What are the Induction Cooktop Pros and Cons?
Induction cooktops have stormed kitchens in the US because of its versatility, size, and functionality. It’s also very affordable compared to gas and electric ranges, which may cost more than a thousand. Induction cooktops also look really neat when it comes to aesthetics because of the smooth glass top.
If you’re planning to get an induction cooktop, either you’re replacing your old one or you’re shifting from gas or electric, it’s worth knowing the pros and cons of induction cooktops. This is so you can be prepared for the future use. Induction cooktops work really differently from gas and electric and it may pose a bit of a surprise.
Like all other appliances, induction cooktops has its own pros and cons and whether any of these are acceptable is up to you, as you are the user and everyone has their own different needs and wants.
What are the pros and cons of induction cooktops?
Keep in mind that there will always be differences when it comes to opinions and what may be written here as a pro or a con will be otherwise. First off, let’s start with the benefits of having an induction cooktop.
Positives:
Cost – Induction cooktops are relatively affordable. However, price varies depending on your choice of additional features, material used, size, etc. A single burner countertop induction cooktop made of stainless steel and ceramic glass will cost you only about $90.
Double burners may cost about $250 while four burners that can be installed in your countertop or range may vary from $1,000 to $2,000. As mentioned, price depends on the brand, the finish, the number of burners, and additional features.
This is a pro because you have an array of choices; whether you want an affordable yet efficient one, or you want to go to the high-end side, there’s bound to be one for you. A simple single-burner induction cooktop worth checking out is the:
DUXTOP 1800-Watt Portable Induction Cooktop Countertop Burner
Cooking Experience – Compared to gas and electric, what you’ll experience using an induction cooktop is very different. It heats up 25-50 percent faster and it distributes heat more evenly. Two most important words chefs look for in a cooktop are instant and precise, and both of these are associated with an induction cooktop.
Induction cooktops heat up instantly and depending on your choice of temperature, it can be very powerful. It also heats up with great precision; you won’t need any sort of thermometer to check if it lives up to your heat choice. These characteristics are very similar to gas, but without the hassles of open flame, fuel, etc.
No Wasted Heat – Heat is concentrated onto the pan where your food is cooking; it doesn’t go anywhere else. The magnetic field initiated by the induction cooking supplies heat directly to your cookware. You won’t feel any gush of heat towards you, not even on the cooktop itself.
Compared to gas and electric, the heat is all over the place. You can feel the warmth on your hand or your face when you draw closer to a gas or electric cooktop. With induction, you won’t feel any of these, as heat is concentrated on the cookware and on your food.
Safety – Because there is no open flame or heat all over the place, induction cooktops are great to have if you have small children or the elderly. There will be no burned fingers or hands, no risks of the open flame catching fire on curtain, paper, etc.
Also, because the energy or heat is transferred onto materials that are magnetic, even if you place a finger onto the burner at full maximum heat, you won’t feel anything; it stays cool to the touch unless you put something that conducts heat over it. All induction cooktops have sensors that detect whether it is capable of heating or not.
Aesthetics and Installation – At first glance, an induction cooktop really looks neat because of the smooth and shiny glass top. Induction units are also very thin and only require about two inches of depth below the countertop surface. Because of this, installation is very easy.
Check out:
GE PHP900DMBB Profile 30" Black Electric Induction Cooktop
Negatives:
We have talked so much about the positives, now it’s time to move onto the cons of an induction cooktop.
Cookware – Glass, aluminum, and copper cookware can’t be used with an induction cooktop, so you have to buy a new set, preferably made of stainless steel such as the:
Duxtop Whole-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Induction Ready Premium Cookware 9-Pc Set
Electricity Failure – Induction cooktops run using electricity so if the electricity on your area fails, you have no choice but to find other means of cooking. It’s better to have a grill or a gas range handy if you often experience electricity interruptions. Also, if electricity is very expensive in your area, induction cooktops may not be for you as this one is prone to consuming a lot of energy.
Key Takeaway: We have summarized the most known positives and negatives of induction cooktops. As you may have noticed, the pros very much outweigh the cons, making induction cooktops really worth the purchase except if you live in an area where electric bills are high and interruptions are frequent. It’s still better to assess your needs overall rather than to fully rely your decisions on articles such as this one.
Conclusion
Before purchasing any major appliance in your home, especially in your kitchen, it’s best to review everything about that product, such as in the case of induction cooktops. If you’re new to this technology, it is recommended to review all the pros and cons to be sure if this certain product would work for you.
In the case of induction cooktops, you might not see any reason as to why you will say no. It has tons of positives, not only to the efficiency but also to the additional safety and affordability. In general, induction cooktops are really worth the try.