Induction Cookers and Cooktops

Biofreak:

Wow, this took me awhile to figure out, since so many websites give incorrect information on this topic. But I think I got it.Eddy currents have nothing whatsoever to do with ferrous materials. Eddy currents are a feature of conductors in general. So any object that can conduct electricity can have eddy currents (and will) when subjected to changing magnetic or electric fields. That means that any metal should work in an induction oven.Now the issue I had was trying to figure out why the wiki article claims only ferrous materials will work for your pots. Here’s what I came up with:Eddy currents are not the primary cause of heating in an induction cooker. Though eddy currents will cause heat, they only partially counter the change in magnetic field, which means most of that potential energy does not get absorbed by the pot.If, however, you use a magnetic pot (iron), then not only do you get an eddy current effect, but you also get an effect from the magnetic boundaries in the pot aligning with the external changing magnetic field. In fact, in a real-world induction cooker, this is the dominant heating mechanism. So if you use a magnetic pot, your pot will heat much faster and cook better than if it were simply a conductor.Now, I also want to bring to your attention that ‘ferrous’ is not the right term. What you want is a magnetic pot. Ferrous means iron containing. Now iron happens to be magnetic and is the most common magnetic pot, but nickel would also work because it is magnetic and not ferrous. Furthermore, stainless steal is a very common pot material, and includes a lot of iron, so is ferrous; but most stainless steal is not strongly magnetic, so it may not be a good pot for induction cooking.Looking over that wiki article, I think this is an excellent example of why wikipedia pages should not be used as a source… they are often wrong.

Nurse Diesel:

Magnetic and flat – they pretty much have to be stainless steel. Both copper and aluminum are non-magnetic. Cast iron works, but apparently it’s not flat enough. You’ll have to spend a bit of cash – apparently the theory being that if you can afford the stove, you can afford the pots, but this is a good time of year to buy that stuff, as it’s on sale right now. Just bring a magnet with you when you shop.

Cookware B:

Induction cookware is ferrous which means it supports a magnetic field. Basically it is made of iron or some other metal that supports a magnetic field. This being the case some cookware that you would use on an induction stove is fine to use on a gas stove. However, some have a special coating that could be damaged if used on a gas stove for an extended period of time. If possible the best way to be sure is to consult your owners manual.

Elizabeth:

Make sure that you have decent wattage i would say at least 3000 or you are going to end up with the draw backs of induction with out the benefit. If you’ve never used an induction cooktop before they take a little getting used to, you’ll find that you have a tendency to burn things in the beginning.

inabinet:

The pots n pans aren’t magnetic, but must respond to magnetism. A dimple or divot in a smooth, flat pan to which a magnet will attach should be fine.Most people that have induction cooktops love them. They are safe, clean and easy to use and maintain. One caveat as a technician/troubleshooter who has dealt with these units- buy quality with an extended warrantee if available AND have them professionally installed by someone qualified AND experienced to specifically work with this product. Make them give you an installation warrantee in writing, that they are experienced & have followed all Manufacturer and Electrical supply guidelines.Most problems I dealt with were either installation AND power supply or user inexperience. Local sales and service initially are important. NOT a DIY project!!!!!Enjoy _saPs: about “singing pans” usually the pan surface or coil mounting- not typical or common problem. _s

BustedFlush:

Wow, that’s a good question. I personally have never used an induction cooktop, but I hear they are the bee’s knees and I’d love to have one. They get really hot, really fast. Great for wok cooking. Amazon says they run from about $130 to $170, so with the extra pieces in the 10pc set, it isn’t a bad deal. You could always eBay the cooktop. In new condition it would probably sell for between $90-100, but there’s time/hassle/shipping to figure in there.Hmmm. If it were me; even as much as I’d love to have an induction cooktop, I couldn’t justify it. Like you say, it would take up counter space, and I’d only use it now and then.

chefcherie:

The brands I know offhand that work for induction stoves are AllClad, Circulon(for nonstick) and Henckels. Also all cast iron, enamel coated or raw, works on induction. There are other brands that will work. The trick is to take a fridge magnet with you to the store and hold it to the bottom of a pan. If it sticks, it will work on your stove. If you have a Bed Bath & Beyond near you, find a coupon and go shop. It’s the cheapest way I have found to buy those brands.And congratulations on getting an induction cooktop! I am insanely jealous. They are literally the best cooktop available. Energy efficient and they cook faster than gas.