A Miele induction cooktop works by heating the pan itself, not the glass. Under each cooking area is a coil of wire. When you switch the zone on and a suitable pan sits on it, the coil creates a magnetic field that makes the metal of the pan produce heat. That is why an induction cooktop reacts quickly, why the glass stays cooler than the pan and why a pan that is not magnetic, such as aluminum or copper, does nothing at all. Everything else on a Miele KM cooktop, zones, PowerFlex, TwinBooster and TempControl, is a layer on that one idea.
How does induction heat a pan?
An alternating electric current runs through the coil under the glass. That current makes a changing magnetic field above the glass, and when a magnetic pan sits in that field, the field drives electric currents in the pan’s metal, which warm it. The heat is made in the pan, and the pan then heats the food. The coil and the glass do not get hot from the process, though the glass warms up from the hot pan sitting on it.
Two things follow. First, heat appears when a pan is on the zone, and drops quickly when you lift the pan or switch the zone off. Second, the cooktop needs a way to notice whether a pan is there, because without a pan there is nothing to heat. The cooktop senses cookware and adjusts, and what it does when it senses none is described in your owner’s manual.
Which pans work on a Miele induction cooktop?
Magnetic ones. Our induction cooktop guide says induction heats only ferromagnetic cookware, so an aluminum or copper pan produces no heat and no error, and it gives the simple check: if a magnet does not stick firmly to the bottom of the pan, the pan will not work. Cast iron, enameled cast iron and many stainless steel pans pass the test. The pan should be centered on the zone and large enough for the zone to detect it, because a very small pan may not be recognized. If the zone does not heat and the display seems to show nothing useful, the cookware may not have been detected, and our induction cooktop not heating guide explains what to try.
The base of the pan matters too. A flat, clean base makes good contact with the glass, and a warped or rough base heats unevenly and can scratch the surface.
What do PowerFlex and TwinBooster add?
PowerFlex is how Miele describes linking neighboring zones. Our PowerFlex explainer says it combines adjacent induction zones into one large flexible area, so that a roasting pan or a griddle heats evenly across it. TwinBooster temporarily sends extra power to a single zone for fast boiling. Our model pages list PowerFlex and TwinBooster on the 36-inch KM 7745 FL and KM 7740 FR and the 24-inch KM 7720 FR.
These are the same coils working together or harder for a time. How you start them, how long a boost lasts and how the display shows them are in the manual for your model, and we do not give figures here.
What does TempControl do?
Our model pages list touch controls with TempControl on the KM induction cooktops, and the PowerFlex guide says TempControl holds a chosen temperature for gentle tasks such as melting or simmering. In general, that means the cooktop manages the power to keep the pan near a set temperature rather than leaving you to adjust the level by hand. What temperatures it offers, and for which zones, is in your owner’s manual.
What does the display show, and what is H?
The display shows the power level of each zone, and an H marks a zone that is still warm after use. Our cooktop codes page describes H as the residual-heat indicator, a safety reminder, not a problem. Treat an H as a hot surface even if the zone is off. The model pages also list Stop&Go, a residual-heat indicator and a control lock among the safety features, and Con@ctivity 2.0 hood automation, which links the cooktop to a compatible Miele hood. What those do on your model is in your manual.
If you see an F flashing, our guide says a touch sensor has been covered or wet for longer than about ten seconds, so wipe the glass dry and clear anything off the controls. F1 to F4 at power-up are described as normal calibration. Our induction cooktop F flashing guide goes into the details.
How does it compare with gas or radiant electric?
Gas burns a flame under the pan, and a radiant electric cooktop heats an element under the glass that then heats the pan. Induction skips the middle step, so the pan heats directly. In daily use, that means fast response and a surface that is cooler around the pan, but it also means the pans have to be magnetic, and the electronics under the glass matter. Our Miele cooktop tips have practical habits for any of them, and our cooktop installation guide lists what an induction cooktop needs.
When does a cooktop need a technician?
When a zone will not heat with a magnetic pan and demo mode is off, when an FE code appears, when the cooktop shuts off because it is hot or when the glass is cracked. The parts under the glass are connected to household power, and they are not for owners. If water gets under the glass, or you see sparks or smell burning, switch off the breaker for the cooktop at the panel while standing on a dry floor. We are an independent repair company, not the manufacturer. Our Miele cooktop repair page explains how a visit works, and you can book a visit online.
