Induction cooking has been around for a while, the first patents showed up in the early 1900s. Induction heating is produced by electromagnetic reaction between the stovetop and the pan itself.
It isn’t until recently that induction cooktops have become popular in the U.S. Likely due to improvements and competition, induction has become much more affordable which may be one reason for recent growing popularity.
Because of the increase in interest we’ve decided to compile some of the advantages and drawbacks of induction heating.
Advantages
Induction has a very good heat transfer and is much more efficient than gas and electric. The power efficiency of induction heating is 90% while electric is 55% and gas is 50%
Temperatures on induction cooktops isn’t as high as it’s counterparts because of the efficiency of the transfer of heat.
The electromagnetic reaction of induction is very fast which means you can get to the temperature you need for cooking faster, the cooling when turning it off is faster as well.
Quick cooling also makes your kitchen safer, reducing the risk of accidental burning.
There is also less radiant heat compared to electric or gas, making for a more comfortable cooking space, as well as reducing your ventilation needs.
Drawbacks
Although prices have been coming down when it comes to induction cooktops, they are still more expensive than most gas or electric.
One reason for the higher expense has to do with the pans. To achieve the electromagnetic reaction in inductive heating, the pans must be stainless steel or iron based, as well as flat bottomed to preserve the electromagnetic connection.
Some people have complained about the buzzing noise that comes from inductive heating.
People with pacemakers are usually advised to stay away from magnetic fields. This may not be a concern as it is generally believed to be safe for them to cook using an induction cooktop. With that said, anyone considering using one of these cooktops should defer to the advice of their medical advisors.
As technology advances and competition pushes prices down it is likely that inductive cooktops will become commonplace. Hopefully this post has helped you become more informed and confident about the advantages and drawbacks of induction cooking. Touchstone Commercial Services is dedicated to being helpful and providing quality service in a timely, affordable manner. If you have any commercial equipment maintenance and repair needs or questions feel free to contact us.
