The ongoing debate over the safety of gas stoves has generated a wave of curiosity about induction cooking. In our extensive testing, we&#;ve found that induction&#;which relies on magnetic properties to heat instead of a live flame or hot coil&#;does indeed have some significant advantages over gas or radiant-electric heat. But it isn&#;t for every home or every cook.
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If you&#;re trying to decide whether an induction cooktop or range is right for you, here&#;s what you need to know before you make the potentially pricey switch.
An induction cooktop or range could be a great choice for many kitchens. Here&#;s why:
It&#;s a breeze to clean. The smooth glass-ceramic surface of an induction cooktop is one of its most rewarding features. An induction cooktop or range gets hot only directly under a pan, so splatters or drips don&#;t cook onto its surface like they do on a radiant-electric cooktop or under the grates of a gas range. Most of the time, a quick wipe with a damp cloth is all it takes to keep your induction cooktop pristine.
It&#;s fast and responsive. Raising and lowering the heat when you&#;re cooking on an induction cooktop or range is noticeably quick. Lightning-fast boiling is probably the best-known perk of induction cooking: During our tests, 4 cups of water in a 1.5-quart whistling tea kettle took 4 minutes 11 seconds to come to a full boil on our portable induction cooktop pick, whereas the same task took 6 minutes 14 seconds on a gas stove. Reducing the heat is similarly speedy: Water stops boiling instantly when you lower the power.
What&#;s equally impressive is that even the cheapest induction cooktop or range can easily maintain a very low temperature, a task that&#;s hard to do on many mid- and lower-priced gas stoves (the flame can flicker or blow out) or on radiant-electric versions. Five of the six induction cooktops we recommend have a temperature-specific simmer or melt setting, which can keep the contents of a pot at a lazy bubble or the perfect melting point.
It&#;s safer. Induction cooktops and ranges are inherently safer than gas or radiant-electric models because they don&#;t involve flames or direct heat. Only your pots heat up when you cook&#;the surface of the stovetop remains cool. (This is particularly helpful for small kitchens or for households with young kids, older adults, or disabled cooks.) It&#;s hard to turn on an induction element accidentally, unless you leave a pan on top of it&#;and if you do, the cooktop will automatically cut the power when the element reaches an abnormally high temperature for an extended period. Some Wi-Fi&#;enabled cooktops allow you to turn them off remotely.
Induction (or radiant-electric) cooking avoids the larger safety issues that could arise when you have a gas line, such as exposure to unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide or the potential for gas leaks, explosions, or fires (which are admittedly rare but do happen).
Induction cooktops also require the least ventilation of any cooking heat source. Unlike a gas cooktop, an induction model doesn&#;t release methane, benzene, nitrogen dioxides, or other chemical emissions, and it doesn&#;t create volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when you turn it on. (All cooking creates some VOCs, however.) Many city codes don&#;t legally require ventilation for an induction (or radiant-electric) cooktop or range, but most people want it, said Jessica Petrino Ball, who runs the education program at the appliance retailer AJ Madison. A ventilation system, such as a range hood, also helps keep heat out of your kitchen and grease off your cabinets.
Note: If you have a pacemaker, induction is safe to use. Fred Kusumoto, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, assured us that the risk is basically zero, unless you got your pacemaker more than 30 years ago.
It&#;s more efficient and sustainable. The EPA recently gave the entire category of induction cooktops an Energy Star Emerging Technology Award because the appliances lose much less energy in the form of heat to the surrounding air than their radiant-electric and gas counterparts. According to the EPA, induction is 85% efficient, whereas radiant electric is 75% to 80% efficient, and gas is only 32% efficient.
Induction also runs cooler and cleaner than gas, lowering the load on ventilation and on heating and cooling systems in your home. (In the peak heat of summer, the difference between cooking on an induction cooktop and cooking on a gas stove is unmistakable.) And induction and radiant-electric cooktops or ranges can run on renewable sources of electricity such as wind, geothermal energy, or solar power, whereas a gas stove will always run on gas.
The government may help you pay for one. Within the next year, the High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate program (HEEHR), created as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, could lower the cost of an Energy Star&#;approved induction cooktop or range (or a radiant-electric version) by up to $840. That money is deducted when you buy or install your appliance, instead of requiring you to file for a refund.
