There are various types of cooktops available in the market, and it can be confusing to decide which one to choose between gas, ceramic, or induction cooktops. If you are curious about induction cookers, specifically about what an induction cooktop is, this article will guide you.
To understand exactly what an induction cooker is, it is important to first understand a bit of history. An induction cooker is an alternative to traditional cooking methods that uses electromagnetism to turn cooking pans into cookers. It was invented in America in the 1900s, and it creates heat energy inside the pan itself, instead of firing it in from outside. An induction cooker boils water up to 50 percent faster than gas or electric cookers and maintains a consistent and precise temperature. For example, CUCKOO Inductrio and Inductwo’s cooking is three times faster than the gas range.
To answer the question of how an induction stove works, physics is the simple answer.An induction cooker is a type of stove top that uses an electromagnetic field to heat up the cooking vessel. Unlike traditional stoves, which rely on thermal conduction to transfer heat from a burner to a pot or pan, an induction cooker heats the cooking vessel itself almost instantly. This means that only the food in use will become warm due to the heat transferred from the pan, making induction cooking more efficient than traditional electric and gas cooking.
The way an induction cooker works is by passing an electric current through a coiled copper wire that is located underneath the cooking surface. This creates a magnetic current throughout the cooking pan, which produces heat. The magnetic coils heat your cookware directly so you can enjoy precise and even results without a hot-to-the-touch surface. This also makes induction cooking safe, as you can put your hand on top of it and you won’t feel a thing.
When you stand a suitable cooking pan on top of an induction cooktop that’s powered up, the magnetic field produced by the cooktop penetrates the metal of the pan. So we have a fluctuating magnetic field moving around inside a piece of metal (the base and sides of the pan)—and that makes an electric current flow through the pan too. The magnetic field creates an electric current that flows through the metal of the pan, which generates heat.
The electric current generated by the magnetic field inside the pan creates a kind of whirling, swirling electric current, inside the metal’s crystalline structure, which dissipates its energy. This energy is then used to heat up the metal pan, which in turn heats up whatever food is inside it. The heat is transferred from the pan to the food through a process called conduction, where the heat energy is passed directly to the food, and convection, where liquid food rises and falls in the pan, carrying heat with it. An induction cooker doesn’t use a traditional outside heat source to cook food, which means that little heat energy is lost. Only the food in use will become warm due to the heat transferred from the pan. This makes induction cooking more efficient than traditional electric and gas cooking. To operate an induction cooker, simply place a suitable cooking pan on top of the cooktop and turn it on. The cooktop will generate a magnetic field that will heat up the pan and the food inside it.
Now you understand how to operate induction cookers, a world of benefits awaits you. Induction cooktops offer several advantages, including quick and precise cooking, low energy consumption, and easy-to-clean surfaces. The heat generated from an induction cooktop is concentrated only on the cooking vessel, which makes it more energy-efficient than other types of cookers. Induction cooktops also have a flat and easy-to-clean surface, which makes cleaning up after cooking a breeze. Learn more in this article on induction cooktops.
After knowing what is an induction cooker, how it works, and how to operate it, you can make an informed decision on whether it is the right choice for you and your family. For further guidance, check out our guide on what to consider when buying an induction cooker.
