Unlike gas or electric cookers, induction burners are not compatible with regular cooking pots. Only induction cookware can be used safely for induction cooking. In this section, we have discussed some basic queries on induction pans.
What is an Induction-ready Cookware?
Induction cookware is a special kind of pan that can work safely with an induction cooker or range. Before starting the discussion about induction pans, let us share the basic idea of the induction cooking method. Now, what is induction cooking? and how does an induction burner work?
Interestingly, an induction cooker devises electromagnetism to enable the cooking pan to create heat energy inside the pan itself, rather than blowing the fire in from outside. The induction heating process can cook the food faster using much less energy than what the conventional present-day stoves use.
If you are a science person, you would probably know that an induction cooktop is nothing but a simple electromagnet. An electronically controlled metal coil lies inside an induction burner.
When you make the current pass through the coil, the electricity produces a magnetic field around and above it. In the presence of an alternating current supply, the fluctuating magnetic field produces heat. This heat is enough to cook food. Using an electromagnet to cook food is a genius idea, isn’t it?
Now, let’s come to the point of induction-ready cookware. An induction pot/pan comes with a ferromagnetic base that can work safely with induction ranges. Generally, induction pans bear a magnetized steel base.
Some induction pots bear aluminum encapsulated disks and/or copper cores, which improves the heat transmission process. Pans made of Cast iron, carbon steel, stone, granite, etc. are naturally induction-safe.
Read more: Induction Cooktops FAQ: All you need to know about
Why Special Cookware is Required for Induction Cooking?
An induction burner can’t work with the usual utensils with plastic, aluminum, ceramic, or glass-built bases. Unlike the gas or electric ranges, the induction range can only work with the induction-ready cookware. Here comes the necessity of understanding the concept of induction pots and pans.
The specialty of induction-ready cookware is hidden in its manufacturing technique. Each induction pan bears a ferromagnetic base, which is built with 1 or 2 layers of heat exchangers, like stainless steel, copper, aluminum, etc. The cast-iron pans also work with the induction ranges. You can safely use induction pans with any kind of cooker, such as a range, electric burner, traditional stove, etc. (Source: Wikipedia 2023).
Which Type of Pans are Compatible with Induction Cooktops?
Not all type of cookware is compatible with induction cooktops. Whether a pan is induction-safe or not, depends on the materials that make the pan. Some metals are induction-compatible by nature, for instance, Cast iron and carbon steel fall into this group. Stainless steel is the prime element to make induction pots and pans.
In addition to this, some other materials are used to build quality induction pans. Among those, the most common materials include aluminum, ceramic, enameled cast iron, copper, etc. Read more details below.
Stainless Steel Pan:
Stainless steel is the best material for producing induction pans. But, all stainless steel pans can’t offer the same quality. The cheap ones give uneven cooking. 18/10 stainless steel is the first runner grade of steel to make cooking utensils.
Some manufacturers apply aluminum or copper core with stainless steel, which makes a steel pan induction-safe and helps even cooking.
Many brands produce stainless steel pots and pans for induction burners. However, if you are looking for the best induction cookware brands, we recommend Secura, Calphalon, Cuisinart, Anolon, Farberware, T-Fal, etc.
Read more: Stainless Steel Cookware FAQ: Everything you need to know about
Aluminum Encapsulated Pan or Spun Disk:
Aluminum is a great heat conductor. When it is encased by stainless steel, heat distribution improves. Here Aluminum core traps the thermal energy in the pan bottom. It prevents heat dissipation through the air. This type of pan is also called a ‘spun disk’. The tri-ply, 5-ply, or multi-ply cookware bears an aluminum encapsulated base.
Copper Core Pan:
Some cookware comes with a Copper core to facilitate even heating. The Copper core is usually sandwiched with aluminum or stainless steel. Copper offers better heat distribution than Aluminum and steel. It can distribute the heat evenly throughout the pan base. And thus, it facilitates even cooking.
However, the inclusion of copper core pushes up the price range of the induction cooktop pans. Let’s see how this copper core induction pan works.
In a tri-ply or clad pan, an aluminum core is sandwiched between two stainless steel paths. These tri-ply or clad layers make the structure homogeneous ranging from the bottom towards the side walls of the pan.
In a 5-ply copper core pan, a copper layer is used as the core material. It is wrapped by an aluminum layer on both sides. Then Aluminum layers are impact-bonded between stainless steel layers. The copper core ensures even heat distribution when the induction cooker heats the stainless steel base.
Read more: Ceramic Cookware Buyer Guide: How to choose safe ceramic-coated pans
Cast Iron Wok:
Cast iron has a rich history as a handy kitchen tool. It naturally bears the nonstick feature without any industrial method. A cast-iron pan works with any cooker like an induction oven, gas range, electric burner, traditional cooker, etc. Luckily, a cast iron wok is the cheapest among all types of induction pots and pans.
