How to Cook with Induction Cooktops

Try cooking with induction instead of gas.

Induction cooktops provide the convenience of a portable extra burner. The cooktops are ideal for homes with small children since the cooking surface does not become hot to the touch. The only challenge in using an induction cooktop is converting your cookware to magnetic or ferrous materials. Many common cooking metals do not have magnetic qualities, so they won't work with your induction burner. To test your current cookware, place a magnet against the bottom of a pot. If the magnet sticks, you can use the pot with induction. If it doesn't, you can't use the pot.

Things You'll Need

• Food
• Magnetic pot or pan
• Cooking oil
• Spatula
• Spoon

Instructions

1. Prepare your food for cooking, dicing any vegetables or meats. When you have everything ready, you can begin cooking.

2. Select a proper vessel for induction cooking. You need a pot or pan with a flat bottom. You cannot cook in a traditional wok on your induction cooktop. Since induction works through electromagnetic currents, you need to use a pot that is magnetic. The Induction Site recommends using stainless steel, cast iron or enamel cookware, and it notes that copper or aluminum cookware doesn't work with induction.

3. Plug in your induction cooktop if you're using a countertop cooktop. Place the induction-compatible cookware on the cooktop. Induction burners need magnetic contact to work, so your cooktop will not heat up without a pot or pan on the burner.

4. Turn on your induction cooktop to the desired heat level. Most cooktops have a temperature scale, which gives you the greatest precision, or a dial setting, which allows you to switch between minimum and maximum heat.

5. Wait for the pan to heat up. Then add your cooking oil, and cook your food in the pot or pan. Since induction requires constant contact to continue cooking the food, you cannot lift the pot off the burner to toss the food. Instead, stir the food with a spatula or spoon while cooking.

6. Remove your cookware from the cooktop when you finish cooking. The burner automatically shuts off since the connection is broken.

References

• Induction Site: Induction Cookware
• Induction Site: How Induction Works