Everything You Need to Know About Induction Cookware

How Does Induction Cooking Work?

Induction is a means of generating heat using magnetism. This means that your pots and pans are heated by a magnetic field instead of the more traditional gas flame or electric element.

But what makes it so amazing is that this magnetic field does not generate heat directly so even if you put your hand on top of the cooktop, you won’t feel a thing.

It is only when you place a suitable pot or pan on top of an induction cooktop that the magnetic field produced by the cooktop penetrates the metal of the pan. The metal pan then gets hot and heats up the food inside it.

What is induction cookware?

In order to use an induction cooktop, you need to have compatible cookware. Without it, your pots and pans just won’t heat up.

In order for it to be compatible it needs to be magnetic. In other words, it has to be made from some sort of magnetic material like cast iron or magnetic stainless steel.

What cookware works with an induction cooktop?

Not all pieces of cookware can be used on induction cooktops and stoves. It is important that the cookware is magnetic and has a flat bottom.

Cookware that WILL work with induction includes:

cast iron
magnetic stainless steel

Cookware that WON’T work with induction includes:

aluminum
ceramic
glass
copper

Best Rated Induction Cookware

These days you can find a lot of induction friendly cookware but I wanted to find the ones that people who actually own an induction cooktop recommend the most. So I scoured the cookware forums and this is what I came up with:

BRAND		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
Fissler Original Profi Cookware	This brand isn’t cheap but it is made in Germany and is very highly rated.	CHECK PRICE
Demeyere	I see this brand recommended time and time again. They actually specialize in induction cookware which is made in Belgium.	CHECK PRICE
Anolon Nouvelle	If you want the benefits of copper core cookware then you might want to take a look at this one.	CHECK PRICE
Duxtop	I’ll be honest here and say that I haven’t seen this one recommend too much in cooking forums but I’m putting it here for those on a budget as it does get quite good reviews on Amazon.	CHECK PRICE

How to tell if your cookware is safe to use on an induction cooktop

Many manufacturers are now putting a symbol on the bottom of their cookware to indicate compatibility with induction. This symbol looks like a coil.

induction cookware symbol

You can see an example of this on the bottom of this Duxtop pan which you can find on Amazon.

induction cookware

If you still aren’t sure if your cookware will work with induction cooktops, try sticking a magnet to your cookware. If it sticks, then it should work. Otherwise, it is not induction compatible.

Can’t find a magnet? Check your fridge door, you might find one there.

How to use noncompatible cookware with your induction cooktop?

If your favorite cookware is not induction compatible, all is not lost. You can place your pan on a stainless-steel induction heat diffuser. Because the diffuser is magnetic is will heat up and in turn, your pan will be also be heated.

The downside with using a plate is slower response times when adjusting the temperature.

Here’s just one example of a heat diffuser that will work. You can get this one from Amazon. It has three layers – the outer layers are stainless steel and the inner layer is aluminum.

Is induction cooking better?

Induction cooking is more energy efficient. It delivers around 90% of its energy to the food in the pan. Gas only coverts 38% of its energy and electric, only 70%.
Induction cooktops heat up much faster and have more precise temperature control. The reaction in the cookware is instantaneous which you cannot achieve with gas or electric cooking.
The time it takes to boil is much faster compared to its gas and electric counterparts. The average time to boil 6 ounces of water is approximately 3 minutes with induction, while it takes approximately 8 minutes with gas and 5 minutes with electric cooktops.
The direct heating by induction does not fluctuate, so a steady simmer can be maintained without burning the food. Gas and Electric stoves lack the precise temperature control required for this task.
On all counts, induction is much faster, cleaner, safer, and more efficient than either gas or electric cooktops.

Is cooking on an induction stove safer for your health?

Induction cooking is generally considered safe and in some cases, it is actually safer than using gas or electric.

Is heat from an induction cooktop harmful?

induction hob Heat is not passed directly from the induction cooktop to the pan. Even if you turn on the induction for a long time and place your hands on the surface, there is absolutely no heat in it.

It is only when you place an induction-ready pan on the surface that it gets heated. So, there is no chance that you can burn your hand or any part of your body from it.

Will it harm you if you are exposed to the electromagnetic field?

While it is true that radiation is emitted if you turn on induction and leave it open that way, the amount of radiation that is leaked is very small. It is 50 times lower than the magnetic field threshold value for a human body. So, the amount of radiation leaked does not have the ability to harm the human body.

If you still aren’t satisfied and want to really want to get into the nitty-gritty of it all you can check out this source.

What happens if you use a regular pan on an induction stovetop?

Most induction tops will not heat regular pans because they have no magnetic base and the magnetic field cannot produce a concentrated current. But any regular pan can be used if placed on a suitable metal disk which acts like a hotplate.

Copper and aluminum pans will not heat up on induction stovetops. However, some aluminum pots and pans feature an iron core which may work on induction. But if the iron plates in your aluminum pots and pans are not large enough, they still won’t work.

A regular wok with a rounded bottom might have some issues with induction because of the lack of physical contact with the cooking surface. You need to invest in a wok with a flatter bottom if you want the wok to work on induction.

