What is an Induction Cooktop?
An induction cooktop is very different from the traditional electric cooker, and gas stove, for that matter. Instead of using direct heat or open flames, like gas stoves, it uses induction, a process of transferring heat from one vessel to another, in order to cook food evenly. Induction technology offers many more advantages, if compared to traditional cooking appliances. For one thing, induction uses less energy. If you’re thinking about buying an induction cooktop for your kitchen, here are five things that you should consider.
5 things to consider when buying an Induction Cooktop
1. Energy efficiency. In today’s tough economy, a tight budget is an ever-present hindrance to everything. The good news is that you can save a lot of money if you buy induction cooktops. In theory, induction uses less energy compared gas stoves and other electrical cooking appliances. In practice, induction cooktops can net you a lot of savings by being fuel-efficient. Since induction allows food to cook more quickly and safely, you also save precious time and all the while avoid food wastage.
2. Another thing to consider when buying induction-based cooktops is portability. Many of the cooktops sold today are not as portable as they are advertised. Keep in mind that there are several things that might affect portability, such as the dimensions and weight. And even if the cooktop is small enough and light enough, its portability may be lessened if it doesn’t have a long cord.
3. Cooking time. Not all of us have that much time to spend on cooking, especially in cooking delicate cousins and recipes. In buying induction-based cooktops, the quickness of cooking is another thing that must be taken into account. The cooktops cooking speed will vary according to the way heat is distributed to the cookware, the amount of heat that is distributed and the electricity used to generate the heat. All of these things can be found on the specs, so make sure that you read those.
4. Ease of use. Much like you don’t have all the time in the world to spend on cooking, you also can’t spare too much mental energy in figuring out how to work things out. To be practical, choose an induction cooktop that has a neat layout and an easy to use control panel. This way, you won’t have to waste time and effort trying to decipher how to activate something so simple as a timer.
5. The last thing to consider is design. Contemporary kitchens, especially first class kitchens, can’t have inferior-looking cooktops. Even if the cooktop has state-of-the-art technology inside, its outside appearance is undeniably important. As a piece of advice, pick an induction-based cooktop that works good and looks good.