Induction cooking is growing in popularity with each passing year. Amateur and professional cooks are choosing induction cooking surfaces because they allow for incredibly precise levels of temperature control.
Jump to:
- SO, WHAT IS INDUCTION COOKING?
- HOW DOES INDUCTION COOKING WORK?
- WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER AN INDUCTION COOKING SURFACE?
- IF INDUCTION COOKING IS SO GREAT, WHY ARE ELECTRIC AND GAS POWERED COOKING SURFACES MORE POPULAR?
- WILL YOUR CURRENT COOKWARE WORK WITH AN INDUCTION COOKING SURFACE?
- WHAT ARE THE BEST PIECES OF INDUCTION COOKWARE?
- Would I Buy This? My Thoughts On Induction Cookware
Despite the fact that induction cooking is safe, precise, and efficient, it creates a considerable amount of fear and confusion.
Part of the reason why people are hesitant to switch over to induction cooking is confusion regarding the types of cookware that are compatible with induction cooktops.
Some people fear that an induction stove will ruin their pots and pans, or require them to buy expensive specialty cookware.
Luckily, we are here to help take some of the confusion out of induction cooking and induction friendly cookware. To make things easier for you, we will be going over some of the best pieces of induction cookware on the market today.
This will help you see for yourself that induction compatible cookware is neither unaffordable nor difficult to use.
We will also help you understand what induction cooking is, and explain why so many people are choosing induction cooktops over more traditional cooking surfaces.
We will also provide you with some helpful tips. This will help you choose the best induction cookware set for your own particular needs.
SO, WHAT IS INDUCTION COOKING?
One of the best things you can do when you are in the market for a set of induction friendly cookware is learn what is induction cooking is and how does it work. Without understanding how induction cooking surfaces work, it is difficult to understand which cookware will be best for the job.
Induction cooking involves a process called electromagnetic induction. While induction technology has been used for cooking purposes since the early decades of the 20th century, it has only gained mainstream popularity in North America relatively recently.
This is partially down to the fact that induction cooking surfaces were too costly for manufacturers to produce at a profit. However, they are now able to offer more cost and energy efficient models, which are rapidly growing in popularity.
Essentially, induction cooking surfaces heat pots and pans directly, rather than heating elements with gas fueled flames or electricity. This is why induction cooking has so many advantages over other ways to heat food and water.
In fact, induction cooking surfaces are capable of boiling water nearly 50 percent faster than is possible with gas or traditional electric cooktops.
Best of all, induction cooking surfaces maintain a consistent and extremely precise temperature, where gas and electricity-powered cooking surfaces can have noticeable temperature fluctuations.
Another reason why so many people enjoy using induction cooking surfaces is the fact that the actual cooking surface remains relatively cool.
This means spills, splatters, and boil-overs will not immediately burn when they make contact with the cooktop.
If you have ever had to scrub the glass surface of an electric stovetop, or clean between the grates of a gas-powered stove, you will appreciate how useful a quick clean cooking surface could be.
Induction cooking surfaces are capable of boiling water nearly 50 percent faster than is possible with gas or traditional electric cooktops.
HOW DOES INDUCTION COOKING WORK?
Induction cooking surfaces use a process called electromagnetic induction. Essentially, induction cooking involves the use of electric currents. This directly heat pots and pans using the power of magnetic induction.
The process of thermal conduction, which you get with a gas or electric powered element, transfers heat from the burner to the cookware. Electromagnetic induction heats the cookware itself almost instantaneously.
An electric current passes through a coiled copper wire that sits below the glass cooking surface. This creates a magnetic current that charges the cookware to produce heat. Due to the fact that induction does not use a traditional exterior heat source, only the cookware that is being used heats up.
Basically, induction cooking is much more efficient than traditional electric and gas-powered cooking methods because very little heat energy is lost.
How Does The Induction Cookware Heat?
The pots and pans also heat much more evenly because their entire surface is being heated to the same degree, where traditional styles of cooking almost always result in hot spots.
Even heating is one of the best ways to ensure your food cooks properly and it is one of the reasons why heavy cast iron cookware is so popular.
Cast iron transfers heat more evenly across its surface than other types of cookware, but it is bulky, heavy, and difficult to clean when it is used on gas and electric cooking surfaces.
