Induction Cooktops 101: Everything You Need To Know

Induction Cooktops 101: Everything You Need to Know Before You Remodel You Kitchen

Induction cooktops – common for years in Europe – are becoming more popular in America, and for good reason. They appeal to professional and aspiring cooks because of their speed and precision, to eco-aware homeowners thanks to their environmental advantages, and to busy families because of their safety features and ease of use and clean-up.

Is an induction cooktop the right choice for your kitchen remodel? This guide will give you all the information you need to make a good decision for your home.

Induction cooktops have a smooth glass surface but prodcue more heat and constol temperature better than gas cooktops

What is an Induction Cooktop?

Induction cooktops are different from the more familiar gas and electric versions because of how they produce heat. While they look similar to regular glass cooktops, they actually use electromagnets to excite the molecules of your pots and pans, causing the pans to generate heat. In essence, the pan becomes the burner.

This is different from electric cooktops, which use electricity to heat the burner which then heats the pan, and gas cooktops, which use a stream of gas to fuel a flame, which heats the pan.

Because induction cooktops heat the pan directly, they use less energy, cook with more precision, and heat up much faster than traditional gas or electric cooktops.

You need to use pans with a magnetic base with induction tops

Induction Cooktop Guide: Pros

There’s a lot to love about induction cooktops. If you are a parent with lots of mouths to feed, a busy professional, someone who loves to cook, or a person who just wants to make a quick meal and spend your time outside the kitchen, induction cooktops might be the best decision you make in your kitchen remodel.

Speed

Because these cooktops heat the pan directly, they heat up a lot faster. You can expect cold water to be brought to a rolling boil at least two minutes faster with an induction cooktop than with gas or electric. You won’t be waiting long for the pan to get to the right temperature to sear your meat or heat the oil for sauteing. Meal prep time definitely decreases with an induction cooktop.

Efficiency

Induction cooktops are significantly more energy efficient than other types. They’re at least 5-10% more efficient than electric stoves, and three times more than gas. Because of this, they’re an incredibly eco-friendly option. And the federal government concurs; if you replace your gas or electric cooktop with an induction variety, you may be eligible for federal rebates. Induction cooktops produce less air pollution than gas, and use fewer resources.

Precision

Chefs have long said that it’s better to cook over gas than electric heat because of the greater control it gives you. Now the same thing is being said about induction. Many cooktops have fifteen or more settings, allowing you absolute precision when it comes to the temperature over which you cook. It also heats evenly, making hot spots a thing of the past.

Cleaning

No more scrubbing burned-on food splatters. Because induction cooktops stay cool (the only thing that gets hot is the pans themselves!), food that lands on the glass-ceramic surface doesn’t burn. It’s easy to wipe clean. The surface is smooth and non-porous, so spatters come right off. In fact, you can generally keep your induction cooktop clean with only kitchen spray and a microfiber cloth. Spray, wipe clean, and then rub the cloth in small circles to polish the surface to a gorgeous shine.

Health and Safety

If the health and safety of your family is a big concern for you, an induction range might be the way to go. Because there’s no natural gas in use, the air inside your home will be cleaner. You also never have to worry about a gas leak, or an unlit burner left on and filling the area with gas.

The surface of an induction cooktop stays cool. If a child touches it, it’s unlikely they will be burned, since all the heat is transferred directly to the cookware. Additionally, the cooktop will turn itself off if the pan is moved from the surface–which means if you forget to turn it off, it’s got you covered. Many models also have a safety feature that turns off the surface if it senses a liquid spill, as you might get from a pot boiling over.

Design

Induction cooktops are smooth and sleek and have a streamlined design that is perfect for just about any kitchen aesthetic. If one of the goals of your kitchen remodel is to update the look, you can’t go wrong with induction. Because of the simple design, induction cooktops look great and don’t produce visual clutter. Many kitchens feature these cooktops in the island, freeing up counter space and providing a great place for the cook to work on dinner while visiting with

Induction cooktops are easy to clean and safe for kids because the burners don't get hot, just the pan

Induction Cooktop Guide: Cons

While there are many great things about induction cooktops, it’s important to know whether it’s the right choice for your Tallahassee kitchen. Some of the drawbacks of induction cooktops are:

