What is an Induction Cooktop?
At first glance, an induction cooktop may seem like something out of science fiction. The cooktop surface doesn’t radiate heat, but it heats a pan to your desired temperature. If you’re wondering how induction cooktops work, they use a copper coil underneath the surface to generate electromagnetic energy directly to induction-compatible pots and pans made of cast iron or certain stainless steels.
Induction cooktops are available in a variety of sizes with a variable number of cooking zones. If you have a professional kitchen or have a large family, having a 5-zone cooktop will reduce the prep time. Choose a cooktop based on the type of controls like touch, knobs etc. A touch cooktop allows you to lock the controls making it more safer than knobs.
The Benefits of Induction Cooktops vs. Gas and Electric Cooktops
You’ve probably been cooking on a gas or electric range your entire life, but there’s lots to love about induction cooktops.
1. Energy Efficient
An induction cooktop transfers energy instantly to your pot, making it up to 20% more energy efficient than a conventional electric stove and 40% more efficient than gas stoves. There’s very little wasted heat.
2. Food Cooks Faster
You don’t have to wait on an element to heat up and transfer heat to the pot. A pot heats up fast, which means there is almost no pre-heating time for pans and griddles. Boiling water only takes two minutes or less compared to 5 to 8 minutes using a gas or electric stove, so you can get dinner on the table faster.
3. Precision Temperature Control
Temperature is easier to control with an induction range. You don’t need to gauge the flame height like you do on a gas range or check the warmth of an electric heating element by waving your hand over it. Precision digital controls on an induction cooktop allows you to dial in the temperature you need. The cookware will respond instantly by heating up or cooling down.
4. Safer Cooking
There are no hot surfaces with an induction cooktop. Accidentally leaving a cooking element turned on might waste energy, but it’s not going to be a fire hazard.
Since the cooktop remains cool while in use, there’s little danger of burns if your children are helping in the kitchen. You still need to be aware that the cookware is hot when being used, and it can burn you.
5. Easier to Clean
Induction cooktops are made of a smooth glass surface that’s flat and easy to clean. There are no burners to unclog or grates to clean and no small crevices that food or grease can accumulate in. When you are done cooking, just wipe down the surface with a general-purpose or glass cleaner and you’re done.
6. Improved Indoor Air Quality
Induction ranges don’t rely on burning fuel, unlike gas stoves, which improves your indoor air quality. You’re still in charge of making sure your food doesn’t burn and fills your kitchen with smoke from charred steak.
Additional Features of Induction Cooktops
Beyond the standard induction stovetops, there are a few smart cooktops that have additional features like Wi-Fi compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity and more.
- Connect and control two cooktop burners as one to create a larger cooking surface to accommodate a griddle.
- Sync your cooktop to fans and lights to automatically come on when a burner is activated.
- Remotely monitor the cooktop via an app to receive notifications if it’s left on and when your meal is ready.
Induction Cookware
For an induction range to work, it must be paired with compatible cookware. There’s a good chance you already have the right cookware. The easiest way to test your pans to see if they’ll work on an induction cooktop is with a magnet.
Take a regular household magnet and try to attach it to the bottom of your cookware. If it sticks, then the pot or pan will work. Cookware must contain ferromagnetic material for the electromagnet energy in the induction cooktop to heat it up.
Induction-compatible cookware is made of cast iron, enamel steel, and stainless steel designed especially for induction cooking. Most aluminum and copper pans won’t work, but some are clad with metal and will work with induction. Test them with your magnet to check. If you try using non compatible induction cookware it won't damage anything, it just won't heat up.
How to Clean and Maintain an Induction Stovetop
As induction cooktops generate currents of electromagnetic energy directly to compatible pots and pans, the stovetop surface cools down fast making it easy to clean. Read through the owner’s manual and the instructions on cleaning and maintenance. Here are some general tips:
- Clean the stovetop regularly to avoid food and grease build-up.
- Spray cleaning solution or diluted vinegar on the surface and wipe it down with a soft, cleaning cloth.
- Avoid using abrasive cleaning tools and sliding the cookware on the cooktop to prevent scratches on the glass.
Types of Induction Stoves
There are three types of induction stoves: cooktops, portable cooktops, and freestanding or slide-in ranges. A built-in cooktop needs to be installed into the countertop and is also known as a fixed induction cooktop. A portable induction cooktop is compact and easy to move around. If you’re looking to switch to induction cooking, a portable model may be a good way to test before getting yourself a larger stove or induction range. An induction range is easy to fit into your kitchen, replacing your existing range, as it does not need any additional installation.
How to Switch from Gas or Electric to Induction Cooktops
If you’ve already got an electric cooktop, an induction cooktop that’s the same size should drop in your countertop and plug directly into the same 240V outlet the electric cooktop used.
Switching from a gas range is trickier as you’ll need to cap your gas line. If your kitchen doesn’t have 240V running to the cooking area, you’ll need to hire an electrician to wire one in from your electrical panel.
Installing a new induction range may seem like a hassle but Lowe’s Appliance Installation Services can help you sort out everything you need to switch to induction.
Induction Cooktop FAQs
1. What is the Difference Between an Induction Cooktop and a Regular Cooktop?
An induction cooktop uses an electromagnetic energy to heat cookware made of magnetized materials like iron. A regular electric cooktop uses either electric coils or heating elements to heat up the surface.
2. What are the Disadvantages of an Induction Stove?
Induction stoves can be more expensive than other electric cooktops. You need to use cookware that’s compatible with an induction stovetop. Digital thermometers cannot work with induction cooktops due to the magnetic field.
3. Do You Need Special Pots for Induction Cooktop?
Yes, you need induction-compatible cookware made of magnetized material like cast iron, enamel steel, and stainless steel designed especially for induction cooking. The easiest way to test your pans to see if they’ll work on an induction cooktop is with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom, it’s induction ready.