By choosing to use induction cooking, you can get all of the benefits of cooking with cast iron cookware, without having to deal with the downsides.
When you turn an induction cooking surface on, electric power is transferred through a coil to produce a magnetic frequency. This frequency heats up the induction cookware and sends an electric current through it, which creates almost instantaneous heat.
The heat generated between the induction surface and your magnetically charged cookware is then transferred to your food, which cooks it.
One thing you need to keep in mind when using an induction cooktop is that heat generation will halt when your cookware is removed from the cooking surface. This is because the magnetic field has been disrupted.
WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER AN INDUCTION COOKING SURFACE?
We touched on some of the reasons why people are choosing to adopt induction cooking, but there are many more reasons for its surging popularity:
- Generate Heat Much Faster. Induction cooking surfaces create instant heat within the metal of pots and pans. No heat is transferred to the surrounding air or cooking surface, so you are not wasting electricity.
- This is why induction cooking surfaces usually boil water 50 percent faster than electric stovetops. Not only will faster heat transmission save you money on your electricity bills, it will save you time during cooking. Spend less time waiting for your stove to heat your food and more time creating your favorite recipes!
- They Allow for Precise Temperature Control. Induction cooking gives you much more control over the temperature of your cookware. Conduction heating is much less predictable, which is why it can sometimes be difficult to replicate recipes on a gas or electric cooking surface.
- The precise temperature control you get with induction cooking reduces your risk of overcooking or undercooking your food. The more consistent and precise your heat source is, the easier it is to make the same great tasting recipe the next time you want to cook it.
- How Easy it is to Clean The Cooking Surface. It is the cookware, rather than the cooking surface, that gets hot when you are using induction cooking. Induction cooking surfaces are incredibly smooth and look very similar to glass electric cooktops.
- The surface will be cool to the touch almost immediately after you have finished cooking and removed your cookware. This means you can quickly clean before you eat your meal, but more importantly, it means spills will not burn and turn into stubborn burnt-on stains. Essentially, you can immediately clean the surface, which will also be far less difficult to clean than a traditional cooking surface.
- They Have Auto-Size Burners. Due to the fact that induction cooking surfaces heat the cookware, rather than an element, you do not need to worry about a burner being too small or too big for your cookware.
- Instead, an electromagnetic current passes through your chosen cookware and heats its metal surface. Essentially, your induction burners will automatically and instantly adjust to the exact size of your chosen cookware.
- Induction Cooktops Have a More Impressive Temperature Range. On average, induction cooktops can reach much higher temperatures than gas and electric cooking surfaces.
- More importantly, they reach those higher temperatures much faster. They also cool almost immediately, where gas and electric cooking elements can remain hot and dangerous for a long time after you have finished using them.
- Induction Cooking is Less Expensive and Wasteful Than Other Types of Cooking. Since induction cooking only uses magnetic energy, it uses much less electricity than a standard electronic cooktop. This will save you money on your electricity bills.
- Natural gas is also expensive and potentially dangerous. Not having to rely on gas to cook your food is another advantage of choosing an induction cooktop.
- Induction Cooktops Can Be Adjusted Instantly. This is probably the main reason why professional cooks enjoy cooking with induction cooking surfaces. The cooking heat will increase and decrease almost immediately after you have adjusted it.
- This accurate and rapid temperature control makes it much easier to follow complex cooking instructions. It will also cut down on your overall cooking time. You will have to spend much less time waiting for ingredients to reach a certain internal temperature.
- Induction Cooktops Make it Easy to Pan Sear Meat and Vegetables. It is possible to heat pans to tremendous temperatures quickly using an induction cooking surface. Using a cast iron or aluminum pan, you can easily pan-sear your favorite foods to trap in juices. They also give your recipes that professionally cooked appearance.
IF INDUCTION COOKING IS SO GREAT, WHY ARE ELECTRIC AND GAS POWERED COOKING SURFACES MORE POPULAR?
You're probably wondering why you mostly see electric and gas powered stoves in kitchens if induction cooking surfaces offer so many advantages. The answer to that question is simply time.
Induction cooking surfaces have not been sold in anywhere near the same quantities as gas and electric cooking surfaces. It's only because they have not been available for as long. This will continue to change with time.
