Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System review

Review body

About Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System

The Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System consists of two parts: the induction cooktop and the smart cookware. The cookware options include a 5.5-quart Chef’s Pot, an 11-inch Smart Pan, an 11-inch Nonstick Precision Pan, and more. The cookware and the induction plate can be connected through the Hestan Cue app, which will then allow you to adjust the cooking time, temperature, and use other smart features at the swipe of your finger.

If you aren’t sure about the app-enabled functions, you can also opt to use the Hestan Cue induction cooktop manually by sliding the touchscreen bar on the plate to control the heat.

The Hestan Cue induction cooktop and the smart cookware can be purchased in a six-piece bundle for $599, which includes the 11-inch Smart Pan, the Chef’s Pot, and the 3.5-quart saucepot. For this review, we tested two separate products: induction plate, which costs $299 and the 5.5-quart Chef’s Pot, which is $249.

In our tests, we investigated its induction ability and heat distribution to see if there were any hot spots. Then, we let the app guide us through a few recipes to see if the cooking tutorials are actually helpful for home chefs. We also checked out its temperature monitoring function by deep frying batches of chicken.

What we like

It’s super portable

We’ve tested a handful of induction plates, but the Hestan Cue is one of the lightest we’ve worked with. We wouldn’t mind throwing it into the back of a car if we were heading to a rental property for a weekend getaway. Similarly, if you live in an RV and want to upgrade your kitchen, this induction cooktop might be a relatively affordable alternative to installing a new RV-compatible stove.

The guided cooking experience is helpful and fun

If you’re not an experienced cook, the Hestan Cue app is here to rescue you from kitchen disasters. In its massive selection of meals, you can filter by cuisine, type of smart cookware used, and difficulty level. I made banh mi chicken sandwiches by following the app. Not only did the app show me how to cook the chicken step by step, it also taught me how to assemble the final sandwich.

It’s a well-made kitchen appliance

The Hestan Cue induction cooktop heats up quickly, thanks to its induction technology. There were no noticeable hot spots during testing, which is expected given the Hestan brand reputation. We’ve tested Hestan cookware and can confirm this brand makes quality products across the board that are made to last.

You have the option to monitor cooking remotely

One of the key features of Hestan Cue is the ability to monitor the cooking process from the Hestan Cue app. For instance, if you were to cook a piece of steak, you can plug in the weight and thickness of the steak and set the desired doneness, and the smart system will do the rest. We used this feature to make a few dishes—while it’s useful for some cooking situations, we think sometimes the temperature reading can be misleading (more on that later).

It’s compatible with any induction-friendly cookware

You’ll lose the smart functions of the Cue, but it’s possible to use magnetic, flat-bottomed induction-compatible cookware with this induction cooktop while using the Manual Mode (cooking without the Cue app or "smart" functions). For better results, Hestan recommends cookware with a base diameter between 5 and 9 inches.

What we don’t like

Temperature readings might be less accurate with liquid content

The temperature control mode is designed to be used in place of a meat thermometer. During testing, we weren’t surprised that we received incorrect readings from the built-in temperature control when deep frying with a pot full of oil since the temperature probe is only sensing the temperature from the bottom of the pan. Thankfully, the pot of oil eventually reached the temperature for frying.

It’s not waterproof

Anecdotally, a friend of ours who is also a Hestan owner spilled boiling water when cooking pasta in the pot. The hot plate was destroyed during the process, likely due to hot water going through the vent and making the hot plate inoperable. We did not test this for ourselves because we needed the product to remain operational for other tests.

The Hestan Cue smart cookware isn’t oven-safe and won’t work on a regular stove

The battery-operated Hestan Cue smart cookware won’t work on a typical stove and it can’t go in the oven because of its vulnerable hardware components. Unlike other induction-friendly cookware we’ve tested, this smart cookware won’t work beyond its primary function.

Should you buy the Hestan Cue Smart Cooking System?

Yes, but you can probably skip the smart cookware

We recommend getting the Hestan Cue induction hot plate, but the smart cookware isn’t necessary if you already have induction-friendly pots and pans. The main difference between Hestan Cue’s smart cookware and standard induction-friendly cookware is that you’ll need to use Manual Mode for the non-smart cookware. We used the Manual Mode for most of the tests and the food came out just as good.

Overall, the Hestan Cue hot plate is a well-designed, portable induction cooktop that can benefit most people, even without the smart app. However, if you’re working on your chef skills, pairing your hot plate with a Chef’s Pot or a Smart Fry Pan may be a better choice. For folks with a small kitchen, this set-up will give them an additional cooktop and a wider range of dishes to learn how to make.

More on induction cooking

• The Best Cookware Sets We've Tested for Induction
• Induction cooking—here's why you should make the switch
• Induction Cooking 101
• Is induction cooking faster? 7 reasons why the answer is yes
• Will my pots and pans work with induction?
• How we test electric and induction ranges at Reviewed
• Don't Fear Induction, Say Professional Chefs
• The Best Induction Ranges We've Tested
• Induction Cooking FAQ: Here's what real people wanted to know
• Our Place's Perfect Pot: Is it as great as the Always Pan?

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