If you're renovating a kitchen or looking to upgrade your cooking appliances, induction cooktops are likely on your radar. Praised for their superior cooking performance, sleek designs and cooking efficiency, they generally outperform other cooktop types in CHOICE testing.
But deciding whether an induction cooktop is right for you really comes down to your priorities and budget. Before making the switch, here's some important questions to consider to help you decide whether induction cooking suits your lifestyle and needs.
1. Are you short on time?
One of the biggest benefits of induction cooktops is how energy efficient they are, delivering fast heat and precise temperatures. With induction cooking, heat is transferred directly to the base of the pan with about 85% efficiency.
Comparatively, cooktops that transfer energy via gas-powered heating elements operate at an efficiency of 32%.
So, if you hate waiting for the saucepan of water to boil on a busy weeknight, an induction cooktop can get the job done in about 2-3 minutes, whereas a gas cooktop will take four minutes or longer.
Precise temperature control is great for cooking tasks like simmering and searing, and means that an induction cooktop is very responsive when you turn the temperature up or down.
2. What kind of cookware do you own?
Induction cooktops require magnetic cookware, so if your current set isn't compatible, you'll need to invest in new pots and pans. You can check your existing cookware by placing a magnet on the base. If it sticks well, it will be good to use on induction.
Cast-iron and stainless steel cookware is usually fine, whereas aluminum, copper, or glass pots and pans won't work unless they have a magnetic base - see how to buy the right pots and pans for induction cooking plus some top tips for induction cooking success.
3. Is safety important to you?
As induction cooktops only transfer heat when there is a pot sitting on the burner the glass surface stays cooler than gas or ceramic, reducing the risk of burns. Plus there's no open flame that could burn little fingers or scorch clothing or anything else that comes into contact with it.
Many induction cooktops have safety features like child lock or automatic shut-off, which turns off the cooking zone if no cookware is detected. Induction cooktops are also a better option than gas cooktops for your health, due to the contaminants produced by gas burning.
"Gas cooktops contribute 12% of the childhood asthma burden, which is equivalent to tobacco smoke in the home," says Asthma Australia CEO Michele Goldman.
4. Are you ready for a learning curve?
CHOICE home economist Fiona Mair says induction cooktops are generally very easy to use, however features such as touch controls and rapid heating temperature changes may take some getting used to.
There's also added features such as Wi-Fi connectivity that you may or may not find useful. Expect some trial and error as you adapt your cooking habits.
"Some induction cooktops are easier to use than others, so do your research before you buy. Some don't have clear labelling of controls or less obvious cooking zones," says Fiona.
She also says that if you're having problems, it could be that your cookware is the wrong size for the cooking zones.
"For maximum heating efficiency, it's important that the cooking zone sizes match the base sizes of your cookware.
"When we test induction cooktops in our CHOICE kitchen lab, we give each model a score for 'Ease of Use' - looking at factors such as how easy it is to use the controls, the size, type and positioning of cooking zones as well as ease of cleaning. They're not all created equal - see the induction cooktop models that failed to impress our testers."
Sleek, modern and efficient: is it time you got inducted?
5. Do you hate cleaning but love a sleek, modern aesthetic?
With their minimalist, streamlined designs, induction cooktops have a great modern look that suits contemporary kitchens.
If you're tired of cleaning the clunky, rusty burners and pesky ridges on your gas cooktop or the grime that builds up around knobs on your ceramic cooktop, induction cooking could be the answer - just ensure you have a suitable cleaner and microfibre cloth on hand: how to clean an induction cooktop.
6. How is your kitchen set up?
Before you invest in induction, you'll have to check that your home has adequate electrical wiring for the higher wattage requirements of an induction cooktop - they usually need a dedicated circuit, typically 20 amp or greater, which will need to be installed by an electrician.
If you need to change the power connection, it will need to be done by an electrician and installation can be costly. Induction cooktops also come in various sizes, so ensure your countertop can accommodate the model you buy.
7. What's your budget?
Prices for induction cooktops have become more competitive as more and more models are released, however the cost may still be higher than basic gas or ceramic models.
The models in our latest induction cooktop review range in price from $599 to over $5000 so there are options for most budgets. In comparison, the ceramic cooktops in our test range in price from $275 to $1899, while the gas cooktops we've tested start at $299 and run as high as $3599.
Fiona says that paying more will generally give you greater flexibility with your cooking.
"Pricier models may have flexible induction zones that consist of either 4 or 6 cooking zones which can be combined into 2 or 3 cooking zones. This enables the user to have better flexibility with cookware shapes and sizes, meaning you can use larger or differently shaped cookware, such as roasting pans or rectangular grill plates." says Fiona.
"You'll pay more for a cooktop with full surface induction which gives you the ability to place the cookware anywhere on the cooktop.".
You could also make potential savings over the long term by switching from gas to induction, particularly if you have your own solar panels and battery, as induction cooktops run solely on electricity.
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