As interest grows, many people are beginning to switch to induction cooking surfaces. In fact, gas-powered stoves are declining in popularity due to their high cost. This means many kitchen renovations and new homes are beginning to favor induction stovetops over those that are powered by gas.
As recently as 2008, only 5 percent of the electric cooktops sold in the United States used induction heating, but now that number has climbed to almost 25 percent and continues to grow.
Price has also played a role in holding people back from choosing an induction cooking surface for their homes.
However, induction cooking surfaces are becoming much more affordable with each passing year. Where freestanding cooktops used to cost thousands of dollars, they are now becoming more common on affordable.
WILL YOUR CURRENT COOKWARE WORK WITH AN INDUCTION COOKING SURFACE?
Cookware concerns are one of the main reasons why many people choose not to purchase an induction cooking surface. While some of this confusion is misguided, it is worth noting what you are able to use on an induction cooktop.
Induction relies on electromagnetism, so it will only work with pots and pans that have a magnetic composition. This means you are pretty much limited to cookware that has either a steel or iron bottom. However, it is important to note that this does not necessarily mean you will need to purchase completely new cookware.
You can check if your current cookware would work with an induction cooking surface by taking a magnet to the base of your pots and pans. If the magnet sticks to the cookware, it will work for induction cooking.
Cookware that has an induction-friendly magnetic bottom can be used on other types of cooking surfaces. So, if you do have to switch to another heating source, you can still use your induction cookware.
If you are already in the market for new cookware, you might as well do your future self a favor and consider induction friendly pots and pans.
You can check if your current cookware would work with an induction cooking surface by taking a magnet to the base of your pots and pans. If the magnet sticks to the cookware, it will work for induction cooking.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PIECES OF INDUCTION COOKWARE?
Now that you understand why induction cooking is so rapidly growing in popularity, you probably want to know more about the best induction cookware out there.
It is difficult to argue with the advantages of induction cooking, as induction cooking is faster, safer, more efficient, precise, and reliable than either gas or electric cooktops.
Check out these picks for the best induction cookware on the market today and start cooking more efficiently than ever before!
FRIGIDAIRE – INDUCTION READY STAINLESS STEEL 5 PIECE COOKWARE SET
This five piece cookware set from FRIGIDAIRE is compatible with any induction cooking surface and comes with everything you need to get started with an induction cooker. You get:
- 1.5 quart sauce pan with lid
- 3 quart sauté pan
- 5 quart stock pot and lid
You can use this cookware set with an induction cooktop, but they will also work well with any electric or gas-powered stove.
They are even oven safe up to 400 degrees F with their lids and 450 degrees without the lids. This is perfect for transferring your food from an induction cooktop to a hot oven. Each piece features an impact bonded aluminum core, which helps ensure flawless heat distribution across the entire surface.
The 5 pieces fit together well during storage, so you do not have to worry if you have limited space. This durable, stainless steel cookware design and riveted handles are made to last, so you will know this cookware set will be around for years to come. Best of all, they are dishwasher safe and really easy to clean by hand. By choosing this versatile set of induction friendly cookware, you have the option to cook using any heat source out there.
DUXTOP – 17 PIECE PROFESSIONAL STAINLESS STEEL INDUCTION COOKWARE SET
This induction friendly cookware set from Duxtop has everything you need to take your induction cooking to the next level. If you want to completely replace your existing cookware and start from scratch, this set has everything you need. Not only does the stainless steel cookware look great, each piece is designed to give you flawless results.
Each piece of cookware features a heavy stainless steel bottom to ensure even heat distribution. The entire set is made from premium food grade 18/10 stainless steel. The heavy gauge impact-bonded aluminum base provides rapid and even heating. The entire set will work well with an induction cooktop, but is also compatible with any other type of stovetop.
Each piece has been treated with a nonstick coating that makes it much easier to transfer your food from pan to plate. The nonstick surface also makes it much easier to clean each piece after you are finished cooking. The pots and pans feature durable, ergonomic handles. This makes them easier to cook with. All of the lids fit snuggly, so you do not have to worry about heat loss or spills.
This massive cookware set comes with:
- Two saucepans with lids
- 4.2 quart casserole pan with lid
- Large stockpot and lid
- Boiler basket
- Steam basket
- Two nonstick sauté pans
- Three handy cooking utensils
Overall, this is a great place to start if you are new to induction cooking and want to make sure you have every tool you will need to get started.
