Pros and cons of an induction cooker

It is very important for any housewife to make the daily process of cooking as comfortable and quick as possible. Thanks to modern technology, induction cooktops for cooking have appeared on the market. In recent years, they have gained great popularity due to their specific properties, which distinguish them favorably from other types of similar household appliances.

What is an induction cooker

This is a device that heats cookware made of a special alloy thanks to the functioning of induced eddy currents generated by a high-frequency electromagnetic field with a frequency of 20–100 kHz.

Principle of operation

Externally, a hob of this type has much in common with stoves with a smooth glass-ceramic surface. But at the same time, instead of a strip element providing heating, there is an electromagnetic coil inside. It passes current, thereby forming a field, under the influence of which its own induced currents appear in the dishes. To perform the heating function, they must be high-frequency (quickly change direction of movement).The current is induced using power lines penetrating through the bottom of the dish. Heating is produced precisely due to this current. This is considered the main distinguishing characteristic of such a stove, since due to the peculiarities of its functioning, the hob does not heat up during cooking.

REFERENCE! Heating occurs quite quickly and this is a huge plus, as it ensures minimal energy consumption.

Device

The design of such a device is quite simple:

• frame;
• electromagnetic coil;
• inverter;
• microcontroller control board;
• glass ceramic panel;
• fan.

Pros of an induction cooker

Efficiency

Due to the peculiarities of the functioning of this type of stove, its efficiency when heating is 90%, which is significantly higher compared to gas (60%), glass-ceramic (less than 50%) and electric (30%) analogues. In addition, advanced models have many different operating modes and a wide power range. In most cases, 16 modes are quite enough. This allows you to quickly and easily select the most suitable conditions for preparing a particular dish. The temperature on a device of this type can be set with an accuracy of a degree, and its change occurs instantly.

Energy Saving

Electricity consumption when using induction cookers is almost 1.5 times less when comparing such models, for example, with electric cookers. At the same time, they are characterized by a higher heating rate. Due to the absence of a hotplate heating stage, heat is transferred directly to the bottom of the heated pan. For example, boiling a pan of water on an induction stove will be 3 times faster than on an ordinary gas stove.

Instant heating

The contents of the cookware begin to heat up immediately when the induction hob is turned on. With this process, there is no time spent on heating the heating element and the cookware itself, which is very convenient.

Easy care

Caring for a device of this type is very simple - it takes a minimum of time. After removing the dishes from the burner, you can wipe them with a damp cloth almost immediately. Due to the smoothness of the cooking surface, dirt hardly accumulates on it. When food comes into contact with the burner, there is no formation of smoke or burnt food residues, since it does not heat up. You can clean this stove using a special spray and a soft sponge.

Automatic on and off

The induction hob turns on only when cookware with magnetic properties is placed on it. As soon as such dishes are removed from the burner, the stove will automatically turn off.

Cons of an induction panel

The most popular hob today has its drawbacks.

High price

So far, the cost of devices of this kind is noticeably higher than the cost of conventional hobs. But the situation is gradually starting to change for the better. Manufacturers of modern household appliances have recently increasingly begun to offer customers more budget-friendly options for induction cookers.

Harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation

There is no particular danger to people in this case.Eddy currents generated during the operation of an induction hob are locally limited by the body of this device. However, it is necessary to ensure that parts of the body are not in continuous contact with such a stove during the cooking process. The optimal safe distance is 0.5 meters, acceptable - 30 cm.

Increased requirements for dishes

Since these types of cookers use a magnetic interaction method, they require special handling and a certain type of cookware. For cooking on an induction hob, only cookware with ferromagnetic properties can be used.

REFERENCE! To check whether the cookware has the properties necessary for subsequent use on an induction hob, you can carry out a so-called magnetic test. To do this, you need to take a magnet and check whether the surface of the selected dish will attract it. If the magnet sticks well to it, such dishes are ideal for these purposes.

When cooking on an induction hob, the use of aluminum or copper cookware is not allowed. Glass, porcelain and ceramic products are also not suitable for these purposes. You can use enamel cookware, cast iron frying pans and stainless steel products:

1. The bottom of the cookware must have a diameter of at least 12 cm. This will ensure the required contact area with the burner, since if the pot or pan occupies less than 70% of the burner surface, the induction cooker will not heat. The thickness of the bottom of the product should be from 2 to 6 mm.
2. When choosing cookware for an induction cooker, it is recommended to pay attention to the markings.Manufacturers in most cases try to inform customers about the ferromagnetic properties of cookware using special symbols.

If the cookware you are using does not have a flat bottom, but has a raised area in the center, noticeable noise may appear during cooking on such a device.

Criteria for choosing an induction hob

Selecting a household appliance of this type is a rather difficult process. The quality of the food subsequently cooked on it will directly depend on how rationally it was done. To make the right choice, it is recommended to focus on the following characteristics.

1. Control type. This could be a slider, a sensor, or a magnetic switch. The touch panel will provide the most favorable price-quality ratio. In this case, there will be no rotary knobs, buttons or switches on the hob. The slider is also quite easy to use, but the cost is a little higher. Magnetic switches have become increasingly rare these days.
2. Size and number of burners. It is necessary to first determine the number and size of areas required for cooking. For example, for a country house a two-burner induction hob will be sufficient, but for an apartment it is better to purchase a model with four burners. The larger the family, the greater the number of burners the induction cooker should have. The size of the heating zones is also of great importance.
3. Energy class. To ensure minimal energy consumption during operation, it is recommended to choose models belonging to energy consumption class “A” or “A+”.
4. Versatility. You can purchase a combination hob.Half of the burners in this stove are gas, and the rest are induction. For many people, this option is often the best.
5. Heating zones. A certain part of induction hobs are equipped with heating zones that have the ability to expand. This feature allows you to use larger-sized utensils when cooking.
6. Timer. Its presence makes it possible to set the required cooking time, after which the device will sound a certain sound signal. In addition, using the timer, you can easily program not only the time when the hob stops working and the duration of the sound signal, but also the order in which the heating zones are turned off.
7. Intensive heating function. It is also called a “booster” and can sometimes be very useful if you need, for example, to boil water very quickly. Using this function allows you to instantly transfer the power of one heating zone to another.
8. Function of maintaining heat for a certain period of time. It is very convenient when there is a need to keep cooked food warm for family members returning home at different times.
9. Child protection. If there are small children in the family, to prevent the risk of burns, it is better to give preference to innovative models with an increased level of safety, equipped with the ability to lock buttons.

Induction cookers on the market today combine the advantages of gas and electric models. They are economical, safe and hygienic.Despite the fact that the price of such devices is higher than usual, these financial costs will pay off quite quickly, and an induction hob will greatly simplify and make the process of preparing your favorite dishes more comfortable.