What is induction cooktop and do I want one?

[Anonymous]

Time for a new cooktop . I was looking at the options and for some reason all traditional are now being replaced by induction ones.
I can not say that I know more about this beyond basic concept of induction and when I looked up to confirm I got a bit surprised
that indeed this is the principle being used in the kitchen.

Induction stovetops are flat cooktops that have an electromagnetic field underneath the cooking surface.

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ab/induction-cooktop-buying-guide/9ba683603be9fa5395fab9015e8023b9

induction cooktops use an electromagnetic current, you must use magnetic cookware.

https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/cooking-cookware/is-induction-a-better-safer-cooking-method/

Induction heating occurs using electromagnetic radiation

https://thorkitchen.com/induction-cooktop-vs-electric/

While I find it interesting that it is a new way of cooking that has many exciting features I also find few things concerning.

Like for instance how does this technology affect nutritional value of the foods cooked on such stoves? What about magnetic field exposure?

How do you feel about induction stovetops in general?

[Anonymous]

Best part of kitchen reno over five years ago. I love to cook and won’t use anything else.

[Anonymous]

I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

[Anonymous]

I love my induction cook top. No regrets at all.

[Anonymous]

I would like to replace my gas range with an induction one

[Anonymous]

We used to have one, but had to get rid of it. You should know that some people are hypersensitive to them. One of my kids would freak out and grab his ears when it was on like he was in agony -- apparently some people can hear/feel them and it is very unpleasant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to have one, but had to get rid of it. You should know that some people are hypersensitive to them. One of my kids would freak out and grab his ears when it was on like he was in agony -- apparently some people can hear/feel them and it is very unpleasant.

Interesting (and I'm sorry!). One of mine is like this. There a certain old school TV at her grandparents that causes this reaction. She can tell from a couple rooms away when someone turns it on and starts to flip out. I'm not OP but was considering going induction. I'm wondering if there is a way to test certain models. Did you go back to electric or gas?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

+1 I have zero issues keeping mine clean. It's incredibly easy, actually.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to have one, but had to get rid of it. You should know that some people are hypersensitive to them. One of my kids would freak out and grab his ears when it was on like he was in agony -- apparently some people can hear/feel them and it is very unpleasant.

Wow! Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

Oh yeah, that is not unique to the induction ovens. Glass stove tops are hell to keep clean. Especially the black shinny ones.
Any spills or splatters and splashes bake right into it and you need to do acrobatics to clean it without scratching the surface.
While the surface is very hard, with time the top glaze gets tired just like tooth enamel and those micro abrasions that you can not even see with your naked eye do cling to the hot food for their dear life. So cleaning is more and more difficult and the result is less and less spectacular.

It does not apply to people who do have kitchen for decoration and socializing purposes only and who do not cook in them and
the extend of use of their ovens does not exceed boiling water, reheating left overs or having a wild sex on the top of the countertops without special attention where the countertop ends and the stove begins, ever so easier when they started making them without the knobs

Having said that, the said glass cook tops, regardless of the heating technology do look good for couple of years, after that you will see the tired part. But don't we all work that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to have one, but had to get rid of it. You should know that some people are hypersensitive to them. One of my kids would freak out and grab his ears when it was on like he was in agony -- apparently some people can hear/feel them and it is very unpleasant.

Interesting (and I'm sorry!). One of mine is like this. There a certain old school TV at her grandparents that causes this reaction. She can tell from a couple rooms away when someone turns it on and starts to flip out. I'm not OP but was considering going induction. I'm wondering if there is a way to test certain models. Did you go back to electric or gas?

not PP but OP, I wonder what is causing that, is it kind of like the electric lines hum type of thing?
Gas can be problematic if you want to keep your interior as clean as possible because not matter what the fumes do pollute indoor air
and also they use up the oxygen form the inside of the house which with super tight modern window can be a problem and even lead to CO poisoning.. I was surprised when I came across this information. Normal electric seems to be still bit better option, my beef with it is that those glass tops are really painfully weak and you can never get professional results on them because some technologies require really strong heat and they are not there. Not even standard gas stoves do this, you need to go up to commercial/pro grade but
not every kitchen can accommodate them as they require pretty solid subflooring that if you don't have in place is a headache to grandfather, besides that, they get very hot so whatever is next to them, the wall behind it, the countertops next to them are also something you need to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

Oh yeah, that is not unique to the induction ovens. Glass stove tops are hell to keep clean. Especially the black shinny ones.
Any spills or splatters and splashes bake right into it and you need to do acrobatics to clean it without scratching the surface.
While the surface is very hard, with time the top glaze gets tired just like tooth enamel and those micro abrasions that you can not even see with your naked eye do cling to the hot food for their dear life. So cleaning is more and more difficult and the result is less and less spectacular.