It&#;s high-tech. Because of the way induction technology works, induction appliances tend to have the most high-tech features. Most of our recommended induction cooktops can hold a precise temperature, for example, and some allow you to cook along automatically with a recipe on a companion app. Some induction models come with full-surface cooking, which allows you to cook with a pot or pan anywhere on the cooktop. This feature could be a game-changer for blind cooks or those with low vision, or for cooks who can&#;t lift heavy pans or have limited reach.
It&#;s ideal for ADA compatibility and aging in place. The majority of induction cooktops and ranges meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) criteria (including positioning the controls at the front of a cooktop so that the cook can avoid reaching across hot pots). Most appliance sellers, including Home Depot and Appliances Connection, let you search their offerings by the term &#;ADA-compliant.&#; Because the surface of an induction appliance doesn&#;t heat up without a pan, it&#;s safer for those who have issues with hearing, vision, or mobility. And many Wi-Fi&#;enabled induction cooktops or ranges can work with voice commands through an app downloaded to a device.
An induction cooktop or range might not be ideal for your household for six key reasons:
It&#;s expensive. Induction cooktops and ranges often cost between $200 and $1,000 more than comparable gas and radiant-electric models. Many industry experts we spoke to believe that prices will dip as interest in the technology increases and more induction appliances are manufactured. Induction represents less than 5% of all electric cooking as of , according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. But an AHAM representative told us that the organization&#;s data also shows that the category has grown 3% a year for the past decade, with a noticeable uptick in .
Beyond the purchase price, running an induction cooktop could cost you more per month than running a gas version if you live in a region where gas is less expensive than electricity (even though induction is more efficient). This factor could be a dealbreaker, especially in places where electricity is notably expensive, such as Hawaii or Puerto Rico.
Switching from gas to electric can be difficult (and expensive). To switch from a gas model to an electric stove or cooktop, you need to ask a certified electrician to confirm whether your home&#;s electrical system can support another 240-volt, 50-amp electric kitchen appliance. This upgrade often requires extensive electrical work; you also need to hire a plumber to cap or close your gas line.
The good news is that many electrical utilities will help underwrite some of these costs or provide rebates (in part because they want you to buy more electricity). The electric appliance rebates created through the Inflation Reduction Act are also designed to cover some or all of this investment.
You can&#;t cook when the power goes out. If you frequently lose electricity or have ongoing issues with the reliability of your local electrical grid, an induction (or even a radiant-electric) cooktop or stove might not be practical. This is a serious reason to avoid all-electric cooking and heat.
You need to use specific cookware. Induction requires cookware with bottoms that are strongly magnetic. You probably already own at least a few pots and pans that will work. The easiest way to check is to hold a magnet up to the bottom of your pot: If it sticks, you&#;re in business. If you need more options, our guide to induction-compatible cookware has recommendations.
It involves a learning curve. Pans heat up and cool down much faster on an induction cooktop or range than on a gas or radiant-electric version. You might need to alter your routine (chop onions before preheating the skillet, for instance) and keep a closer eye on your cookware (some thin pans may warp). It&#;s also important to keep your pans centered on an induction element and to confirm that the bottom of your cookware is about the same size as the element you&#;re using, or it may not heat as evenly.
Most induction or smooth-top radiant-electric appliances have fully digital controls. If you&#;re used to turning knobs to raise or lower the flame or heat, getting accustomed to a digital interface may be part of the learning curve. That said, many induction ranges have knobs, and a few induction cooktops do, too, including one of our recommendations.
There is no flame. If you love cooking with gas&#;the look of live fire under a cast-iron skillet, the ability to char peppers over the stovetop&#;induction will not offer the same experience. You can, however, enjoy a similar experience with a charcoal grill, a toaster oven, your broiler, or a handheld torch.
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This article was edited by Ingrid Skjong and Courtney Schley.
Induction cooking is a modern technology that has gained traction in recent years. It offers several advantages over traditional cooking methods, but it also has its own set of disadvantages. In this section, we will explore how induction cooking works, what sets it apart from other cooking methods, and why you might consider choosing induction cooking for your kitchen.
Induction cooking operates by using electromagnetic fields to directly heat the cookware. Unlike gas or electric stoves, induction cooktops do not generate heat themselves. Instead, they create a magnetic field that induces an electric current in the cookware, which then heats up. This direct transfer of heat bypassed the need to heat the cooktop itself and results in faster cooking times and more precise temperature control.
What makes induction cooking different from other methods is its efficiency and safety features. Since the heat is generated directly in the cookware, there is minimal heat loss, making induction cooking highly energy-efficient. Additionally, the cooktop surface remains cool to the touch, reducing the risk of burns and making it safer for households with young children.
