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Best Induction Cooktops – Which One is Right for You?

by Luke Conner

Induction cooktops produce a high-frequency magnetic field. When you put cookware such as a steel-plated pan on to the magnetic field, energy is transferred into the metal.

The pan then heats up and cooks the food directly. And because the heat is generated inside the pan, the cooktop stays reasonably cool.

Induction cooktops are highly responsive – unlike a conventional radiant-ceramic cooktop. When you adjust the temperature, the change happens immediately.

You sometimes hear whistling or cracking sounds (especially if you’re using multi-layered saucepans), humming when you use high power levels, and clicking when zones turn “on” or “off” or change their power levels. This is all perfectly normal.

We knew induction cooking was fast – but to see just how fast, we boiled 1 liter of water on three cooktops: induction, radiant-ceramic, and gas.

The induction cooktop was at least three times faster at boiling water than the radiant-ceramic or gas models.

Approximate time to boil 1 liter of water:

  • Induction: 2 minutes
  • Radiant-ceramic: 6 minutes
  • Gas: 8 minutes

Power management

Induction Cooktops

The power supply to the cooking zones works in a way that takes some getting used to. The cooking zones are organized into pairs (usually arranged as one pair on the left side and one pair on the right side).

The maximum available power is shared between the two cooking zones in a pair.

When the “power boost” function is selected for one cooking zone, the additional power is made available by limiting the power of the other cooking zone in the pair.

For some cooktops, the power boost function can only be used if the other cooking zone in the same pair is switched off. If you want maximum power in 2 pans, use one cooking zone in each pair.

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For some induction cooktops, even when not using the “power boost” feature, if all cooking zones are in use at the same time, some cooking zones may be reduced in power. Check when buying whether the cooktop you want has any limitations.

