Why Your Induction Stove Burner Stopped Working (And What To Do)

Picture this: you're cooking a delicious recipe, with just a few minutes of cooking left. The pot is on the induction stove, ingredients are heating up, and all of a sudden... the stovetop turns off. Like most people, you might assume that your stove has stopped working and that something is wrong with it. But actually, this is completely normal, and it doesn't mean your induction cooktop is broken. This is called power cycling, and it's something that induction cooktops do when they're getting too hot.

Induction stoves are gearing up to be 2026's big kitchen trend, but they have some unique quirks. To understand why they turn off unexpectedly, let's first take a look at how induction cooktops work. Underneath the sleek glass layer, there are induction coils that generate electromagnetic energy, which then heats up compatible pots and pans. These coils aren't supposed to get hot, but when used on a high heat setting for a long time, the temperature inside the machine might start to rise. This type of overheating is particularly likely if the stove's fan isn't working well to ventilate and cool down the machine.

This sounds scary, but there's no need to worry. To prevent overheating, induction cooktops turn off when they get too hot. This is exactly what's happening when you're cooking up a meal on high heat, and out of nowhere, your induction stove turns off without any warning. It's annoying, but it's in your (and your stove's) best interest.

Okay, so your induction stovetop turned itself off to prevent overheating. Now what? Does it need any repairs? Should you turn it back on? And more importantly, how are you going to finish cooking dinner? Don't worry, all you need to do is sit back and relax for a couple of minutes. Power cycling only lasts for about two minutes, after which you'll be able to use the unit as usual. Just give the stove a few minutes to cool, then resume your recipe.

These are just one of the weird things that induction stoves do. If your induction stove shakes, vibrates, or hums, it's all normal too. These are really smart pieces of engineering, and all of that electromagnetic magic can make a bit of noise. That's a small price to pay for the convenience of induction stoves and their powerful features.

Now, if your induction stove doesn't turn back on after power cycling, then there might be another issue. For example, the stove might be unplugged, a wire may be damaged, or a circuit breaker might have tripped. If all of these things seem fine, try to reset the machine to see if it will turn back on (do this by resetting the circuit breaker, or check your hob's user manual). If not, it might be time to call in a professional electrician who can look into the issue, find a solution, or say whether you need to replace the stove altogether.