One of the reasons I’ve preferred cooking with gas vs. electric is that you can still use your stove, even if the power goes out. After testing out a portable induction cooktop, I’m increasingly convinced that they’re the future, but if there’s a power outage, you’ll still be out of luck.
However, I recently ate a meal prepared on the Electra Induction Stove, which can keep you cooking omelets and searing steaks even if the grid goes down. How does it accomplish this? Simple: It has a big-ass battery inside. But other than providing a backup in case of an emergency, the Electra offers a few other benefits, which could make it an early example of the future of home appliances.
How it works
The Electra Induction Stove is much like any other induction stove: It has four elements on the top, and an oven beneath. However, underneath all of this is a 5kwh battery that keeps things running — and not just when there’s no power coming into your home.
Most induction stoves require a 240V outlet and a dedicated circuit, so if you’re upgrading, you’ll most likely have to call an electrician to run a new line to where you want your stove.
Electra Stove specs
Size: 30″ W x 26″ H x 27.5″ D
Burners: Four (10-inch 1800W, 7-inch 1800W, two 6-inch 900W
Oven capacity: 4.55 cu. ft
Oven heating power: 4900W
Battery: 5kwh
Power: 120V, 15A
The Electra, on the other hand, can plug into a traditional 120V wall outlet — no rewiring needed — which can cut down the installation costs significantly. That’s because the oven draws power from your outlet and its battery simultaneously to provide the energy needed for its elements.
If the oven is running on a shared circuit, you can use the Electra app to specify how many amps you want it to draw (from 2-15) to avoid tripping your breaker.
The company says the battery is rated to last for more than 10+ years, and should retain 80% of its capacity after 6,000 cycles. The battery is made of lithium iron phosphate, which has a lower capacity than lithium ion batteries, but are far more stable — especially where heat is concerned — and have a longer lifespan.
And, when the power goes out, the Electra’s battery should be able to keep things cooking (literally) for a couple of days, depending on how much you use it.
How much it costs
At $4,000, the Electra is on the high end, even for an induction range. Samsung’s Bespoke Induction range, for example, costs $3,399 at Lowes, and includes such features as a camera and AI, so you can see what’s cooking. Meanwhile, a top-rated LG model with five burners is just $3,099 at Lowes.
However, the price of the oven is defrayed in part or in whole, by the cost of hiring an electrician to run a new line to your kitchen.
The Electra is currently available for preorder at Electra’s website; the company plans to start shipping units in February.
The meal
At my briefing, Electra brought in a professional chef to prepare us a meal of seared ribeye with a mushroom sauce, ravioli in a brown butter sauce, mashed potatoes, a fall salad with braised squash, and an apple tartine.
And it was all delicious.
The Electra’s 1800W element was able to get the cast iron pan up to a hot smoking temperature in no time, and put a really nice sear on the steak. Meanwhile, the second 1800W burner brought a small pan of water to a boil very quickly to cook the ravioli.
Meanwhile, the whipped mashed potatoes and the apple tartine were kept warm in the oven until they were ready to serve.
The Electra’s build felt solid — the knobs were solid, and the oven hinge was substantial — but those looking for more advanced controls on the oven itself may be disappointed in the Electra’s fairly basic design. However, as with most connected devices, there is an app that you can use to monitor and control the oven, which will give you some more functionality.
Also, its capacity of 4.55 cubic feet is a bit smaller than other ovens; it will easily fit a Thanksgiving turkey, but you may have trouble cramming in all of the sides.
Outlook
Beyond convenience, Electra’s CEO Bert Muthalaly said that the Electra’s battery could eventually be used as a whole home backup, or as a way to help mitigate demands on the grid during times of peak energy use. He even envisioned a future where all major appliances might have batteries built in, so homeowners could create an ad-hoc backup system.
As with any startup, there are sure to be concerns about the long-term stability of the company — Rad Power Bike’s recent bankruptcy filing is a good example — but Electra’s oven does represent an innovative new approach to home appliances that not only makes them more convenient, but most sustainable, too. If major companies like Samsung and LG start putting batteries in their ovens, perhaps Electra’s greatest success will be its legacy.
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