It does not apply to people who do have kitchen for decoration and socializing purposes only and who do not cook in them and
the extend of use of their ovens does not exceed boiling water, reheating left overs or having a wild sex on the top of the countertops without special attention where the countertop ends and the stove begins, ever so easier when they started making them without the knobs

Having said that, the said glass cook tops, regardless of the heating technology do look good for couple of years, after that you will see the tired part. But don't we all work that way.

Hmm, I still don't understand! I have only had induction (have had for over 10 years) and gas before that so I've never had another type of glass top, but induction stoves don't get as hot as other stoves (which is one of the reasons they are safer) so food doesn't get baked on the way it might do. It is genuinely very very easy to clean - I use barkeeper's friend stovetop cleaner, I put it on the surface and wipe it with a damp cloth. It is pristine and scratch-free after 10 years. And I cook everything from scratch, every day for a family of 6 so it certainly gets plenty of use!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

Oh yeah, that is not unique to the induction ovens. Glass stove tops are hell to keep clean. Especially the black shinny ones.
Any spills or splatters and splashes bake right into it and you need to do acrobatics to clean it without scratching the surface.
While the surface is very hard, with time the top glaze gets tired just like tooth enamel and those micro abrasions that you can not even see with your naked eye do cling to the hot food for their dear life. So cleaning is more and more difficult and the result is less and less spectacular.

It does not apply to people who do have kitchen for decoration and socializing purposes only and who do not cook in them and
the extend of use of their ovens does not exceed boiling water, reheating left overs or having a wild sex on the top of the countertops without special attention where the countertop ends and the stove begins, ever so easier when they started making them without the knobs

Having said that, the said glass cook tops, regardless of the heating technology do look good for couple of years, after that you will see the tired part. But don't we all work that way.

Hmm, I still don't understand! I have only had induction (have had for over 10 years) and gas before that so I've never had another type of glass top, but induction stoves don't get as hot as other stoves (which is one of the reasons they are safer) so food doesn't get baked on the way it might do. It is genuinely very very easy to clean - I use barkeeper's friend stovetop cleaner, I put it on the surface and wipe it with a damp cloth. It is pristine and scratch-free after 10 years. And I cook everything from scratch, every day for a family of 6 so it certainly gets plenty of use!

I don't understand this comment. I have induction. It does get hot. If I have boring water going and remove the pan I absolutely can burn myself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know people love them but I actually find them harder to keep clean than my trusty gas stove. They do look great (when clean)!

Please explain this! It's a smooth sheet of glass - you clean with any cleaner or a special glass stovetop cleaner. How can this be harder to clean than a gas stove, where there are different parts and food can get crusted or burnt on?

Oh yeah, that is not unique to the induction ovens. Glass stove tops are hell to keep clean. Especially the black shinny ones.
Any spills or splatters and splashes bake right into it and you need to do acrobatics to clean it without scratching the surface.
While the surface is very hard, with time the top glaze gets tired just like tooth enamel and those micro abrasions that you can not even see with your naked eye do cling to the hot food for their dear life. So cleaning is more and more difficult and the result is less and less spectacular.

It does not apply to people who do have kitchen for decoration and socializing purposes only and who do not cook in them and
the extend of use of their ovens does not exceed boiling water, reheating left overs or having a wild sex on the top of the countertops without special attention where the countertop ends and the stove begins, ever so easier when they started making them without the knobs

Having said that, the said glass cook tops, regardless of the heating technology do look good for couple of years, after that you will see the tired part. But don't we all work that way.

Hmm, I still don't understand! I have only had induction (have had for over 10 years) and gas before that so I've never had another type of glass top, but induction stoves don't get as hot as other stoves (which is one of the reasons they are safer) so food doesn't get baked on the way it might do. It is genuinely very very easy to clean - I use barkeeper's friend stovetop cleaner, I put it on the surface and wipe it with a damp cloth. It is pristine and scratch-free after 10 years. And I cook everything from scratch, every day for a family of 6 so it certainly gets plenty of use!

I don't understand this comment. I have induction. It does get hot. If I have boring water going and remove the pan I absolutely can burn myself.

OK, maybe we have different cooktops. My experience is that it does get hot but nothing bakes on. Obviously your experience is different.