Have questions about Induction Cooktops/cookware?
Here I am listing a list of common questions people have thinking of buying an induction cooktop/cookware and while using it.
Is Induction Cooking Safe?
Induction cooking is one of the safest cooking options available as of now. The following reasons make it a safer option
- Most of the heat generated during the process is transferred to the cookware and is used for cooking. Since there are no flames and no heat generation happening with induction cooktops, there are very low chances of any mishap.
- When you take the cookware/pan/pot away from the induction cooktop, it automatically shuts off. So there is no chance of you accidentally leaving it on, unlike gas stoves where this happens often.
- Induction cooktop does not heat by itself. It only heats when there is an induction compatible cookware on it. Even in that case, the cooktop doesn’t heat up. It’s the cookware that gets heated. This also minimized any risk of you (or your child) accidentally touching the induction cooktop surface and getting burned (which can happen with gas or electric cooktops).
Related Article: Is Induction Cooking Safe?
Are Induction Cooktops more economical than gas or electric cooktops?
Induction cooktops are a lot more efficient than gas an electric stoves and would cost you less. Since most of the energy generated by an Induction cooktop is transferred to the cookware to heat/cook food, there is very less wastage of this energy.
Compare it with gas where 45-50% of the heat is wasted.
Also, with induction, you can instantly bring it to a lower temperature by switching it off or lowering the power, which is not the case with electric cooktop. With electric cooktop, you need to allow it some time so that the temperature gradually comes down.
However, there can be some initial costs involved with induction cooking – such as buying an induction cooktop as well as the cookware which has to be induction ready.
Related Articles:
Are Induction Cooktops Easy to Clean?
Absolutely!
An induction cooktop is a flat surface and you can easily clean it by wiping it with a wet cloth or sponge. Once you’re done cooking, you need to simply wipe it with a wet sponge or cloth.
You can also use cooktop cleaners in case there are stains or food that needs to be cleaned first. Simply put some cleaner on the area that you want to clean and wipe it with a paper/cloth towel or sponge.
Since most of the cooktops have a glass top, it’s better not to use any scrub that can cause scratches (better use paper or cloth towels only).
For hard stains, you can also use a little bit of vinegar to clean the cooktop.
Does Induction Cooktop Get Hot? Can you touch the surface?
The simple answer here is – No, the induction cooktop surface does not get hot (I have tested this with my hand).
The way Induction cooktops work is by creating a magnetic field that is converted into heat energy. In this process, only the cookware that is placed over the induction cooktop gets heated.
But there could be some heat that is transferred to the cooktop surface. So I would advise not touching the surface of the induction cooktop right after cooking/heating something.
That being said, since most of the time it’s a glass surface, in case you or someone in your house accidentally touches the surface of the cooktop, it’s going to be cold (but make sure you don’t touch the cookware).
Related Article: Do Induction Cooktops Get Hot and Can it be Touched?
What’s the difference between an Induction Cooktop and Gas Cooktop?
The most prominent difference between an induction cooktop and a Gas cooktop is the flames. While there are flames in the gas cooktop, in the Induction cooktop, the heat comes from the magnetic field and is passed directly to the pan/cooker/cookware.
This also means that induction cooktop is a lot more energy-efficient and safe.
One of the downsides of an Induction cooktop is that you need to use induction-ready cookware with it, but with Gas cooktop, you can use any kind of cookware. Also, only those cookware that has flat base will work with an induction cooktop, while with the gas one, you can use any type of cookware (including a wok).
Related Article: Induction Cooktop Vs Gas Cooktop
Does Cast Iron Works on Induction Cooktop?
The short answer is Yes, cast iron works.
But there is more you should know when using cast iron cookware on induction cooktops.
Since Cast Iron is not such a good conductor of heat, it can be a little energy inefficient when used on an induction cooktop. Also, if you want to cook where you need to change the temperature quickly (from hot to normal or normal to hot), cast iron may not be the best choice.
However, since it remains hot for some time, it’s great if you want to slow cook the food.
When using cast iron cookware, it’s advisable to keep a parchment paper (some people call this butter paper) in between the cookware and the induction cooktop surface. This is because cast iron is a bit rough and may leave some scratches.
Here is a detailed article about using cast iron on induction cooktops.
Can you Install an Induction cooktop over an Oven?
Yes, you can!
It’s quite a rage these days and getting this done can make your cooking convenient as well. Just one thing to keep in mind when getting an oven and an induction cooktop installed over it is that it needs to fit and be compatible.
If possible, buy both from the same manufacturer and get a site visit by the fitting team so that they can ensure everything would work perfectly.
Here is a detailed guide on things to keep in mind when installing an induction cooktop over an oven.