicker. On the hobs, size and weight are the same on both. They share the 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 kW outputs, the pan detection and the overheat cut-out. Touch suits a chef who wants finer steps. Standard suits a line that prefers a knob. Every drop-in hob and wok is Helios Standard, so Touch is a countertop choice only.

Should I choose a countertop or a drop-in unit?

Countertop units stand on their own feet, so they can move between stations and are the simplest to install. Drop-in units sit flush in a fabricated counter. That looks cleaner front of house and keeps the control box below the surface. They need a cut-out. The single hob takes 333 x 333 mm and the wok 400 x 400 mm. The double drop-ins have their own cut-out sizes on the specification sheet. The drop-in hobs come with a control box and protective bump bars. A cast metal knob can be specified for bespoke fabrication. The drop-in wok has a knob only. On a plancha, welding the unit into the counter voids the warranty, so use a food grade sealant.

Do I need a three phase supply for CookTek?

Only for the biggest units. The multi-zone ranges, full size planchas and stock pot range need 415 V three phase. The stock pot range arrives fitted with a 5 pin red plug. The Helios woks, the wok tables and the half size plancha are single phase. So are the FaHeater and the buffet and holding units. The Helios hobs are rated 200 to 240 V. Check what your kitchen has before you choose. Tell us the model and we will confirm the supply and plug with the UK distributor.

How does induction holding work without water?

A bain marie heats water and the water heats the pan. SinAqua skips the water. A coil under the well heats the GN pan directly. A sensor under each pan position holds it at the set temperature. There is nothing to fill, nothing to drain and no steam. CookTek puts the saving against an electric steam well at 63% with an empty pan. With a full pan it says 50%. The Souper soup kettle works the same way and heats its container on the base and sides. The Incogneeto and Silenzio buffet warmers warm a chafing dish through glass or stone. Pans must be magnetic, and the rectangular wells are sold without them.

What warranty and service does CookTek have in the UK?

Most CookTek products carry a 5-year parts and labour warranty in the UK. That covers the hobs, woks, ranges, stock pot and planchas. It also covers the SinAqua wells and the Incogneeto and Silenzio warmers. The FaHeater and the Souper kettles carry shorter terms, shown on each product page. The Magneeto 2 disc supplied with the Incogneeto carries a one-year term. Call us and we will raise the claim for you. The cover depends on sensible use. Keep the mesh filters clean and give each unit the ventilation on its specification sheet. The wok and plancha exclusions in the pan and installation FAQs apply. Dolphin chafing dishes are a separate brand with their own terms.