I love my Control Freak, but I did have to replace a couple pans. For some reason, on my dirt-cheap induction range, they didn't buzz; they do on the Control Freak. My guess is my cheap stove cycles, and the Control Freak applies power linearly, so whatever power level the stove uses didn't happen to make those pans buzz.
Doesn’t like it
I have one of the Combustion thermometers, and I like it. I used it more than I expected. In particular, I use it for roasting chicken and for sous vide things more than anything else. Then I got a Breville Control Freak, and I used it much less. :) For maximum techyness, Combustion, Inc. correctly identified that sous vide is normally an overdamped system. If you follow their instructions you can increase the water temp some and then bring it back down in order to move the system closer to critically damped and speed up your sous vide.
Doesn’t like it
The Control Freak is fantastic, but it doesn’t work all that well with some cast iron pans. I think there are a couple reasons: 1. Too much thermal mass and too little thermal conductivity. This causes poor feedback and unnecessarily high delay between heat being added and the measurement reflecting it. 2. Manufacturers love to cast their logo right in the bottom center, which means that the sensor doesn’t make good contact with the pan. I wonder if someone makes a nice stainless-aluminum-carbon steel clad pan.
Likes it
https://archive.ph/c9C4V My wife and I use a countertop induction stove called a Breville Control Freak, and, apart from the name it's incredible. Way better than legacy gas or electric stoves.
Likes it
I have a Breville Control Freak (which is a plug-in induction stovetop) and it's amazing. Far better than gas on its own merits, and without the problems of combusting methane indoors. Moreover, Impulse now sells a full-on range: https://www.impulselabs.com/ with an integrated battery, so that it can be plugged into any standard 120v outlet. To my mind, and in my experience, the alternatives to gas today are amazing and should be better appreciated.
Likes it
YES! The thermocouples are such a big deal. I have been using the Breville Control Freak cooktop ($1500, single 1800w burner) for years — this was the first device to include this feature. Once you use temperature-controlled cooktops, you can't go back. You can set your garlic to saute and walk away.
Recommends it
Yes, it is the future! Once you use one you can't go back. I can't use gas anymore after using the Breville Control Freak for years.
Likes itHasn’t owned it
The Breville Control Freak is pretty cool (but horrendously expensive)