• The Paragon Mat brings precision to any induction pan on FirstBuild Paragon induction cooktops using temperature control instead of traditional power control. 

Louisville, Ky.—January 5, 2017—Have you ever wondered why ovens cook at precise temperatures like 325°, but cooktops are limited to a scale of numbers or ambiguous settings like low, medium and high? Every home chef, foodie and new cook alike has experienced the frustration of burning the first pancake, only to undercook the second.

The Paragon Mat, the newest innovation through FirstBuild, solves this problem by precisely controlling pan temperature, automatically adjusting burner output, so users will be confident that their food creations will be consistent every time. When controlling with traditional settings like medium-high, pan temperatures can vary dramatically throughout a single cooking session, resulting in inconsistent and even puzzling results. By contrast, the Paragon Induction Cooking System allows chefs to specify a cooking temperature, just like they have been doing in the oven for decades. No more overcooking or undercooking due to unknown temperatures.

“Precision cooking is the most significant innovation in home cooking since oven temperature control,” said Larry Portaro, Director of FirstBuild. “The original Paragon was the first induction cooktop designed for sous-vide cooking, earning its place in the hearts of foodies and dinner party hosts. The Paragon Mat dramatically expands Paragon’s utility by controlling pan temperature, making Paragon the new cooktop of choice for everyday chefs.”

Paragon Mat
The Paragon Mat precisely controls pan temperature, automatically adjusting burner output, so users will be confident that their food creations will be consistent every time.

The Paragon Mat is the latest addition to the Paragon Induction Cooking System, which debuted today on Indiegogo and includes:

  • The Paragon Induction Cooktop, designed to receive temperature feedback from a variety of Bluetooth®-connected temperature sensors
  • The Paragon Mat, which directly monitors and controls cookware temperature
  • The Paragon Probe, for controlling liquid temperature as in sous vide cooking
  • The FirstBuild App, which has precision cooking profiles tailored to a variety of foods

While the Paragon Probe is great for sous vide cooking, the Paragon Mat now enables passionate home chefs to achieve a perfect sear without overheating butter or oil. Everyday cooks will find that the Paragon Mat takes the guesswork out of cooking staples like bacon and grilled cheese. Meanwhile, the Paragon Mat allows the aspiring and experienced to easily tease out the subtle nuances in their favorite dishes—like the difference between light-brown and medium-brown butter, or the ability to consistently cook eggs-over-medium. Paragon makes it easy for home cooks to achieve restaurant-quality results across a wide array of cooking methods.

FirstBuild, GE Appliances’ global co-creation community of designers, engineers and appliance users, first launched the Paragon Induction Cooktop in February of 2015, enabling home cooks to achieve restaurant-quality results for a variety of cooking techniques using a Bluetooth®-connected temperature sensor and associated iOS/Android app. The new Paragon Induction Cooking System is available for purchase exclusively on Indiegogo now.

About FirstBuild
FirstBuild is a global co-creation community backed by GE Appliances, a Haier company that harnesses the brainpower of the maker movement to change the way major home appliances are conceived, designed and manufactured. A physical state-of-the-art microfactory on the University of Louisville campus and online forum, FirstBuild speeds products from mind to market and enables customization through small batch production, without the costs and risks of traditional mass manufacturing. For more information about how to get involved, visit FirstBuild.com.