If you have stainless steel pans, it may or may not work on an induction stovetop. It depends on the alloy it is made of. If it is made with iron, then it’s magnetic and can be used in induction. But if it is made with nickel, then it is non-magnetic.

Do chefs use induction stoves?

The truth is that professional chefs love induction cooking. There are a lot of top chefs who are very enthusiastic about induction cooking. In a few words, they describe the qualities of induction as powerful, precise, effective, immediate, and practical.

The reason most chefs love induction cooking is because of the extremely fast heating and precise heat control that is provided by its glass-ceramic surface.

do chefs use induction cooktops

Another reason is that induction cooking does not warm the surface or the surrounding area but only the pan. So not much heat escapes into the room. This helps keep the temperature in the restaurant kitchen cooler.

Chefs also love induction cooktops since it is easier to clean down after use. It is also faster to cook and it uses energy more efficiently. Cutting energy use makes a huge difference in a commercial kitchen.

And when cooking is more efficient, restaurant service improves. The speed of service can increase and they can keep stocks and sauces at precise temperatures.

Pros and Cons of induction cooktops

Pros:

It is energy efficient. When the induction cooktop heats the cookware, energy is not wasted since it all goes straight into the cookware. More then 90% of the energy goes straight into the pan. When the induction is in power mode but is not in contact with any cookware, no heat will be produced so no energy is lost, even if the temperature is increased.
It cooks faster so it saves time. Heat is almost instantaneous the moment the power is switched on. It heats the pot and the food inside quickly. Cooking time is 50% faster compared to other methods of cooking.
It is high precision. You can control the temperature precisely when cooking for a long duration or quick-cooking in a hurry. It works in the same way as gas in that as soon as you adjust the heat setting the temperature adjusts instantly.
It is comfortable to use. Heat is not dissipated into the atmosphere that can cause discomfort to the one cooking since all the heat goes directly to the food. So, the cooking atmosphere is very comfortable. And since it does not release smoke or heat into the atmosphere, it is still fine even if there is no adequate ventilation in the kitchen.
It is considered a safe form of cooking. It can be used even with children around. There is no danger of them getting burned or inhaling CO2 vapors or smoke. There is also no risk of burning since there is no flame. And, there is no fear of gas leaks. Since it will only work with cookware on top, you don’t need to worry about leaving the electric socket on.
You can purchase portable models that can sit on your kitchen workbench. They can be carried easily and used anywhere since it requires only an electric socket to work.
It is easy to clean. There is no risk of food burning into the cooktop. With a smooth surface, the induction cooktop can easily be wiped with a damp cloth followed by a wipe with a dry cloth after every use.
It heats up immediately when turned on.

Cons:

It needs induction-ready cookware. You need to purchase induction-ready cookware with a magnetic flat bottom so if the bottom is ridged or textured it won’t heat evenly.
It can generate a little bit of noise. The cooktop itself won’t generate the noise but if the power is set to high, you can may hear noises like lids vibrating or pans with irregular bottoms vibrating.
Food cannot be charred. The reason for this is that there is no flame. You cannot roast peppers or marshmallows on an induction cooktop.
It can be expensive. Induction cooktops are generally more expensive than either gas or electric stovetops. It can also be costly purchasing induction-friendly cookware.
You won’t be able to cook if the power goes out. During a power outage, it is advantageous to have a portable gas cooktop. Since induction cooktops require electricity to work, you won’t be able to eat a warm meal during an outage.

How do I know if I have an induction cooktop?

You can put a small amount of water directly on the cooktop. Then turn it on and wait a few minutes. If the water boils away, you have standard electric. If nothing happens, and the cooktop remains cold, you have an induction.

Or, you can hold your hand just above the cooktop. If heat comes up with no cooking equipment on it, then it is standard electric. Otherwise, if you don’t feel the heat on the cooktop after a few minutes then it is induction.

Why does my induction cooktop make a noise?

When cooking with induction, you may hear buzzing or a humming sound. People often think that it is the cooktop itself creating the noise when in fact it is more often than not, the cookware that is causing it.

Let’s, for example, take ply cookware. This type of cookware is made up of layers so it could be stainless steel on the outer layers and aluminum sandwiched in the middle. If you have poor quality cookware where the sandwich has not been welded properly then the layers may vibrate causing a sound to be emitted.

You may also hear sounds if you have loose fitting lids or handles.

Tips for Buying Induction Cookware

If you are looking for a set of cookware that will work with your induction cooktop then here are a few tips to help you with your search:

Ensure that it is induction ready – If you are out shopping, look for the induction symbol on the bottom of the pans. However, keep in mind that not all induction cookware will display this symbol so take a magnet with you to check. If instead, you are shopping online, ensure that the product description indicates that it is suitable for induction cooktops.

Here’s that symbol again in case you missed it above.

Ensure the cookware has a flat bottom – If it is ridged or uneven it may cause the cookware to vibrate which can create noise.
Pan size is important – With induction cooktops, you need to ensure that the size of the pan you use will fit the element. If it is too big or too small it won’t activate the element. It’s worth watching this very short video from Whirlpool to get an idea of the pot and pan sizing.

Check the reviews – Like any product you purchase, it’s important to check the reviews of the cookware you are interested in. Amazon is a good place for this.