With the advancement of technology, we see lots of new inventions coming into the market with a single purpose to provide convenience to people.
Induction cooking is the latest trend and advancement in the world. Many chefs and restaurants now prefer induction stoves because of its benefits. Suddenly a rise in induction stoves popularity has brought us with the problem of choosing pans, and pots, that are compatible with induction stoves. Not all cookware of electric stovetops can be used on induction stoves.
Although these stoves are a bit expensive, they have many benefits, and the prices are gradually coming down. You can’t touch the electric stove of the glass with the hand; it will be burning hot and scald your hands, whereas the induction stove is comparatively colder, reducing any injury or burn accidents in the kitchen. And induction stove cooks the food without heating the surrounding air. So, your kitchen will not be as hot, and you won’t be as sweaty as it is with any other traditional stove.
How does Induction Stove Work?
The induction stove works by creating a magnetic field. It has coil beneath it, and when the alternating current passes through it, it creates an electromagnetic field. And when the pot or pan comes in contact with it, the electromagnetic creates around the pan and produces heat. Here, the flame doesn’t produce heat like a traditional stove.
Cookware for induction Stove:
Three types of cookware won’t work with induction stove.
- A pot or pan that is 100% made of Aluminium.
- A pot that is made of 100% copper.
- A pot with non-magnetic stainless steel.
The following types of induction cookware will work with your latest bought induction stove.
- A pan that has a ferromagnetic body that means it has iron, cast iron in its material, will work well with your induction stove.
- If you have magnetic stainless steel, you are ready to use it on your induction stove. For this very reason, and rise in demand for magnetic pans, stainless-steel is now made in a magnetic material.
- The ones with sandwich construction will work with induction stoves. Now, you must be wondering what does it mean? Think of a sandwich! It is the type where copper or Aluminium is sandwiched between magnetic stainless steel.
- The pots or pans that are coated with Ceramic or other material will not have any interference with its ability to be used as inductive cookware.
If you want to check your current pots and pans compatibility, just stick the magnet at the base of it, if it sticks. It is ready for your induction cooking.
How to convert Non-Inductive pots:
To replace your entire kitchens utensils is not an easy thing, just because you installed an induction stove in your kitchen. And it causes a hassle if you are on a budget.
Fortunately, there are ways to use your non-inductive pots on your induction stove, if you do not want to buy new pots and pans.
1.Converter Disk:
Converter Disk, aka interface disc, is your solution to convert regular pots into induction-ready pots. Converter Disk is a flat material of iron or stainless steel. It has a handle that will not heat up during cooking. And the most significant advantage of it is, it evenly distributes heat on to the cooking utensil, without any hot or cold spot.
It is heavy enough, so your pot won’t tip over. Moreover, disks are thin for the heat to be transferred to
the pot efficiently.
And it is easy to use. Just place it on your induction stove, and put your regular pot or pan over it, and start cooking. You can get the benefits of induction cooking via disc. The magnetic field is created around the converter disk and produces heat. The heat will transfer to your regular pot and pan and cook your food.
Disadvantage:
We are aware that a converter disc is just a replacement. Converter disc slows down the cooking and cooking time increases. The reason is, the pot isn’t directly heated by an electromagnetic mechanism. The converter disc heats up and transfers the heat to the pot. It creates a barrier.
Another reason is regular pots may have dents and lumps. For optimal results, the cookware bottom should be completely flat. These dents and bumps lessen the surface area that is in contact with the converter disc. Another reason is air gets trapped in between those two surfaces. The air acts as a barrier between the two surfaces, and as a result, cooking time increases.
The dents and bumps in cookware also heat the air, and most of the heat goes back down into the disc, making converter disc more heated than the cookware.
2. Steel wire sheet:
Another cheap method is to purchase a steel wire sheet from your local hardware store.
Just place it in between your induction stove and regular pot. I, personally, do not prefer this method, as this causes safety problems. You might accidentally touch the wire and get your hands burned. But, if you fold the steel sheet in half, it may reduce the risk of burned hands.
Keep in mind! It is just a hack. The better way would be to buy a converter disk. And if you are using a sheet, remove your pot and steel wire sheet only when you have switched off the induction stove.
Do you want to hear another hack? Do you have a thermal paste lying around? Apply it on the bottom of your pan to reduce the bumps and dents of your regular pot before placing it on the converter disc. The heat will spread the computer thermal paste in the form of a thin layer. It will decrease the cooking time and will efficiently prepare your food.
The downside is, you will have to apply it every time before using the pot, as heat will crack the paste.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can you use regular pans on an induction cooktop?
Yes, you can use regular pans but with just a simple trick. Invest in converter disc/interface disc or netted steel sheet. Use it to transfer the heat from the stove to your regular pan. When you use a converter disc, that sorts of complete the circuit and connects your pan to the induction stove. But remember, this will double your cooking time.
2. How do I make my cookware induction compatible?
To make your cookware induction compatible with your induction stove, you will have to buy the converter disc, or if you have a steel net sheet that we use on windows, you can place it between your regular pan and induction stove.
3. What happens if you put a non-induction pan on an induction stove?
If you place your non-induction pan on your induction stove and start it, it will show an error. It will beep and won’t start. But don’t worry, your regular pan would not blast, or you wouldn’t get a shock by touching it.
4. How to check cookware induction compatibility?
Look in your drawers for a magnet. And attach it to the bottom of the pan; if it sticks, it is compatible with your stove. If it is doesn’t, you will want to buy a converter disc.
Final words:
If you want to enjoy the optimal benefit of the induction stove, you should invest in induction compatible cookware. But it is still a good idea to buy a converter disc if you want a short-term solution. And if you don’t want to change your whole cooking range at once, you can do with just buying one or two induction pans. When you need a pot in different sizes as that of your induction pan, you can use a regular pan with a converter disc. Happy cooking with magnetic waves!
