Sears Kenmore® Unveils Induction Cooktop That Cooks Food Without Flames or Red-Hot Burners

(Kitchen and Bath Show) -- For millennia fire and heat have been used to cook food. In the 1970s, microwave technology was introduced to homeowners, and using waves of radio frequency (RF) to agitate food at the molecular level, it eliminated the need to produce fire to prepare food. Today, Sears® introduces the Kenmore® Elite 30-inch induction cooktop, which uses electro-magnetic frequency (EMF) that eliminates the fire and red-hot burners -- at least for the cooktop.

With this technology, homeowners can cook food faster -- cooking elements reach full power in just one second -- and use energy more efficiently. It is significantly more efficient than either a gas range or a traditional radiant electric cooktop. Yet Kenmore Elite's induction product provides 15 temperature settings and the precision control of a gas cooktop. So just how does induction technology work? It uses the principle electro-magnetism, pioneered by English physicist Michael Faraday. Instead of heating up burners on the stove, the cooktop induces heat directly into the pan holding the food. The pan cooks the food while the surface stays cooler than conventional cooktops.

Induction cooking is extremely fast. Since the energy is transferred directly into the pan, water boils faster and foods start to cook sooner. Since the elements do not actually heat up, foods spilled onto the cooktop resist sticking or burning and the glass surface requires just a damp cloth for cleaning.

The Kenmore Elite induction cooktop has four cooking zones: 5.7 inches; 7.1 inches; 8.3 inches and 10.6 inches, which will accommodate a 12-inch pan. While fully featured, the Kenmore Elite induction cooktop's controls are easy to use. It automatically senses the presence or absence of cookware, and won't turn on unless cookware is in place. A special warm and serve feature allows each pan to hold a precisely low temperature after the food is cooked. So the meal is ready when the family or guests are ready to eat. A "Power Boost" mode takes the cooking zone to 125 percent power for up to 10 minutes.

Commercial chefs have been using this technology since the 1990s, however, until now it was considered too expensive for residential use. While competitive models are priced from $2,500 to $3,999, the Kenmore induction cooktop will be priced at under $1,499.

"This is one more example of Kenmore's mission to bring innovative products to today's homeowners," said Tina Settecase, vice president and general manager of Home Appliances for Sears, Roebuck and Co. "Induction saves time, uses energy more efficiently and is safer because the cooktop does not produce an open flame or a red-hot burner."

It is the induction of heat directly into the pan that makes this cooktop more energy-efficient. Induction cooking utilizes 90% of the energy produced while a gas burner is only 55% efficient and traditional electric ranges are only 65% efficient.

The Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote energy-efficiency, says this is the type of technology that will help us reach our energy- efficiency goals.

"Induction is an excellent example of how consumers can use energy- efficiency technologies to reduce their home energy bills," said Alliance president Kateri Callahan. "When consumers research the energy-efficiency ratings of appliances and other home products and become empowered to make energy smart choices, they will contribute to the continued reduction in national energy consumption."

Pots and pans used with the induction cooktop must be made of iron, steel or other combinations of metals that will react with the magnetic field. Some materials, such as copper, aluminum, glass and some types of stainless steel will not work with induction technology. To see if your cookware will work, just hold a magnet to the bottom of the pot. If the magnet sticks, the pot will work with induction. The Kenmore Elite 30-inch induction cooktop (model #42800) will be available in Sears stores in September. It is available in black ceramic glass.

About Sears, Roebuck and Co.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. Sears, Roebuck offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,400 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears, Roebuck also offers a variety of merchandise and services through http://www.sears.com/ , http://www.landsend.com/ , and specialty catalogs. Sears, Roebuck offers consumers leading proprietary brands including Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 14 million service calls made annually. For more information, visit the Sears, Roebuck website at http://www.sears.com/ or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at http://www.searsholdings.com/ .

SOURCE: Sears, Roebuck and Co.

CONTACT: Larry Costello, of Sears PR, +1-847-286-9036,
lcoste5@sears.com , or Marlene Tsareff of MRA, Inc., +1-317-769-7600,
mtsareff@tds.net

Web site: http://www.sears.com/
http://www.searsholdings.com/
http://www.landsend.com/