Induction cooking
A great topic of conversation and one I often have with my clients…..
Induction cooking is cooking via a magnetron which means a high-frequency magnetic field is produced.
Energy is transferred into the metal once it has been placed onto the cooktop. (The cookware needs to be of a ferrous (iron) material, ie steel plated, in some cases this means upgrading your cookware)
The pan then heats up and cooks the food directly.
The external part of the pan will never be too hot to touch as the heat is generated inside the pan.
This is a real safety feature = great for young chefs learning to cook.
Also, super easy maintenance as spills are never ‘baked’ on as the surface never gets that hot!
Induction cooking reaches temperatures instantaneously, unlike ceramic. When you want to change the temperature, it happens immediately.
Take for example boiling 1 litre of water: induction will take 2 minutes, ceramic 6 and gas 8.
In smaller kitchens, the induction cooktop can be doubled as bench space when not in use.
An induction cooktop requires a lot of power, sometimes up to 4 times the amount of a ceramic cooktop. This is because they heat so quickly and draw plenty of energy.
An induction cooktop must be installed by an approved electrician.
An induction cooktop saves on energy so in the long run it costs no more than a ceramic cooktop.
The initial outlay is much higher for induction cooking.
Lastly, style and design needs careful consideration and, as your kitchen designer I will have an opinion on this and guide you as to what I think will suit the space and aesthetic.
Do you have a pacemaker?
The area around an induction cooktop is electromagnetically charged. It’s unlikely to affect pacemakers or other implanted electronic devices, but some pacemaker brands recommend you keep a distance of at least 60cm from an induction cooktop. Before you buy get advice on any possible safety concerns from the manufacturer of your pacemaker and your doctor.
Top tip for buying the correct cookware: Take a magnet with you when shopping for your new pots and pans. If the magnet sticks to the base of a pan, it will work on an induction cooktop.
…. And lastly from me….. go Induction, you will never look back!
