Although many people have heard of induction stoves, they are unclear what induction cooking means. Electromagnetic energy is the defining factor in this type of cooking. Compared to open flames used on a gas cooktop or heated coils on an electric stove, induction cooktops use an electromagnetic field to heat cookware. Induction stoves are unique in that they are the only cooking method to use the cookware as part of the food heating process.
Pros and Cons of Induction Cooktops
If you’re in the market for a new stove, you will appreciate the fast heating time of induction cooktops. It takes just minutes to boil water, shaving valuable time off the total food preparation process. Some other benefits include:
- Precision control allows cooks to set the ideal temperature for simmering, boiling, or melting.
- Superior energy efficiency due to the fast cooking time.
- Cleaning is easier because spills don’t cook on the unused portion of the stove. A sponge or damp cloth should be all you need.
- Improved safety because only the pan in use becomes hot while the remainder of the cooktop remains cool to the touch.
You may consider cost to be a downside to the many advantages offered by induction cooktops. They are more expensive than gas or electric stoves for this reason. Other potential disadvantages include:
- It can take a while to become comfortable with induction cooking. That means you may make some mistakes as you adapt to the faster speed of heating food and the other differences between induction and traditional cooktops.
- You need to invest in magnetic or cast-iron pans since they are the only ones compatible with this type of stove. However, they need not be expensive if you take the time to comparison shop.