Are you looking for how does induction cooking work? In this article, you will know everything in details. Induction cooking is a form of technology that allows cooking to take place without the use of gas or flame. Rather than using open flames, induction cookers make use of magnetic fields and coils targeted towards special cookware to heat the pots or pans.
What is Induction Cooking?
You may have come across induction stoves without realizing it. Induction cooking is a relatively new technology that uses electronic coils to heat pots or pans without using high amounts of electricity.
Induction is a great cooking method for someone who wants something strong, fast and powerful. With induction cooking, heat is delivered directly to the bottom of pots and pans with no transfer of heat from the stovetop. The result is a cooktop that heats instantly and faster than gas or electric space heaters. Even though induction cooktops are a little more expensive than their counterparts, a good quality induction cooktop can last you up to 20 years.
How does induction cooking work?
Induction cooking refers to the process of applying electricity to metal cookware. This causes the cookware to become heated directly through the use of currents produced by a magnetic field; which is usually provided by a special type of coil, also known as an induction coil. Once the metal in contact with the induction coil becomes warm, it begins to release thermal heat. This phase is what cooks food inside of metal pots and pans. Induction heating is different from other household cooking methods since it heats electrically conductive materials without having to rely on conduction or radiation.
The Induction Hob and its Working
Induction hobs are a clever way to cook a meal. Simply put a pan on top of the hob and alter the heat setting until the contents start simmering. But how does it do this? Induction cooking works because your frying pan becomes the secondary winding of an induction coil. When you increase or decrease the power applied to the primary winding, you generate a varying magnetic flux which induces a voltage in your frying pan.
Related article: The Best Non Stick Pans for Induction Cooker
Pros and Cons of Induction Cooktop
In this article, we are going to explore the pros and cons of induction cooking.
Pros of Induction Cooking
Induction cooking is more efficient than other cooking methods because it helps you save on energy bill, and it also allows you to cook faster. Here are some benefits of induction cooking
1.Temperature Control
Induction cooking is a far more precise method of cooking than other methods. The feel of the temperature can be manipulated by adjusting the frequency and amplitude, as opposed to gas or electric stoves where you can only control the heat intensity which will affect how fast your food cooks on every different setting. Getting the right feel for all types of food is not something that can happen with other induction cooktops.
2.Easy to Clean
The smooth surface also allows you to wipe off any moisture that may accidentally spill on the surface. Water droplets will simply slide off. Induction cooktops are much more convenient because they require almost no scrubbing to get a good clean.
To clean any normal cooktop, you have to wait for it to cool. And if half the food is burnt on, you’re going to have to scrape and scrub hard for a while. An induction cooktop surface doesn’t require this.
3.Induction works faster
An induction cooktop provides more than just overall speed and efficiency – even when working with everyday pots and pans. Your induction burner heats your cookware, not your counter.
4.Safe Cooking
The advantage of an induction cooktop is that it provides even and complete heating and is safer than gas stoves. Moreover, unlike electric smooth-top ranges, the cooktop remains cool to the touch at all times.
Induction cooking is not just faster than cooking on other heating elements; it also promises a lot of safety. With an induction cooktop, there are no open flames and no exposed heating elements. This makes it safe for you and your family members when you are cooking. Though at first glance it may seem like the induction cooktops will be hard to clean, but in reality, they aren’t.
Induction cooktop is Versatile
Induction cooktops are also versatile, as they can be used with pots made of any material. They are also highly efficient (up to 90% efficiency), when compared to conventional burners and gas stoves. This leads to less energy spent, and lower natural gas/electricity costs.
Cons of Induction Cooking
Induction Cooktop is Expensive
When it comes to buying an induction cooktop, the price range is going to vary quite a bit. The more bells and whistles the cooktop has, the more expensive it’s going to be.
Induction cooktops have many advantages, but they’re not cheap. They will likely cost you more than traditional gas or electric cooktop. So the first question you should be asking yourself is, “Do I need an induction cooktop?”
Specific cookware works at induction cooktop
To make the most of induction cooking, you need a cookware set made specifically for induction cooktops. The problem is, magnetic cookware can be expensive. And if you don’t use it correctly, you run the risk of ruining your induction cooktop.
Your pots and pans must be made of magnetic materials like cast iron or stainless steel. If not, the induction stove won’t work correctly.
Dependent on Electricity
Any cooktop that has electronic features is going to become useless if there is a power outage. If you live in an area with lots of storms and power problems, you may not want to get an induction cooktop. Induction units do have the advantage of being very fast, so you’re probably better off just eating cold food for a day or so if you lose your power instead of resorting to a gas range or electric stove.
Induction cooktop scratches easily
One of the most common concerns about induction cooking is how easily it scratches. Since induction cooktops are made from smooth glass, you need to be careful not to slide, scratch or bang pots and pans against the surface while they’re hot. If your cooktop does get scratched, take care to avoid scratching. Clean gently with a soft cloth or sponge that won’t scratch the glass. Be sure not to use steel wool pads which could further damage the glass.
Induction Cooktop may Produce Noise
There is also a possibility that induction cooking causes the noise itself. Induction cooktops are essentially two different things: the cooktop where you cook and the electrical coils below it. The coil vibrates when electrical currents are running through it, thereby producing heat that heats your pots and pans. It’s a similar affair to your typical hot plate. But when induction cooking produces heat, the energy has nowhere to go but back into the cookware. Since there is nowhere for it to go, the metal acts as an antenna and absorbs the energy, which gets converted to noise from the friction of the pan against the induction burner.
Conclusion
If you are already living with the convenience of a gas or electric cooktop, you can see how revolutionary inductive technology could be. Induction technology is based on the magnetic field it produces which results in instant heat whenever you place a suitable cooking vessel on the cooktop.
Induction cooktops are here to make life easier. Say goodbye to the days of waiting for hot food to cook using heat that only works on flat bottoms. Induction uses magnetic energy, so it only heats a pot or pan’s metal surface, causing quicker cooking and easy cleanup. Now you can leave your Dutch ovens and tart pans in the cupboard and use any dish you want. Revamp your kitchen with induction technology that delivers fast and even cooking.
Read more: How to Clean Electric Skillet