What’s the Deal with Induction Cooktops?

Many people have heard the term “induction cooktop,” but they are not really sure what that means. This is unfortunate because an induction cooktop is a great way to cook food to perfection, and yet it’s safer to use than other methods. This type of cooking uses electromagnetic energy instead of a heated coil or an open flame. An induction cooktop uses this electromagnetic field to heat the cookware, and it’s a very efficient way to cook. Let’s take a closer look at induction cooktops, examine the pros and cons, and help you to make an informed purchasing decision.

Searching for a New Stove?

If you are in the market for a new stove, you may be tempted to go with a tried and tested gas burner or heated electric coil system. Let’s face it, we are always tempted to go with what we know, but there are some significant advantages to induction cooktops. As an example: water can be brought to boil in minutes, and this can save a great deal of food prep time for an average family. Let’s take a look at some other key advantages of using an induction cooktop.

4 Induction Cooktop Pros

1. Faster Heating Times: The aforementioned faster heating times reduce the overall cooking times significantly. Although you may not notice this right away, this improved energy efficiency will translate into lower energy bills for your home.
2. Precise Heat Control: An induction cooktop has extremely precise controls that allow you to set the ideal temperature for boiling, melting, simmering, or any other task. This negates the need for a gas burner that most people use to achieve this type of heating control.
3. Improved Safety: We touched on this briefly in the introduction, an induction cooktop is far safer because on the pan in use is hot. The induction cooktop surface will remain cool to the touch, and you cannot burn your fingers. If you like to cook with your kids, and induction cooktop is a great option.
4. Easier Cleaning: Because spilled food doesn’t bake onto the cool surface of the induction cooktop, it is easier to clean. In most cases, a simple wipe with a damp sponge or cloth will suffice.

Is an Induction Cooktop Perfect?

If all this sounds too good to be true, then you may be correct, and an induction cooktop may not be perfect for everyone. Let’s take a look at the cons.

1. Higher Entry Cost: An induction cooktop is more expensive than gas or electric alternatives. The only types of pans that are compatible with the electromagnetic field generated by the induction cooktop are cast iron or special magnetic pans. These pans can be more expensive but if you shop around you can get good deals.
2. A High Steep Learning Curve: When you learn to cook with an induction cooktop, you have to unlearn a lot of standard cooking techniques. This can take time, and it’s likely that you will make some mistakes along the way until you’re more comfortable. The heating times are much faster; you need your ingredients on hand because you may not have time to go searching once you get started.

As you can see, there are significant pros and cons of purchasing an induction cooktop for your home. If you like fast and efficient cooking, then you will probably enjoy using this type of cooktop. But, if you’re on a tighter budget or you enjoy taking your time cooking, you may want to choose an electric or gas cooktop instead.

If you’re considering a new cooktop, you can explore the options with our online cooktop collection, or speak to one of our home appliance specialists for further guidance.