Should You Upgrade to an Induction Cooktop?

Gas and electric cooktops heat pots using radiant energy, meaning a good deal of the energy consumed by the appliance is lost before it reaches the food. Induction cooktops, on the other hand, heat pots directly using electromagnetic energy. This translates to less energy loss and improved efficiency. According to research from reviewed.com, a gas burner only converts 38 percent of its energy to heat for cooking. Electric burners do better at 70 percent, but induction burners blow them out of the water, delivering 80 to 90 percent of their energy to the food being cooked.

Induction cooktops provide extremely fast and precise temperature adjustments. While the average gas burner takes 8.5 minutes to boil 48 ounces of water and the average electric burner takes 5.45 minutes, an induction burner takes just over 3 minutes.

The electromagnetic energy produced by an induction burner only heats up metal. This means it is impossible to burn yourself or catch anything on fire on the cooktop itself. You can even place a paper towel between the pot and the burner and it would not catch fire.

Because the cooktop stays cool, you don’t have to worry about any drips, splatters or spills on the cooktop getting baked on into an impossible to clean up mess. Induction cooktops are also perfectly flat so you don’t have to worry about spills collecting in the burner cups.

One limitation of induction cooktops is that they only work if you have the right cookware. This is because the electromagnetic energy they produce can only excite and heat iron atoms. However this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go out and buy all new cookware. If a magnet sticks to your current pots and pans, you can use them.

In past years, induction cooktops have been quite costly, making them appealing mainly in regions where electricity is extremely expensive. However, in recent years induction cooktops have been getting more affordable, making them more appealing here in the US. Many trusted manufacturers from Viking to GE are now offering induction cooktops, with some models starting as low as $1200 for a cooktop and oven combo. If you’re interested in comparing the cost of getting a new induction cooktop to the cost of repairing your current stove or oven, please contact Authorized Appliance Repair for help.