At a Glance:
How Does Induction Cooking Work?
Benefits of Switching to Induction Style Cooking?
How Does Induction Affect Cooking Performance?
Is Induction Style Cooking Right for You?
Top Induction Cooking Appliances
If you googled “what is induction” or “what is an induction cooktop," then that might be the reason you stumbled upon today’s article. Induction cooking was first introduced in the appliance world in the early 1900s, but only just recently started gaining mainstream attention in the United States within the last few years. Manufacturers are starting to see the benefits of induction cooking and are beginning to work towards producing more energy-efficient appliances for their customers.
So, today we are going to look at what induction cooking is, what its benefits are, how induction cooking affects cooking performance, and why it might be the right cooking option for you, as well as taking a look at different induction cooking appliances.
Discover Induction Cooking Appliances
At Albert Lee, you'll find the last induction cooktops and ranges from today's leading brands.
How Does Induction Cooking Work?
Induction cooking uses magnetic fields, or magnetic induction, to directly heat pots and pans, rather than the thermal conduction known to gas or electric style ranges/cooktops. Thermal conduction uses a gas or electric element to transfer heat from the burner to the pot or pan, while induction cooking heats straight to the pot or pan.
During induction cooking, an electric current is passed through a coiled copper wire underneath the cooking surface, creating a magnetic current in the cooking pan, which then creates the heat. Unlike other cooking elements, induction cooking is more energy efficient and loses less heat because only the element in use will become hot, rather than wide unused surfaces.
Benefits of Switching to Induction Style Cooking?
You might be wondering why you should make the switch to induction-style cooking. Well, we have five good reasons outlined below, including safety, energy efficiency, easier clean-up, heating performance, and environmental benefits.
Efficiency
When looking at the three main cooking technologies, induction, electric, and gas, induction is considered to be the most efficient cooking technology. Traditional electric-style cooking transfers about 74% of the energy consumed to the food, and gas-style cooking transfers around 40%, while induction cooking transfers close to 90% of the energy consumed to the food it is cooking.
In the ENERGY STAR Emerging Technology Award for 2021-2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized residential induction cooking tops as the winner. ENERGY STAR found induction cooking 5-10% more efficient than electric cooking, and 3% more efficient than gas cooking.
Environmental
It has been found that switching to induction cooking can reduce the number of pollutants in your home, lower your carbon footprint, and reduce the amount of energy you use. In addition, it reduces the risks of accidental burns and improves the quality of the air inside your home.
Easy Clean Up
Since the cooking surface of induction cooktops stays generally cool, it makes for a far easier cleanup process. No more burnt or dried food or liquid on your cooktop after a spill!
Heating Performance
Since induction cooking heats directly to the pan, the air around you does not get warm. Cooking with electric or gas ranges in the summertime can drive the cost of running your A/C up, causing you to expend more energy. With induction cooking, the air around you does not get warm, making it easier to cook for longer periods, while not causing your A/C bill to go up. In addition, induction cooktops boil around 50% faster than the traditional electric or gas ranges, making them more efficient in both cooking time and the energy used.
Safety Features
During induction cooking, the cookware is the main source of heat. This is great since the cooking surface stays relatively cool, while the cookware heats up quickly and cools down easily when the current is turned off. With induction cooking, you can place a piece of paper on the cooking surface, and it won’t catch fire.
➝ Related: Why Seattle Homes Are Turning to Induction Cooking
How Does Induction Affect Cooking Performance?
Induction cooking gives your cooking experience more power and control than traditional gas or electric styles with thermal conduction by providing improved thermal efficiency, faster heating, and more consistent heat. As a rule of thumb, the higher the power rating of a cooktop, the faster the cooking time. The induction cooktop's power ratings are measured by the power delivered directly to the pan, while gas ratings are measured in terms of the amount of gas used.
When looking at induction cook zones, they are more comparable to commercial gas burners than domestic burners. Induction stoves use thermostats to measure the temperature of the pan, preventing the pan from overheating if it is accidentally boiled dry or left empty on the cooktop. While this is often the case, certain models sometimes allow for a target temperature to be set to maintain a certain heat.
Is Induction Style Cooking Right for You?
While induction-style cooking is more common in European restaurants and domestic kitchens, it is gaining momentum in the United States, and for good reason. Induction cooking is for anyone who desires easier mealtimes with precise control, quicker heat, and easier clean-up. Whether you’re a pro in the kitchen, or a beginner wanting to be your chef, while there might be a bit of a learning curve, induction cooking can provide a smoother culinary experience from the comfort of your own home.
Top Induction Cooking Appliances
We are loving the recognition induction-style cooking is gaining and are eager to share some of our favorite induction-style cooking appliances. We are going to be featuring an Induction Cooktop by Bosch and an Induction Range by Samsung, and each has the powerful cooking performance best known to induction cooking, along with other great features that make cooking, cleanup, and hosting a breeze.
