About Induction Cook Tops
While induction cooking has been used in commercial kitchens for lots of years, for the most part in Europe, it is only now gaining acceptance in household kitchens. In the past, the technology was too pricey for household use, and there were concerns of cook top durability and longevity. Improvements have been made, and household induction cook tops may be ordered in the $200-$300 range.What is induction cooking? An induction cook top or hob does not deliver heat as would a traditional gas or electric burner. Instead, the unit produces an oscillating high-frequency electromagnetic field that induces electric currents within the cook pot or pan itself, and the natural resistance by the metal to the electric currents results in instant heating.
This heat is then transferred to the food inside the cook pot or pan for the cooking process.Not every kitchen pot or pan is induction ready. In order for the induction hob to induce electric currents inside the cooking vessel, it must have ferromagnetic metal (i.e. attracted to a magnet), for instance cast iron. Stainless steel (18/10) is NOT ferromagnetic, but premium brands of stainless steel cookware utilize an external or internal layer of chrome steel which is ferromagnetic. Aluminum is not ferromagnetic.There are major advantages of induction versus traditional heating methods. Firstly, up to 90% of the power used in operating an induction cook top goes into the heating of food versus 40% heating efficiency by traditional methods. This results in significant energy savings while keeping the kitchen cooler without unused warmth filling the room.
A further important advantage of induction cooking is its immediate, exact, and speedy heat control. In less than a minute, you can bring a saucepan of water to a boil.Safe. Since the induction hob does not produce heat, a person, even a child, can contact the cook top surface before, during, or after cooking without injury. Modern units also use sensors to sense whether a ferromagnetic cooking vessel is in on the cook top or not, and if not, it turns off the unit's electromagnetic field.Convenient and versatile. Single units weigh under than 10 lbs and function from any typical 120 volt outlet. Not only for the kitchen, induction units are perfect for cooking at the office, in a dorm room, or on your yacht.