• The cost. While prices are slowly coming down, induction cooktops remain significantly more expensive than their gas or electric counterparts.
• The cost of converting. If you currently have an electric cooktop, converting to induction won’t be a problem. But if you have gas, it can be expensive to change.
• The feel of cooking. You may have to learn a few new habits in order to cook well. For example, because induction cooktops heat up so quickly, you can’t turn on the heat and then go chop your onion. You have to be ready to go. And it’s different visually, too. You won’t see a flame or a red-hot coil. Most induction cooktops don’t show you visually when they are on (although some manufacturers are adding virtual flames to signify heat). This isn’t bad, but it does take some getting used to.
• The sound. Sometimes, at a high heat, you might hear a buzz or a hum. Using heavier pans can help reduce this issue.
• You may need to invest in new cookware, and you will definitely need to get used to an analog thermometer, as the electromagnetic field can cause interference with a digital one.
• They are potentially dangerous for those with pacemakers. While it’s not common, it is possible for the electromagnetic field to interfere with pacemakers.

Induction Cooktop Guide: Things to Know

You Need Special Cookware

Because induction cooktops use an electromagnetic field to cause pans to heat up, you have to have the right kind of pan. You can’t use, for example, aluminum pans on an induction cooktop. Most cast iron pans will work, and many stainless steel ones will as well. If you’re buying new cookware, look for “Induction Compatible” on the label. If you want to check if your existing pots and pans will work for you, stick a magnet on the bottom. If it attaches firmly, the item will work. If not, you’ll need to replace it.

You Need New Techniques

There is a bit of a learning curve to using an induction cooktop. You can’t, for example, lift a pan to toss the ingredients like you might want to for a stir fry. As soon as you lift it, the cooktop will turn off. You also need a new rhythm to your cooking, where you prepare everything before you turn on the heat, not while you wait for it to heat up (no waiting for that anymore!). Timing things correctly might be a challenge at first, but the payoff will be worth it when you get the hang of it. You’ll also want to get to know the controls before you start so you’re not panicked part-way through a recipe, trying to figure out what setting “medium-high” heat is on your new cooktop.

You Need to Be Gentle

Induction cooktops have a surface made of glass-ceramic, which looks and feels like glass and can withstand high heat. It’s not easy to scratch the surface, but if you don’t treat it gently, over time, it may get scratched. Enough surface scratches and the cooktop won’t be able to heat the pans well. Again, it’s pretty durable, but you’ll want to be careful anyway.

Induction Cooktop Guide: What to Look For

If you’re ready to have an induction cooktop installed in your kitchen, it’s time to think about specifics. We are here to help you make the best investment for your kitchen. Here are some things to look for in a great induction cooktop:

• Power levels. Most inexpensive cooktops have between one and five levels, while the best ones have as many as nineteen. Look for one with at least fifteen levels for the best flexibility and precision in cooking.
• Size. Cooktops come in three sizes: 24”, 30”, and 36”. Choose the one that fits your kitchen best, and offers the most space for the meal sizes you generally make.
• Connectivity. Most induction cooktops have smart features. Some can sync with a range hood via Bluetooth. Others have smart remote monitoring and wifi connectivity. Some can be turned on and off via an app on your phone. Many have settings that allow you to turn off or modify sounds and alerts.
• Preset cooking settings. Most cooktops have at least a few settings that can come in handy. Many can also maintain a constant temperature through settings like Melt, Keep Warm, Simmer, etc.
• Heating zones. Rather than burners, induction cooktops have heating zones where you set the pan and it comes in contact with the electromagnetic field below. Most cooktops have two to four zones. Some higher-end cooktops have flexible induction, or Flexinduction, where the entire surface of the cooktop is a heating zone. This means the size and placement of your pan don’t matter–you can cook anywhere.
• Wok areas. If you’re like many people who swear by cooking with a wok, you have a few options. You can use a round-bottomed wok and a special wok ring. The downside to this option is that the wok sits a few inches above the surface of the cooktop, meaning it doesn’t heat as well. You can use a flat-bottomed wok, as long as you make sure it’s made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or cast iron. Or you can use a cooktop with a specific wok area, an indented, wok-sized space designed specifically to accommodate your wok.

Will an induction cooktop be the perfect fit for your kitchen remodel? It very well could be. If you want increased safety, cooking precision, a sleek design, quick heating and cooling, and an eco-friendly option, an induction cooktop might be for you. If you have questions or if you’re ready to get your Tallahassee remodel underway, contact us today. We’d love to help you make your home the best it can be.