Bosch 800 Series 36" Black Induction Cooktop
This Bosch Induction Cooktop offers a sleek design with a black color finish but is also available in a stainless-steel frame. In addition, the Bosch 800 Series 36" Black Induction Cooktop gives you powerful heating elements in the 5 Induction Cooking Zones, allowing you to achieve faster, more efficient cooking for consistent results every time.
- Model: NIT8660UC
- Dimensions: 4.44” H x 37” W x 21.25” D
- Cooktop Surface: Ceramic Glass
SpeedBoost®
The SpeedBoost® feature adds more power, speeding up the cooking process even more.
AutoChef®
Apply the perfect amount of temperature with AutoChef®, which takes the guesswork out of your meal prep. Using a sensor to regulate temperature, this feature gives you the freedom to cook the perfect steak or fry your favorite comfort foods with precision.
Home Connect®
Stay connected with the Home Connect® feature, which allows you to remotely monitor your cooktop, discover delicious recipes, and run remote diagnostics on your cooktop.
PreciseSelect®
These premium controls give you easier usability during cooking by offering the choice of power levels, individual functions, and desired cooking zones.
Store Your Control Settings
When you turn off your cooktop, it saves the last selected control settings, which will be turned back on if you fire up your cooktop within a short time.
➝ Related: 5 Top-Rated 36 Inch Induction Cooktops
Samsung 30" White Glass Slide In Induction Range
The Samsung Induction Range comes with a large, 6.4 Cu. Ft. oven capacity, perfectly accommodating large dishes or roasting pans. In addition to that, this induction range comes in Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel or Black Stainless Steel color finishes.
- Model: NE63BB861112
- Dimensions: 36.75” H x 29.94” W x 28.69” D
- Total Capacity: 6.3 Cu. Ft.
Smart Rapid Heat Induction
The Smart Rapid Heat Induction cooktops boil heat 2x faster than traditional gas or electric cooktops by generating heat directly to the cookware itself, resulting in faster results.
No-Preheat Air Fry
On top of the powerful induction cooking, this induction range offers a No-Preheat Air Fry feature, allowing you to cook healthier versions of your favorite foods. An Air Fry tray is included as well.
Voice Control
Control your oven using your voice through smart devices like Alexa, Google, or Bixby.
SmartThings App (Wi-Fi)
The Samsung SmartThings App allows you to monitor, pre-heat, and adjust temperature settings on your oven right from your smartphone.
Convection+
Achieve even more cooking with Convection+, which uses a fan with a heated element that circulates hot air in the oven for efficient roasting and baking.
➝ Related: 7 Best Induction Ranges Changing the Appliance Game
FAQs: Induction Cooking
What is the disadvantage of induction cooking?
The price of induction cooktops is often more expensive than that of a gas or electric cooktop. In addition, when you purchase an induction cooktop, you will most likely need to invest in induction cookware, as induction cooktops do not pair well with glass, Pyrex, copper, or aluminum.
Why is induction cooking not popular?
Induction cooking strays from the normal style of cooking that most individuals are familiar with, making potential owners hesitant to make the switch from what they know best.
Does cast iron work on induction?
Yes. Induction uses magnetic fields to heat cookware, making cast iron a great option for induction due to its conductive, ferrous metals.
Do induction cooktops scratch easily?
Like all cooktops, induction cooktops are no more susceptible to scratches than other cooktops. The biggest cause for scratches on induction cooktops is skillets and saucepans with rough bottoms.
How long do induction cooktops last?
Measured in hours instead of years, induction cooktops generally last about 2,500 hours.
Why Trust Albert Lee?
Since 1939, Albert Lee Appliance, a three-generation, family-owned business, continues to grow and serve the greater Seattle area with quality you can count on and service you can trust. We are proud to have served this community for so long and wouldn’t be here without our loyal customers. There is a reason why we are Washington’s largest independent appliance dealer, and it’s not a secret. Simply put: We have the experience. We are the original appliance experts for over eight decades (and counting).
Shop Cooktops & Ranges at Albert Lee
At Albert Lee Appliance, we provide quality name-brand appliances for great prices. Shop cooktops and ranges online or visit us today at one of our six locations in Puget Sound, WA. In the meantime, browse our website to shop Albert Lee appliance sales and check out Albert Lee appliance reviews online to ensure every purchase is an informed one. More available than ever, our experts at Albert Lee Appliance are always happy to help you find the right induction cooking appliance, whether you call us or use our online chat feature. Contact us today!
Learn More: Albert Lee's Cooking Appliance Buying Guide [Wall Ovens, Cooktops, and More]