GREEN LIFE - SOFT GRIP 15 PIECE TURQUOISE NONSTICK INDUCTION COOKWARE SET
This induction cookware set comes in an eye catching turquoise color that would look great in any kitchen. The set features:
- 7 and 9.5 inch wide frying pan
- 1 and 2 quart saucepans with glass lids
- 5 quart stock pot and lid
- 2.5 quart sauté pan with lid
- 7 inch steamer
- 4 non-scratch cooking utensils
The nonstick coating is made from a completely safe, sand-based mixture that will prevent your food from sticking. The pots and pans also feature Soft Grip’s patented Bakelite handles. They are designed to stay cool throughout the cooking process.
The set uses Magneto Induction Bases to make sure they are compatible with all induction cooking surfaces. The bases can be heated to extremely high temperatures. The entire set is dishwasher safe. However, you should be able to clean them easily with a quick wipe down. It uses a recycled aluminum core that is reinforced with an induction friendly base.
GOURMEX – TANGO STAINLESS STEEL INDUCTION SAUCEPAN WITH LID
This handy stainless steel saucepan from GOURMEX will work with any induction cooktop. It is just what you need if you are looking for a high quality cooking pot. The sauce pan features handy measurement markings.
The pot features a patented stay cool, oven safe handle that is machine riveted to for durability. It has a simple stainless steel finish. The pot and lid are both able to handle extremely high temperatures. They will not deteriorate or stain with repeated use. It has a restaurant grade interior surface. Despite the affordable price, this pan and lid could be used in professional kitchens.
It is made from heavy-duty stainless steel. It has a thick, 3 ply capsulated bottom. This is designed to transfer heat quickly from the pan to your food. You get an even cooking surface that is free from hot spots.
GOURMEX backs all of their pans will a full guarantee for quality.
ELO COOKWARE – SKYLINE STAINLESS STEEL 10 PIECE INDUCTION COOKWARE SET
This 10 piece German engineered cookware set is made to professional standards. Each pot and pan is made of 18/10 polished stainless steel and has a flawless interior and exterior surface. The lids are made using a stainless steel rim and durable glass top that is safe for use with an induction cooktop.
This is one of the best selling induction cookware sets out there. It is no surprise the simple designs are made to a high standard. You will have all your induction cookware bases covered. The ELO brand has a solid reputation for crafting high end cooking accessories at competitive prices and this cookware set is no exception.
Features
- Capsulated bottoms- This creates more evenly heated cooking surfaces
- Ergonomic handles- make picking up pots and pans easier
- Dishwasher safe- Super easy cleanup.
- Easy to hand wash- if you need to use them again quickly.
- One year warranty- complete with a money back guarantee if you're unsatisfied.
JEAN PATRIQUE – THE INDUCTION COMPATIBLE CAST ALUMINUM WHATEVER PAN
This versatile, die-cast aluminum griddle pan is designed to be an induction cooking workhorse. Jean Patrique wanted this to be your go-to searing and grilling induction pan. The frying pan is much lighter and easier to work with than a pure cast iron pan. It still has the same searing capabilities.
It features deep ridges, which allow you to cook at really high heats without creating as much of a mess. The raised ridges can also help you give your induction cooked meals those griddle lines usually associated with BBQ cooked meals. It has extra deep sides, which also help cut down on spills and overflows.
It works with just about any heat source you can imagine. It's compatible with:
- Gas
- Electric
- Open Flame
- Induction Cooktops
The frying pan is completely oven safe. This makes it a versatile cooking tool. You can quickly sear your meats and vegetables on the induction cooktop. Then transfer the entire pan into the oven for an even internal bake.
The Whatever Pan also has a non-toxic, nonstick finish. Cleanup is much easier than you would expect. It also means you do not have to cook your foods with as much oil. The glass lid has a perfect fit, so you do not have to worry about splashes and sputters.
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Would I Buy This? My Thoughts On Induction Cookware
If you just need a single piece of non stick induction cookware, or an entire cooking set, you will find what you need above. Never be put off of induction cooking just because you are worried about having the right cookware for the job. Induction cookware does not have to be expensive or complicated. Get the right equipment and you will quickly understand why so many people are obsessed with induction cooking.
Originally Published September 25, 2020
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