EDITED COMMENT:
Having used it for a couple weeks now and upgrading my pans, the Control Freak really does work well. It was quite interesting to see it go from boiling to simmering to nothing by changing the degree just a couple degrees. I've used it almost daily since (though admittedly not for any hyper intensive temperature control requirements) and have enjoyed it thoroughly. Still haven't tested the probe control function yet as deep frying or sugar/chocolate work isn't really something we do.
ORIGINAL POST:
Well I guess there is a learning curve to induction burners I will have to adapt to. Day 1, attempted using a stainless steel (non-clad) pan. Pan got ~150 degrees hotter than set and smoked avacado oil very quickly. Day 2, attempted with a non-enameled cast iron skillet (a lightweight/thin pan), and it got to 740+ degrees set at 392 before tripping the outlet. Hot enough it burned off the seasoning and made a clear ring on the pan before I had a chance to get it off. Trying at a lower temperature setpoint, it also far exceeded the temperature.
@CanadianHomeChef I took your recommendation and got the Anolon Nouvelle pans which came in today. Using the 10 inch frying pan, it was consistently 20-30 degrees hotter than set on the Control Freak, regardless of heating speed and set temperature, when it reached steady state. Is this what you experience and I should expect? If not, any advice?
As a note, I'm measuring the temperature using a no-name (cheap) IR thermometer. Perhaps that could be off calibration by 20 degrees (or issues with emissivity)? I know the first two days were real issues from other signs, regardless of whether or not the IR thermometer is working right.
Ran a better test. Heated olive oil in a pan set at 260 degrees. It was +2/-8 across the pan measured with a Thermoworks Thermapen. Does this sound more like expectations? I suspect the non-contact IR thermometer is really just not a great instrument for measuring the pan temperature and a contact thermometer or an IR one adjusted for the pan's emissivity would be better. It was odd set at 260, the pan temp per the Control Freak stayed 259 steady. It would not stop at 260 exactly.