So, why choose induction cooking? Apart from its speed, precision, and safety features, induction cooktops offer easy cleanup and sleek design options. The smooth, glass-ceramic surface is easy to wipe clean, and spills do not get baked onto the surface. Induction cooktops also come in various sizes and styles, allowing you to find one that matches your kitchen aesthetics.
While induction cooking has many advantages, it is essential to consider the disadvantages of induction stoves as well. These include the need for induction-compatible cookware and a higher upfront cost compared to traditional cooktops. Additionally, induction cooktops heat up pans quickly which can cause severe burns. Lastly, induction cooktops are complicated in their operation and are often complicated to diagnose and repair.
In conclusion, induction cooking offers numerous benefits, including faster cooking times, precise temperature control, energy efficiency, and safety features. But don&#;t just focus on the benefits. Consider the limitations of induction cooking. When choosing a cooking method, it is essential to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages of induction stove to determine if induction cooking is the right choice for your kitchen.
Recognizing these 4 disadvantages will help you make an informed decision regarding whether induction cooking is right for you and your family.
When it comes to induction cooking, not all cookware is created equal. Induction cooktops use magnetic fields to generate heat directly in the cookware, which means that only certain types of cookware are suitable for this type of cooking.
So, what types of cookware are suitable for induction cooking? The key is to look for cookware made with magnetic materials such as cast iron or stainless steel. These materials allow the magnetic fields to penetrate the cookware and heat the contents efficiently. Aluminum, copper and glass cookware won&#;t work on an induction cooktop. Some aluminum and copper cookware are made with a metal base that makes the items compatible with induction cooktops.
Not all stainless steel cookware is compatible with induction cooktops. Some stainless cookware doesn&#;t have enough magnetic metal to heat up in an induction field.
You can often check cookware using a magnet to determine whether it will work on an induction cooktop. If a magnet will stick to the bottom of the cookware, you&#;ll likely be able to use it for induction cooking.
When purchasing cookware for induction cooking, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, check if the cookware is labeled as induction-compatible. This ensures that it is specifically designed to work with induction cooktops. Secondly, pay attention to the flatness of the cookware's bottom. A flat pot or pan will heat evenly. Next, consider the size and weight of the cookware. Induction cooktops have specific size and weight limitations, so make sure the cookware you choose falls within those parameters.
When it comes to induction cooking, there are a few safety concerns that users should be aware of. While induction cooktops offer many advantages, it is important to understand and take precautions to ensure a safe cooking experience.
One of the main safety risks associated with induction cooking is the potential for burns. Induction cooktops heat up pots and pans quickly, so cookware can reach high temperatures. Without a flame or glowing element under a pot or pan, the cookware may not be visually perceived as being hot. It is crucial to be cautious when handling pots and pans on an induction cooktop. Always use oven mitts or pot holders to protect your hands and avoid direct contact with the cookware unless you know that it is already cool.
Additionally, it is recommended to avoid using induction cooktops if you have a pacemaker or other medical devices that may be affected by electromagnetic fields. While the electromagnetic radiation from induction cooktops is generally low, it is always best to consult with your doctor if you have any concerns.
Overall, by following these precautions and using common sense, induction cooking can be a safe and enjoyable cooking method. To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your induction cooktop, it is also important to refer to the manufacturer's instructions and regularly clean and maintain the appliance.
One of the main disadvantages of induction cooking is the initial cost of purchasing an induction cooktop or stove. Here are the reasons for the high cost of induction cooking appliances:
When considering whether to buy an induction cooking appliance, consider the high up-front cost of the cooktop or range when making your decision.
Because induction cooktops have multiple electronic control boards, sensors and safety features, diagnosis and repair of failures can be complicated even for the best appliance repair technicians. Circuit boards aren&#;t easy to test. Sometimes multiple control boards need replacing when a failure occurs. Electronic control boards in induction cooktops and ranges are typically expensive. Also these boards are not often carried as truck stock by service technicians, so delays in repair can be expected when facing an induction cooktop repair.
While you can mitigate the cost of induction appliance repair and replacement through covering the item with a whole home warranty or similar protection plan, you may still experience repair delays due to the availability of induction appliance repair parts.
Consider these repair factors when deciding whether to use induction cooking.
While induction cooking has its limitations and drawbacks, it is still a popular choice for many households due to its fast and efficient cooking capabilities. If you are considering an induction cooktop or stove, make sure to assess your cooking needs and preferences, and keep these disadvantages and limitations in mind to determine if it is the right choice for you.
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