Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooktop including an outer perimeter and defining at least one opening. A plurality of burners located on the cooktop and at least one burner of the plurality of burners is located on at least one turret that defines an internal cavity to direct a downdraft. The at least one turret is moveable within the at least one opening between at least one vacuum position and a flush position.

Abstract: A cooktop assembly includes a cooking panel. A heating element is operably coupled to the cooking panel. The heating element forms a heating zone for said cooktop assembly. A support surface extends over the heating element for supporting a cooking vessel thereon. The support surface includes a heating zone surface in the heating zone, a surrounding surface outside the heating zone, and a surface discontinuity defining a kinesthetic feature providing feedback for demarcating the heating zone relative to the surrounding surface and positioning the cooking vessel relative to the heating zone and, consequently, the heating element.

Abstract: A cooking system includes a support structure that has a support surface and a cooking device for placement on the support structure. A power transmission circuit is between the support structure and the cooking device. The power transmission circuit has a first power communication coil in the support structure, a second power communication coil in the cooking device, and a power source that is in communication with the first power communication coil. The first power communication coil is configured to induce an electrical current in the second power communication coil. A heat control circuit has a first heating device and a second heating device in the cooking device. The second heating device is disposed above the first heating device. A controller is configured to control a power level for the first and second heating devices.

Abstract: Operations such as adding food or flipping or otherwise manipulating food in an item of cookware being heated may be detected by comparing with a threshold the time derivative of a sensed temperature and/or of heating power absorbed by an item of cookware, wherein the heating power is provided by an induction cooktop operated in order to keep constant the temperature value sensed by the sensors coupled to the item of cookware.