36 Inch Induction Cooktop, thermomate Built-in Electric Stove Top, 240V Electric Smoothtop with 5 Boost Burner, 9 Heating Level, Timer, Kid Safety Lock, Keep Warm Function, ETL & FCC Certified
  • 5 high power burners: 2300/3000W (11in) +1800/2100W (9in)+1800/2100W (9in)+1200/1500W (7in)+1200/1500W (7in). Supplied with 4 feet (1.22 m) power cable, suitable for AC 240V, rated power 9300W for faster heating up and quick cooking. 5 cooking zones with different power and size meet your multi cooking demand.
  • 4 protection features: over-heating protection, residual heat indicator, auto shutdown, and child safety lock. Suit for all cast iron cookware, make your cooking easy and enjoyable. An additional smart pot induction function helps you confirm whether the cookware you use is suitable for the induction cooktop.
  • 9 power setting for precise heating, perfect for braise, fry, deep fry, stir-fry, roast, and even boil water. Slider Sensor touch control is easy to use for all family members. 1 to 99 minutes timer, just set the power setting and timer, then let the electric stovetop do the rest, and you can enjoy the leisure time and its excellent cooking performance.
  • 2 inch super slim black glass modern design only takes up minimal space under your counter. The thermomate electric induction cooktop with a smooth top surface, effortless cleaning, and durable use for a long time.
  • 2 super practical functions: keep warm function and boost function. Please verify the cooktop is the right size for you: Product size: 35.4" W x 20.5"D x 2.3"H, cut out size: 33.9" W x 19.3"D.
Empava 36 Inch Electric Stove Induction Cooktop with 5 Power Boost Burners Smooth Surface Vitro Ceramic Glass in Black 240V
  • The USA & Canada ETL Certified Electric Stove Induction Cooktop designed and engineered in the USA by Empava Appliances with 2 Years US Based Manufacturer Warranty.
  • The flawless Empava smooth vitro ceramic glass surface allows for effortless cleanup, manufactured without the release of hazardous metals into the ground and withstands intense heat without cracking or chipping. Compatible to install above any Empava 24/30 in. under-counter single wall oven. Most stainless steel and cast-iron cookware are induction compatible.
  • Hot Surface indicator - An "H" will appear in the surface cooking area display let you know when elements are hot to the touch with just a glance. Pan size sensor heats the element to the size of your cookware and turns off when no pan is present for safety and more efficient cooking. With induction cooking, heat is generated directly in the cookware, so the cooktop stays cooler to the touch, with child control lock feature prevents unintended activation for added safety.
  • Enjoy minimal cleanup with stain and heat discoloration resistant spills can’t burn onto the surface, easy-to-clean vitro ceramic smooth surface glass will provide you with a reliable cooktop for years to come.
  • 9 heat level settings allow range from melt to rapid boil, accurate and easy temperature changes at the touch of a button, boil, stew, fry, stir fry, switch from one mode to another as needed, get amazingly fast heat with induction that boils water 50% faster than an old school radiant cooktop.
30 Inch Induction Cooktop, Electric Cooktop with 4 Burners Drop-in Electric Stove Top 240V Smoothtop Ceramic Glass Induction Burner with Timer, Kid Safety Lock, 9 Heating Level, ETL & FCC Certificated
  • Pay Attention to Details: Please confirm if the 30-inch glass electric cooktop is suitable before purchasing. The Product size(WxDxH): 29.92'' x 20.47'' x 2.28'', Cut out size: 28.74'' x 19.29'', 220V~240V, 50/60Hz. The Sincreative Induction Cooktop 4 burners offer ONE-YEAR US Based Manufacturer Warranty
  • 9 Heat Level Settings & 99 Minutes Timer: 9 heat level settings for precise heating, perfect for the boil, stew, fry, stir fry, etc. Slider Sensor touch control is easy to use for all family members. Sensitive Digital Control and up 99 minutes timer will help you to cook perfectly and accurately. Set power & timer and then enjoy leisure cooking time
  • Multiple Protection Functions: This electric stove top apply with multiple safety devices, Over-heating Protection, Residual Heat Indicator, Child Lock, and Auto Shutdown. Don't stress over spills with induction's easy-to-clean surface that generates heat only to your pan, not your cooktop, meaning spills can't burn onto the surface
  • 4 Different Burners Meet Your Need: This electric cooktop is freely adjustable to suit your cooking needs. High-power induction cooker:2300 / 3000W(dia 11")+ 1800 / 2100W(dia 9.05")+ 1200 / 1500W(dia 6.88")+ 1200 / 1500W(6.88"). 240V is more effective than 120V, fast heating save your cooking time and makes it easy to handle multi-person parties
  • USA ETL & FCC Certificate: Our Electric Cooktop approval by ETL & FCC Certificate, you don't need to worry about security. Smoothtop style built-in electric cooktop can work with stainless steel and cast-iron cookware, which makes it a perfect cooking companion for you
Sale
Electric Cooktop, thermomate 36 Inch Built-in Radiant Electric Stove Top, 240V Ceramic Electric Stove with 5 Burners, 9 Heating Level, Timer & Kid Safety Lock, Sensor Touch Control
  • 5 high power burners: Triple 2300W/1600W/800W (9.1in/6.9in/4.7in) + Dual 2000W/1100W (10.6in/6.5in)+1800W (7.9in)+1200W (6.5in)+1200W(6.5in). Supplied with 4 feet (1.22 m) power cable, suitable for AC220-240V, rated power 6130-7295W for heats up faster and quick cooking. 5 cooking zones with different power, meet your different cooking demands.
  • 1 to 99 minutes timer, just set the power setting and timer, then let the electric stovetop do the rest, and you can enjoy the leisure time and its excellent cooking performance.
  • 9 power settings for precise heating, can be used for braise, fry, deep fry, stir-fry, roast, and even boil water. Sensor touch control is easy to use for all family members. Features over-heating protection, residual heat indicator, auto shutdown, and child safety lock. Works with any kind of cookware makes your cooking easy and enjoyable.
  • 2 inch super slim of a black glass modern design it takes up minimal space under the counter. The thermomate electric cooktop with smooth vitro ceramic surface, effortless cleaning, and durable use for a long time.
  • Please verify the cooktop is the right size for you: Product size: 35.4" W x 20.5"D x 2.0"H, cut out size: 34.3" W x 19.3"D.
Sale
Duxtop LCD Portable Double Induction Cooktop 1800W Digital Electric Countertop Burner Sensor Touch Stove, 9620LS/BT-350DZ
  • 【DUAL HEATING ZONES】→ This professional digital countertop induction cooktop by Duxtop is equipped with two independent heating zones that allow you to set each one separately using the LCD display screen. The Duxtop induction burner uses 120 Volts, 15 amp of electricity—standard in all North American homes.
  • 【SAFE—EASY TO USE—EASY TO CLEAN】→ Child safety lock system helps protect from injuries such as scalding. Touch control panel is simple to operate, and the rapid heating of the cookware makes cooking fast and easy. With no open flame or heating element, food does not burn-on the glass cooktop so it’s easy to clean—just wipe with a damp towel.
  • 【CHOOSE POWER MODE OR TEMPERATURE MODE】→ There are 20 preset levels per mode so you can select the perfect one for your cooking task. Simply press one button to switch between cooking modes. TEMPERATURE MODE is recommended to fry, steam and saute. Try POWER MODE to keep food warm or to bring water to a boil quickly.
  • 【ENERGY EFFICIENT】→ Electric cooktops place the electromagnetic energy directly into the cookware without wasting energy on a heating element. This makes them extremely energy efficient while providing faster heating. The Power Sharing Feature is designed to avoid electrical overload and increase efficiency by allowing the burners to share power between them while in Power Mode.
  • 【WIDE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS】→ This double induction cooker is compatible with cast iron, iron, magnetic steel, enameled iron, stainless steel manufactured with a magnetic bottom. If a magnet sticks to the cookware bottom, it should be compatible. Lightweight and attractive design makes it great for home and outdoor cooking. Low and high voltage warning system; ETL approved and built to North American electrical standards.