You can also use the seasoned cast iron pans to avoid food sticking. It is easy to clean both the regular and seasoned cast iron pans. Wet the pan in hot water for some time. Then rub the stain using a non-abrasive sponge. However, you need to check the pan weight, before you put it on the glass top. It will save the glass from any scratch marks.
Enameled Cast Iron Wok:
The cast-iron pans often react with acidic foods. Even a seasoned cast iron wok cannot solve this issue. The acidic foods release their inner liquid during cooking. It harms the seasoned layer of the cast iron.
If you cook acidic foods every day, the seasoned layer will go away bit by bit. To avoid this issue, you can opt for the enameled cast iron cookware. This type of pan comes with a porcelain coating. It can cook any acidic food safely with an induction cooker.
Carbon Steel Wok:
Carbon steel pans can safely work with induction burners. This material offers a nonstick feature by nature. You can use Carbon steel fry pans and skillets for induction cooking. These induction pots and pans bear sturdy bodies. However, a carbon steel wok weighs less than a cast iron pan of the same size. In addition, a carbon steel pan is cheaper than any magnetic base cookware.
Stoneware:
Believe it, or not! Stone-built cookware can work fine with induction stovetops. The durability of Stone cookware is beyond doubt. During induction cooking, it performs as well as cast iron.
Moreover, the speckled texture makes a stone pan look elegant. However, the standard stoneware with warranty costs a high price. Usually, the stone cookware sets come with a nonstick-coated surface.
Graniteware:
You can also use the granite cookware with an induction burner. It is cheaper than stone cookware. Graniteware is built with a thin steel path coated with porcelain. Like Stoneware, the Granite Pans are also built with nonstick quality. It is easy to wash.
However, granite cookware sets offer poor durability. The thinner steel core gets deformed due to regular use. This process strips off the porcelain coating slowly. So, you can opt for granite pans as a short-term tool for induction cooking.
How to Know If a Pan Is Induction Ready?
Little remains to be discussed when you already know the best induction cooktop cookware sets. However, you need to know what kind of cookware to avoid when you own an induction cooker.
As a child, you must have noticed that magnets do not stick to things made of wood, plastic, and many other such materials. Quite similarly, utensils made of aluminum, copper, glass, or plastic won’t work with induction burners (because the whole thing acts as a magnetic field).
If you cannot decipher whether your present cookware is magnetic enough, just bring a magnet near to the base, if the magnet attaches itself to the utensil, it is safe to use with any induction glass top!
Read more: Is nonstick cookware safe for health?
How to Choose the Best Induction Cookware?
From the above discussion, you may already know what is the best cookware for an induction cooktop. Now a question may arise in your mind how to buy an induction cookware set? In this section, you are gonna find out this answer. Let’s check out some essential factors.
Is it a Magnetic Cookware?
Let’s put all that technical talk at rest. All we need to remember is that induction cooktops use magnetic fields to produce heat. Therefore, the bottom area of your pan must bear some material that is compatible with the magnet.
Cookware made of a magnetic material like cast iron, steel, and magnetic stainless steel (containing some amount of iron) works well with induction cooktops.
Are the ceramic pans induction safe? Not all of them. Only the clad-bottomed ceramic-coated pans can work with induction cooktops. In such cases, at the pan-bottom, an iron layer is hidden beneath the ceramic-coated layer making it magnetic. Therefore, some magnetic pans come with iron plates attached to their bottoms.
Is it a Flat-bottomed Pan?
Another significant issue is, that the flat-bottomed pots and pans can deal with the induction range with greater efficiency and safety. The induction cooktops feature a smooth-touch flat surface made of glass or high-standard plastic. In that case, an induction-ready pan must bear a flat base. But, Why Flat-Bottomed Pans Are Used for Induction Cooking?
A circular or warped-based pan may become wobbly on the flat surface of an induction cooktop. Furthermore, when a hemispherical pan is placed on a flat cooking surface, the total area in contact becomes significantly small. Thus, the pan becomes inefficient for cooking the meal properly.
Therefore, when a round-based pan is placed over an induction cooktop, it takes more time and consumes way more energy than any flat-bottomed pan does.
Is It a Non-Stick Induction Cookware?
It is not compulsory that induction cookware must bear nonstick properties. But, who can deny the benefit of a non-stick pan? It requires less oil for cooking, which leads you towards a healthy food habit. Additionally, it prevents the food particles from sticking to the cooking surface preserving the desired taste and flavor of the food.
Some people are worried about the health risks of nonstick cookware. But experts say particular nonstick cookware is safe until it gets overheated. It is recommended to follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer of the respective nonstick cookware.
Other Essential Queries:
Besides the aforementioned factors, there are some queries, you can check out before buying an induction-compatible pan.
- Does it offer any product warranty?
- Is it built by a standard company?
- Do the pan-sizes fulfill your requirements?
- What comes inside the box?
- What kind of material did the manufacturer use to build the induction pans? Is it cast iron, steel, or hardened aluminum?
Read more: Electric Cooktops FAQ: Everything You Need To Know About
