The Induction Cooktop
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Have You Considered Induction Cooking?
The black ceramic induction cooktop shown in this intro photo is the one we installed in our kitchen. Yes, it is easy to clean and has easy digital touch buttons, a timer and five cooking zones. Our counter top was dated but with a couple of accessories and a little bright green touches, I have a fresh new look.
Would you like to get rid of natural gas from your kitchen? Do you have an old electric cooktop that needs replacing? And last, do you cook on a hot plate? Have you heard of induction cooking?
Look into the induction cook top. I had not heard about it until December 2009 and now I think it is the best thing since the microwave. It is energy saving and safe because there is no heat without a pan. All the units available are space saving and modern looking.
Think about the magnetic induction cooktop for your cooking needs.
Why I Decided on Induction
I have cooked on an electric cooktop for 26 years. About 7 years into that I wanted a new gas cooktop. I live in a track home and all the neighbors have proudly gone to gas and got rid of the original builder's offering.November 2009 we had to buy a new built in microwave because the original would not take anymore of my husband's tinkerings. Wow, I love the new microwave and convection oven combo we put in. Auto everything and a sleek stainless steel look.
A few weeks later the store where we bought it had a sale on all appliances. Ed asked if we should take advantage and buy a new cooktop. Ed is the shopper in our house. I did not notice the sale and the old appliance was not broke yet, so his surprise suggestion was answered with "Okay!"
We had already talked about induction cooking and I was pretty clueless, but his brother who was building a new house and doing research told us induction saves on energy costs. It is even cheaper to operate than natural gas. I was sold on the idea and so we went shopping.
GE Profile Induction Hub or Cooktop
GE Profile CleanDesign : PHP960DMBB 36 Induction Cooktop, 5 Induction Elements- Black
Amazon Price: $1,387.03 (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price:
Both my daughter and I love this cooktop. We were surprised how easy it was to use and the cool to the touch surfaces are nice to have on a ceramic surface. I like the instant control of cooking heat, no uneven hot spots on the pan surface and no more waiting to boil water.
Five cooking surfaces and a timer with controls at lower center of unit. Cleaning is a breeze with only the one flat surface. I rate it 5 stars.
How It Works
Induction cooking needs a pot that a magnet will stick to. That includes stainless steel, stainless steel clad, iron and enamel clad iron. I had enough of these pieces to cook right away. All the anodized pans went into the attic for when the kids need them. Keep that in mind when you are considering magnetic induction.
On the inside of an induction cooktop is a thinly wound copper coil the width of the cooking area. Attached to it is a few electromagnetic components and that is wired to some computer components. Nothing will work till you put your pan on the burner marked areas. Place your magnetic pan on the burner turn it on and the coil magnetizes and heats only the pan by using electromagnetic energy. This is safe because all the energy is being conducted and contained in the metal only and becomes the heat. The pan gets hot then the food gets hot. Bam! You're cooking.
Same Model as Ours
GE Profile CleanDesign : PHP960SMSS 36 Induction Cooktop - Black Surface, Stainless Steel Trim
Amazon Price: $1,469.47 (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price: $2,499.00
This Amazon review by FFDR says it all. I am just as happy.
"My wife and I bought this for our new home even though after quite a bit of hesitation, as this technology is not very popular, and we did not know anybody that had used it before. We new that most of our pots and pans would not work with it, but that was not much of a concern as we wanted to upgrade our cookingware anyway.Sure enough, the first try of our new cooktop was a big surprise. But the good way. The performance simply blew us away. We have never experienced anything that comes even close in terms of reaction speed, ease of use, and sheer power.
Pros:
* Extremely powerful. Boiling water, making fish/meat stock, making pasta become easy.... ". See whole review on Amazon.com by clicking this product button and viewing "1 customer review".
More Efficient Than Gas
What is Induction cooking?
The electromagnetic field (EMF) can be adjusted to 18 levels. If the pan is removed the "burner" shuts off. You can immediately touch the burner and it will be cool. There is no waste of energy because none is needlessly lost in transfer from heating coil to pan or flame to pan. It is so efficient two quarts of water will boil in one minute. Gas has 40% efficiency while induction is rated 83-90% per Wikipedia. (1.)With the 18 levels of heat just press the pad and go up or down, the heat is instantly adjusted under the pot. In the intro picture is Hungarian goulash simmering at a level 3 in an enamel clad iron pot. I checked the progress of the goulash. Under the lid I saw tiny bubbles indicating a low simmer, but they were not just in the middle they appeared evenly throughout the stew. I could see that I would not have to check and stir as often because the whole area was getting the benefit of the disbursed simmer. This is an advantage over gas.The beef was tender in an hour.
Name Brands Offer Induction Cooking
Bosch : NIT5665UC 36 500 Series Induction Cooktop - Stainless Steel
Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price: $2,689.01
Thermador 30" Electric Induction Cooktop In Silver Mirrored Finish
Amazon Price: (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price:
Electrolux : EW30CC55GB 30 Hybrid Induction Cooktop with 2 Induction/2 Radiant Elements - Black
Amazon Price: $1,499.00 (as of 06/01/2012)
List Price: $1,998.67
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
LG 30" Induction Cooktop
Amazon Price: $1,996.75 (as of 06/01/2012)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
The French Know Cooking
Safety of Induction as a Hotplate
A Portable Induction Cooktop
Restaurants and hotel breakfast venues have adapted the induction unit. Heat can be instantly obtained and eggs cooked to order as the guest watches. I have seen this in action the last weekend I spent out of town.
Ed, my husband, installed our cooktop with his electrical trained brother. Though he has not really cooked with the stove I have told him all the details and on his out-of town trips he has made himself a favorite with all the cooks. They love their new induction units, pans and ease of use and two hotels had employees that were thrilled to talk about induction cooking. His new found knowledge has made him known by name, he is offered free meals and he even brought home a restaurant grade fry pan. We have to laugh because he is a soft spoken unassuming person.
I saw ones similar to the one at right used in the hotel for my morning eggs.
Hot Plate Type Induction Cookers
Get All The Info On the Portable Induction Cooktop
Do You Use Induction for Cooking?
Induction Cooktop for the Kitchen
Do you have induction?
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franksms
Mar 10, 2011 @ 9:32 am | delete
- Hi, I got my first induction unit in 1980, as a burner kit for my Jenn-Air. I have loved induction for all there years, and am glad it is gaining popularity.
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sema
Jul 27, 2010 @ 7:36 am | delete
- Interesting! Great information shared and I would love to try this cooking method.
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JaguarJulie Jun 18, 2010 @ 3:47 pm | delete
- I love this cooking method for there is nothing better than conducting a cooking session on an induction countertop. Love mine! Now, we're cooking!
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dustytoes
Mar 30, 2010 @ 3:24 pm | delete
- Wow this is cool. I rent so don't have the option of owning one, but this is very interesting and I love that the burners cool right away.
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blue22d
Mar 16, 2010 @ 1:56 pm | delete
- Very interesting. I had not heard about it before now, but I only cook when I have too. If it saves energy, that is great!
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Bibliography and Link List
(1.) Wikipedia
Good info at Induction Cooking
by paperfacets
Hello fellows Cooks,
Every house has a microwave. Some day maybe every house will have some kind of induction cooking. It is easy to understand and use....
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