Suitable cookware

Cookware used on induction cooktops must be made of ferrous (iron) materials. Induction cooktops won’t work unless you use magnetizable cookware.

Cast-iron cookware – including ceramic- or porcelain-coated cast iron – is fine. Some stainless-steel and multi-layered cookware are also suitable.

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But copper or aluminum pans won’t work unless they’ve got multi-layered bases with an outer layer of suitably ferrous material.

Non-stick pans without an outer layer of iron won’t work either.

Most cookware will say whether it’s suitable for induction cooktops.

Tip

Take a magnet with you when shopping for cookware. If the magnet sticks to the base of a pan, the pan will work on an induction cooktop.

For induction cooktops to perform most efficiently, a pan’s base must cover at least 60 to 75 percent (depending on the model) of the cooking zone and be no more than the recommended maximum diameter. The cooktop’s manual will tell you the recommended maximum diameters.

Safe with pacemakers?

The area around an induction cooktop is electromagnetically charged. It’s unlikely to affect pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices.

Still, some brands come with a recommendation that you get advice on any possible safety concerns from the manufacturer of your pacemaker or from a doctor.

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Features to look for

If you are buying an induction cooktop, here’s what to consider.

Safety sensors

These monitor the temperature of the bottom of the cookware. So if an empty pan’s left sitting on a zone that’s “on”, the sensor adjusts the power output to avoid damaging the cookware or the cooking zone.

Automatic switch-off

If a zone’s not in use, this feature switches it off after a preset time.

Power boost

A “boost” feature heats food or liquid quickly at the highest setting and then automatically reduces the heat to a pre-selected lower setting.

Residual-heat indicator

This is a light that stays on until the temperature gets down to a safe level.

Protection against overflows

The hob may shut down with a “beep” if a pan overflows on to the buttons. Remove the overflow, then begin cooking again.

Pan detection

When you remove a pan from the cooking zone, the zone stops operating – and a display symbol appears, telling you what’s happened (when you put the pan back, the symbol disappears, and cooking resumes).

If you try to use cookware that’s not suitable, yet another display symbol lets you know what you’ve done (and after a short period, the zone switches itself off).

See Suitable cookware for more about cookware.

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Timers

For each cooking zone. Some models have separate timers for general kitchen use.

Memory

Allows you to program the full cooking cycle for a particular preparation.

Auto heat-up

Allows the cooking zone to heat to a higher setting, then automatically turn down to a preset setting after a certain amount of time.

This is handy if you’re cooking rice using the absorption method and want to bring it to the boil initially and then simmer.

Keep warm function

A very low simmer setting can be used to keep food warm.

Other considerations

Induction Cooktops

Installation issues

Induction cooktops need to be specially installed. The electronics shouldn’t be exposed to significant amounts of heat during cooking – and so they usually come with fan-cooled “heat sinks” to disperse the heat.

(You may hear some noise from the heat-sink fans during and after cooking.)

Adequate ventilation space is also essential. The manufacturer’s installation dimensions must be carefully followed.

Not all induction cooktops can safely be installed above every brand of under-bench oven. Check the installation instructions to see which combinations are acceptable.

Tip

Be aware that manufacturers may try to steer you towards using one of their ovens, even though other brands would work fine.

Because they heat so quickly, these cooktops draw plenty of energy. A normal power socket has a 10-amp connection, but an induction cooktop may require a connection of 20, 32, or even 42 amps.

This must be hard-wired by a licensed electrician (the cost will depend on how difficult it is to install a dedicated circuit between the main power board and the kitchen).

Before buying an induction cooktop, we recommend getting a quote for installation costs.

How cheap to run?

The sales talk highlights induction cooktops’ efficiency and cost savings – but when we compared them with a ceramic cooktop, they weren’t any cheaper to run over the same period of time.

Because it boils water in seconds, an induction cooktop may save a little energy. But the purchase price is high. And if you don’t have suitable cookware, there’s the added expense of new pots and pans.

Last update on 2024-03-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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