If you’re reading this article, I am assuming you have taken the leap and have got an induction cooktop for your house/kitchen.
Next, after choosing the right cooktop and installing it in a beautiful and convenient place, if you are wondering how to cook on it, don’t worry.
We have got you covered.
Fresh and raw food like meat and vegetables have natural inbuilt goodness.
These inbuilt life-giving values quickly disappear with wrong cooking techniques. Especially under high uncontrolled temperatures.
This is why, before you start using an induction cooktop, it’s important to understand the Induction cooking temperature guide.
If you are health conscious, you will be happy to know that cooking food on induction in correct temperatures cuts down unwanted calories, retains important vitamins, life-giving enzymes & minerals, and reduce bad cholesterol.
With accurate and precise temperatures, induction not only ensure healthy food but also tasty and delicious food. This is because, under correct temperatures, the food is able to capture good-tasting flavors.
Before the details on temperature let us try to understand briefly how the induction cooking works
How Induction Cooking Works?
Induction cooking makes use of magnetic-based technology to generate molecules within the induction-friendly cookware ( stainless steel, iron, etc).
A magnetic-based circuit is created in which cookware itself gets heated due to molecular excitement.
Due to this process, rapid and consistent takes place. Rapid heating becomes possible in just 15 seconds!
This way they heat up way faster than gas or electric cooktop.
The heat setting and quality of different inductions cooktops vary considerably. It is a good idea to go through the cooktop manufacturing instructions.
Induction Cooking Temperature Guide for Cooking Food
In the culinary world, you can’t get anything good with too much heat.
On the other hand, too low heat can take hours.
With uneven temperatures, sometimes the food can get over or undercooked.
It is important to know the temperature level required to accomplish the art of cooking.
Generally, the inductions have a specific temperature range. The range on most induction is from 38 degrees Celsius to 260-degree Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit to 500 F).
As powerful as induction cooktops might be, high heat settings are hardly used because very hot temperatures are not needed for normal cooking.
But of course, quick boiling of large quantities definitely needs a higher temperature setting.
Apart from this option, avoid using high heat. Low or medium temperatures are recommended.
Let us look into what temperature levels to be used for different types of food:
- Boiling fresh vegetables will require a simmering temperature which is slightly lower than the boiling point. To find the perfect simmering point, adjust the temperature level till the water or soup gets bubbles gently.
- For deep fry, it is recommended to heat your oil slowly on low heat. High heat will lead cause the oil to smoke. Unless you want to sear, maintain the oil at low. You can also deep fry on medium-low or medium-high but not more than that.
- For the stir fry, avoid high temperatures as the food can get overcooked or even burn! Use medium temperature, just enough to get the pan dry. Do not increase the heat setting.
- For barbeques, maintain the heat between 200F to 250F (93-121 degrees celsius) for the best results. It’s important to maintain consistency rather than the intensity of barbeques. Induction cooking is an awesome cooking method for it. Use a grill plate and maintain the heat at a consistent temperature to enjoy your barbeque evenings.
- To saute your beef to a perfect brown, select your temperature level to just below medium. To retain perfect flavors and vitamins, heat the oil slowly and also let the meat cook slowly.
- For steaming the vegetables, use just the right amount of heat (not too little or more) to give a tender touch to your veggies. After it forms steam, lower the temperatures to slow down boiling and steaming. This will prevent rapid boiling and steaming.
- For delicate food, cooking slowly at low temperature is ideal. Example- making sauces. Lowest temperatures can also be used to keep food warm or melt foods.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to use an induction cooktop in different situations and food types, let me give you the induction cooking temperature guide.
Also read: How to Use an Induction Cooktop (An Easy Guide for Beginners)
Induction Cooking Temperature Table
The table below shows the induction cooktop temperature guide for different types of settings and the cooking function.
No matter which induction cooktop you’re using, you can easily use this table to cook that perfect meal for yourself and your family/friends.
| No. | TEMPERATURE SETTING | TEMPERATURE VALUE |
COOKING FUNCTION |
| Warm | Low | 100°F (37°C) | It is used for keeping warm. Ideal for keeping food warm in winters |
| Warm | Low | 110°F (43°C) | It is used for melting foods like chocolate, frozen food etc. |
| 1 | Low | 150°F (65°C) | It is used for slow cooking. This temperature is ideal for cooking most foods |
| 2 | Medium-low | 180vF (82°C) | It is ideal for sauces and soups and for chicken stocks |
| 3 | Medium-low | 210°F (99°C) | It is ideal for steaming vegetables until tender. Neither too soggy nor overcooked |
| 4 | Medium | 240°F (116°C) | This temperature is ideal for roasting chicken, frying eggs ( sunny side up) |
| 5 | Medium | 270°F (132°C) | It is ideal for cooking noodles and pasta |
| 6 | Medium-high | 300°F (150°C) | To render or caramelize. To make pancakes |
| 7 | medium-high | 360°F (182°C) | It is ideal for making crispy chicken fry, to saute and for making toast like a grilled cheese sandwich and to brown after a sear |
| 8 | High | 390°F (199°C) | It is ultimate for a dish of fresh popcorns, for shallow frying meat, cutlets, tough veggies like eggplants, breaded items and fritters |
| 9 | High | 420°F (216°C) | It is ideal for pan-frying pork chops, mutton chops and chicken. For searing and stir fry shrimps and cubed meats like scallops. For caramelizing, pan-frying large quantities or large cut veggies like asparagus, zucchini |
| 10 | High | 450°F (232°C) | For quick searing of marinated chicken, to char meat and vegetables |
| Sear | Max-sear | 575°F (302°C) | For developing a crust on vegetables that release water, for crisping skin and developing a crust on the meat. Typically sear for 1-2 minutes per side and then finish at 360F. |
Can You Deep Fry With Induction Hobs?
Yes, you can deep fry with induction. In most inductions hobs, there is a specific temperature setting for it.
The key is to use a heavy-duty pot or pan that’s specifically designed for induction cooking.
Cast iron and other ferrous materials are ideal for this type of cooking because they heat up quickly and evenly.
Make sure to avoid non-ferrous materials like aluminum, as they won’t heat up properly and could cause your food to stick.
Some Final Words/Suggestions
Most of the inductions come with pre-set temperature settings. Different brands provide a differing number of temperature settings.
For example, GE induction cooktops have 19 control settings, while Nuwave induction cooktops have six settings, etc.
It takes practice and experience to be able to determine the appropriate heat settings for your cooking.
With this induction cooking temperature guide and chart at your fingertips, you will be able to unlock your potential and cook fearlessly.
No matter what you want to cook, whether it’s a completely new recipe or an all-time favorite, or something you wish to put together, you will be completely in control.
Just check the table above, set the perfect temperature, and enjoy the freedom to cook whatever you crave, perfectly!
A final suggestion would be to not be scared of experimenting and finding out the perfect settings that suit your cooking.
With the perfect heat for a particular time period, you will whip up exotic flavourful dishes in no time, while retaining its natural inbuilt goodness of vitamins and minerals, thanks to induction cooking!
You may also like the following articles about induction cooking:
- Best Non-Stick Pans for Induction Cooktops
- Best 30-Inch Induction Cooktops
- How to Cook Rice with an Induction Cooktop?
- How to Cook Pancakes on an Induction Cooktop?
- How to Cook Steak on an Induction Cooktop (Step-by-Step)
- How to Cook Eggs on an Induction Cooktop (Fried, Scrambled, Poached)
- Do Induction Cooktops Heat Evenly?
