What cookware is suitable for an induction hob?

The life of a modern person is so busy and fast-paced that you don’t want to spend too much time on cooking. Now that induction cookers have entered our everyday life, we can prepare dinner 15-20 minutes faster. The main thing is to use the right utensils. Many people do not want to switch to induction cookers, citing the high costs of purchasing frying pans and pots. But is it really that complicated? And is it possible to use existing utensils without purchasing anything new?

What cookware is suitable for an induction hob?

The peculiarity of induction cookers is that they heat the bottom of the cookware, while their surface remains cold. Everything is explained by electromagnetic induction. Inside the case, instead of a heating element, there is a magnetic coil that passes current and creates a field. When dishes with a special surface that captures currents fall into it, they heat up. If you use a regular pot or frying pan for the same purpose, the stove will not work, or the surface of the dish will remain cold.

In stores, products made of ferromagnetic material are marked with special icons or inscriptions. You can check its quality using a magnet. Bring it to the surface, and if the magnet adheres to it, then the product can be purchased.

Material

In the production of products for induction cookers, materials that are capable of magnetization are used. These are cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum with an improved coating in the bottom area. Glass, copper, regular aluminum or ceramic will not work.

These dishes can be washed in the dishwasher. But it is better to dry cast iron options thoroughly to avoid rust.

IMPORTANT! What to do if there are no suitable dishes, but you don’t want to buy new ones? You can purchase a special transmitter that is placed on the stove, and ordinary dishes are placed on top. However, the downside is that the cooking time may increase. But you can save money on buying a saucepan or kettle.

Diameter

Most tile models have a minimum diameter. If the dishes are less than a certain value, the equipment will not “see” them. Exceeding the specified diameter will also lead to the fact that some of the dishes will not heat up, since they will be standing on a cold surface where the magnetic field does not extend. Therefore, some coffee pots or ladles made from induction-resistant materials are still not suitable due to their miniature size. It's important to take this into account when purchasing new items.

Most often, the minimum diameter is 12 cm. This is approximately the size of a ladle with a volume of about 500-600 ml.

Bottom thickness

This parameter is also important, since a bottom that is too thin will deform under the influence of temperature. The optimal indicator is 2-6 mm. There should be no relief on the bottom, because a tight fit of the dishes to the surface is important for better heat transfer.

Comparison of several materials and manufacturers

There are many models of cookware made from ferromagnetic materials on the market today that are suitable for induction cookers:

• the most popular are Woll, Tefal, Maestro, Fissler, Calve;
• gradually gaining fame - Millerhaus, Vitesse, Hoffmayer;
• domestic brands - Gurman, Mentar, Neva-Metal.

Tefal boasts a wide range. At reasonable prices, you can find cookware made from stainless steel or advanced aluminum from the brand. DeBuyer products made from an alloy of steel and copper, which are characterized by high durability, will cost more.

As for materials and recommendations for their selection, the following advice can be given:

1. Stainless steel is a budget option. The thickness of the bottom in such dishes should be at least 2 mm.
2. Cast iron is an excellent material for a cauldron or cauldron in which you can cook porridge and pilaf. However, this metal is heavy, and the sensitive panel may crack. Cast iron frying pans, due to their ribbed bottoms, may have poor contact with the stove.
3. Enameled products look good and are great for cooking using an induction cooker. It is important to first find out what alloy is used in the base.
4. Aluminum - in its pure form is not suitable for induction surfaces, but in combination with steel it works great.
5. Copper is not suitable for magnetization, but you can use a magnetic adapter disk for it, placing it under the bottom.

There are more than enough options for cookware and ways to adapt almost any kitchen utensil to magnetic waves. Try cooking on an induction hob, and you will definitely not want to go back to standard technology!