Is Induction Cooking Better Than Traditional Gas Cooking?

Not everyone is familiar with induction cooking, and some people might confuse it with traditional cooktops.

Although these cooktops resemble electric cooktops, they don’t have burners underneath the surface.

The difference between induction cooktops and others is that induction cooktops make use of electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans on contact.

However, gas and electric cooktops heat indirectly using a burner or heating element and therefore passes radiant energy onto your food.

Each type of cooktop has its own advantages and disadvantages; however, there can be only one winner.

So is induction cooking better than traditional gas cooking?

While traditional electric and gas cooktop users swear by their efficiency, there is no denying that induction cooktops are a fast-growing attraction worldwide. This sudden rise in popularity is due to these cooktops being gentle enough to melt chocolate and butter yet powerful enough to boil 48 ounces of water in under three minutes.

Induction technology is popular in countries around the world; however, it has recently taken the United States by storm.

Induction technology is also far more efficient as it heats the pot directly instead of directly.

So delivers 90% of electromagnetic energy to the food in the pan, compared to gas, which converts only 38% of its energy and electric, which only manages up to 70% energy.

So induction cooking technology definitely more superior to traditional cooktops.

However, the advantages of induction cookware technology don’t stop there.

What Are The Benefits Of Induction Cooking Over Gas Cooking?

Induction cooking technology has various benefits over gas cooking and here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of cooktop.

Gas Cooktops

Gas cooktops have been loved throughout the ages, and there’s a good reason why. For one, it delivers heat to your pots and pans immediately.

There’s no waiting time like an electric cooktop, and many people enjoy seeing the flame because it helps as a visual guide to how much heat is being produced under the pan.

A gas cooktop is also compatible with various types of cookware.

Almost all gas cooktops have manual knobs, and lots of people enjoy being able to turn the temperature up and down rather than using a touch control panel.

Gas cooktops are also more economical than buying induction cooktops.

However, gas cooktops do have their drawbacks, as well.

For one, if you are safety conscious, you should think about the fact that you are not just dealing with a naked flame but a combustible heat source.

Therefore you’re at risk of burning yourself, and other accidents can occur, which means you end up with a tea towel on fire.

Gas leaks can also occur, and cooktops like this do not have a warning system to let you know when gas is leaking. So gas cooktops are potentially very dangerous.

They are also quite hard to keep clean. There are a lot more parts to deal with, as well as grease and bits of food that tend to get under the controls.

Design is also another factor to consider. A gas cooktop stands out, so if you’re looking for the minimalist feel inside your kitchen, it’s going to be challenging to achieve this with the gas cooktop.

Since not all of the heat is used for cooking, it’s easy to waste energy when using gas.

A gas cooktop also makes for an uncomfortably warm kitchen environment and tends to be a waste of money, especially in summer.

Induction Cooktops

Not many people are aware of this; however, induction cooking is far quicker than cooking with gas.

In fact, lots of the induction cooktops can boil a large pan of water in under 90 seconds. The energy you use is also far more economical.

Induction cooktops only heat the cookware you’re using and nothing else.

Therefore, you can say goodbye to hot, sweaty kitchens, and there’s far less opportunity to burn yourself or set something on fire.

It’s also a much safer option than gas for obvious reasons.

Some models automatically power off the moment the pan leads the surface, and some of them are cool to the touch within seconds.

Modern induction systems are also equipped with child safety systems.

On induction cooktops, temperature control is more precise, and many models have the benefits of electronic touch controls that digitally display.

So if you like to cook dishes that are demanding, the results will be better.

If you’re looking for an aesthetically appealing kitchen, induction cooktops are what you need. They have a flat surface but seamlessly fit in with any type of decor.

They are also easy to clean, so if you do happen to have an accident of some sort, the food will land on a cool surface, and this makes cleaning an absolute breeze.

Perhaps one of the only drawbacks of induction cooking technology is that not all pots and pans are compatible with these cooktops.

They also tend to be more expensive than gas cooktops; however, considering the amount of energy you save using it, this makes up for the initial cost.

Why Should You Transfer From Gas To Induction?

Lots of people are transitioning from gas cooktops to induction cooktops recently.

However, all gas stoves are reminiscent of paper books compared to modern E-readers, which resemble induction cooktops.

So leaving behind your old gas stove is difficult, to say the least.

However, the truth is that the contemporary trend of cooking with an induction cooktop is not just a passing phase.

There are quite a few advantages to using induction technology as opposed to cooking with gas.

Induction cooking technology makes use of an electromagnetic field, which heats up the contents of the pan on the plates.

As soon as the bottom of the pan makes contact with the electrically charged plate, the field is activated.

Therefore energy is transferred to the food in the form of heat without the plate or the pans becoming hot.

Therefore burns and accidents from touching the cooking plate are highly unlikely.

One of the main advantages or reasons why you should switch to induction cooking is because it’s safer. When cooking with gas is always the risk of gas leaks inside the kitchen.

Induction cooking offers peace of mind knowing that you are cooking with a safe piece of technology.

Therefore you’ll be able to cook more accurately as the heat is delivered from the induction plate directly to the bottom of the pan.

Condensation is also stopped in its tracks when using an induction cooktop.

If you’ve ever used an induction hob before, you know exactly how annoying the steam that results from the hob meeting with a hot pot can be.

However, with an induction cooktop, the extractor delivers jets of air in several directions at different speeds.

So the steam and fields that are created in the cooking process are interrupted by these cooling busts of air and, therefore, it prevents condensation.

Making the switch from gas to induction cooking technology also means easier cleaning. It is easier to clean the surfaces since it is free of any joints or grooves.

They also like to cook with speed and precision, reducing your cooking time in half and boiling a pan of water in the fraction of the amount of time you would do so on a gas cooktop.

Therefore cooking on an induction cooktop is one of the most innovative choices you will make as you become faster and more efficient in the kitchen.

Do I Need Special Pots And Pans To Cook On An Induction Cooktop?

There are cookware sets specifically designed to work on induction cooktops, however, lots of cast iron and stainless steel cookware sets will work.

If you want to test a specific pot or pan to see if it is induction compatible, simply hold a magnet underneath the base of the pot and if it sticks, your pan is induction capable.

Related Questions

Is An Induction Cooktop Cheaper Than A Gas Or Electric One?

No induction cooking technology is more expensive, however, it pays in the long run as it is far more energy-efficient than both gas and electric cooktops.

What Are The Risks Of Using A Gas Cooktop?

When cooking with gas, there is always the risk of gas leaks which can lead to burns and potentially fatal accidents.

How Long Does An Induction Cooktop Last?

The average lifespan of an induction cooktop is between 8 – 10 years.