Just a few years ago, the thought of being able to cook without the use of gas was unimaginable – and then, the induction cooktop was invented. Few years forward, and what then seemed like advanced technology is now available in every household or restaurant kitchen.
The only downfall of an induction cooktop is the fact that you have to have specific cookware, which many people don’t realize. No matter how good or expensive your cookware set is, if it’s not adapted to an induction cooktop, it will not work.
However, how to know which ones are the best induction cookware sets and what actually characterizes them? Well, if you want to find out, all you have to do is keep reading. So, without any further ado, let’s get to it.
What is induction cooking?
Let’s start with the basics, shall we? First thing – what induction cooking is, and how does it work? Induction is actually a shortened version of ‘electromagnetic induction,’ which means nothing more than generating energy with the use of magnetism.
When it comes to how an induction cooktop works, experts from the Stone Frying Pan website, explain that the “induction cooktops produce a magnet which transfers heat to the induction cookware because the cookware is magnetic.” You also probably noticed that once you take the pan or pot off the cooktop, the generation of hit stops. That’s because the magnetic field is no longer affected.
To be honest, this is the easiest way of explaining the process as if we would go into details, the explanation would have a lot of words that might be difficult to understand and make the comprehension of the process itself more challenging.
What are the benefits of induction cooking?
So now that you know what induction is and how it works, there is another question that needs answering – what are the benefits of using an induction cooktop? Well, there are a few, and they include:
- quick temperature adjustment – the heat increases and decreases within seconds, which definitely shortens the time that you have to spend cooking
- zero heat loss – the heat is transferred directly to the pan, which means that if a surface is not in contact with the stovetop, it will not receive heat/energy from the cooktop
- safety – cooking with induction is very safe, as the stovetop remains cool throughout the whole cooking process which means that the chance of getting burned is negligible. This is something that probably people with children will appreciate the most.
- health – as you probably already know, gas can be harmful to your health, which is why induction is a way better idea. In comparison to traditional gas stoves, induction cooktops don’t burn gases that can potentially affect our health
There are a few more benefits of using an induction cooktop. However, these are the most popular ones, as it’s based on them that people actually make a decision if they want it in their homes or not really.
What cookware will work with induction cooktops?
While induction cooktops have many advantages, they also have some disadvantages – one of them being the need for specific cookware. For it to work correctly, it needs to be made out of a magnetic-based material, such as stainless steel or cast iron. If you buy an aluminum or glass cookware set, it will not work unless it has a magnetic layer on the bottom.
If you have already set your eyes on one of the cookware sets, but you are not sure if it is suitable for induction cooking, there is an easy way of checking it – all you need is a magnet.
Hold the magnet to the bottom. If it stays, then the set is perfectly fine to be used on an induction cooktop. If the pull is not strong, you might have some problem with using the cookware on this type of cooktop. Lastly, if when you put the magnet, there is no pull, it means that the set does not contain the right metals, and if you try to use it on an induction cooktop, it will not generate heat.
Tips for buying induction cookware
Since buying the best induction cookware set can be hard, here are some things that you might want to keep in mind when searching for one:
- Look for pans and pots that have a flat bottom, as if they don’t, they can vibrate and make quite a lot of noise
- Don’t buy a set in which the lids are light weighted, as they might fall off once the content of the pot starts boiling
- The set has to have sturdy handles, as if they are poorly attached, they might vibrate at high power
- If you are buying the set online, look for one that would have ‘induction cooktop cookware’ or ‘induction ready cookware’ in their description
Final Thoughts
If you decide to change your old cooktop to an induction one, you need to keep in mind that not all of the pans and pots that you have will work with it, and you might have to invest in a new cookware set.
HomeKitchenland chose the Cuisinart Multiclad Pro as their top pick.
However, choosing the best one can be tough – after all, there are so many options available on the market. Hopefully, when you are buying one, this guide will be of help to you and make the decision easier.
So now, the only thing left to say is Good Luck!