Induction cooking tends to be quite different from electrical cooking or convectional gas cooking. There are a few pans and pots that can work perfectly on the induction burner or cooktop.
The way induction cooking works tend to amaze a lot of people and it is the reason why many people tend to worry if the cookware offered to them is induction compatible.
The guide provides information on how to tell if cookware is induction ready and things to consider when buying them. Keep reading to find out:
What Does Induction Cooking Mean?
Induction cooking operates by creating magnetic fields between the cooking surface and the cookware. The energy created in the electromagnetic field is what acts as the main source of heat.
According to research, induction cooking usually works faster than gas cooking and it is the reason behind its popularity across the world.
The good news is that this method of cooking is safe, easy and fast though people tend to be wary since it is quite new in the industry.
What Are The Benefits of Using Induction Cooking?
Cooking on induction cooktops tend to be quite faster when compared to gas or electric cooking methods. It normally takes the shortest time to cook anything using induction cooking.
The most wonderful thing is that induction cooking is quite energy-efficient and cost-effective when compared to electric or gas cooking.
It generates much heat which is evenly distributed around the pot or pan. Besides that, the cooktops of induction tend to remain cool to touch even while cooking.
The energy generated from the magnetic field is only transferable to magnetic materials. Boost lots of praises from many kitchen forums and Facebook groups, induction cooktops are much cleaner and easier to clean. They do not get stuck with food spillage.
What Are The Shortcomings of Using Induction Cooking?
The biggest drawback of using induction cooktops is that they tend to be quite expensive and this is the reason many people tend to shy away from them.
That’s not all. The cooktops rely mostly on electricity and this implies that if the power goes off then cooking will not take place.
It is one of the reasons why gas cooking still reigns. Also, adjusting the temperature on induction cooktops tends to be quite tricky and they are not suitable for preparing certain recipes of meals at home.
Lastly, induction cooking only works best with cookware that are magnetic materials like iron which tend to be rare to find in recent days.
What Makes Cookware Induction Compatible?
As mentioned earlier, induction cooking works by creating a magnetic field between the cookware and the surface of the induction cooktops.
Therefore, material plays a significant role in determining induction ready. You need to get cookware that can support magnetic fields. This implies that they need to be magnetic.
The rule of thumb states that any material that does not support magnetic fields will not work with induction cooking.
The most compatible materials are cast iron, stainless steel, and carbon steel. Always tend to consider cookware made from these materials if you are planning to use induction cooktops. Did I forget to mention the cookware base? Well, another crucial thing to consider is the flat base of the cookware. The flat surface enhances the conduction of the magnetic field.
How To Tell If Cookware Is Induction Ready?
How to check if cookware is induction ready is simple and easy. There are a lot of things that can help you test and you do not need to be an expert.
The first thing to consider is the material. Consider cookware that supports magnetic fields and this means that they should have magnetic properties.
Place a magnet bar under the base and if it gets clings then it is the best cookware for induction cooking. Another important feature to consider is the flat under the surface of the cookware.
If the pan or pot has wok surface despite having great magnetic properties the induction cooking will not happen. That’s not all.
You can add water on the pan and place it on the induction cooktop then switch on the power. If the water starts to bubble to boil then this is a perfect cookware choice.
The good news is that many manufacturers of cookware nowadays indicate if the product is good for induction cooking or not.
This makes it easier to know if the cookware is ready for induction. Besides that, this cookware can also be used on a gas stove and electric cooker since they are not limited to induction cooking only.
To sum up, induction cookware is a more efficient and cost-effective cooking appliance. They normally result in long-lasting cooking experience among the users.
Final Thoughts
Induction cooking is becoming more popular and it is a great thing to consider since this is where the world is heading to in the future.
It offers several benefits to the consumer such as energy efficiency, cost-effective and above all safety. These are some of the things that cannot be offered by traditional cooking methods.
I hope the article was effective in answering how to tell if cookware is induction ready. Use the comment section to share your views and suggestions. Good Luck.