Safe and Energy Efficient Cooking With An Induction Range

For parents with young children, the dangers of a hot stove are a very real risk to home safety.

Hot stoves don't only pose a risk to the youngsters in your home. They can also be risky to the grown-ups as well. Have you ever burned your fingers on a hot stove? Most people who spend any time cooking have experienced an accidental burn at one time or the other. It doesn't feel good, does it?

Induction ranges are the safest solution to cooking at home. The surface of an induction range is a smooth, vitroceramic glass surface that stays cool to the touch even when the stove is in use.

It is powered by electromagnetic energy which effectively heats cookware that contains magnetic metals, but doesn't heat anything else. Literally, with an induction range the only thing that gets hot is the cookware.

Best Cookware for Induction Cooking

The best cookware to use with an induction range is that made from stainless steel, cast iron, iron cookware covered with porcelain (such as LeCrueset pots and pans).

• Increased safety, specifically greatly diminished burn risk
• Faster cooking times that traditional burners
• Does not cause the kitchen to get hot when in use
• More efficient than traditional ranges
• Energy efficient (induction ranges only use electricity when there is a pan on the cooking surface)
• The smooth cooking surface of an induction range makes for easy clean up
• Induction ranges heat more evenly than traditional gas or electric stoves
• They can sustain low temperatures for an extended period of time, which is beneficial for keeping food warm for serving purposes

Drawbacks of an Induction Range:

• Cookware Limitations: Pots and pans that have copper bases or are made from aluminum do not work well on induction ranges.
• Price:Induction ranges tend to be significantly more expensive to purchase than most traditional stoves. However, owners of induction ranges can expect to recoup some of the costs in the energy savings from utilizing the more cost effective operation of an induction range. Additionally, cost savings can be realized in terms of reduced cooling expense since an induction range doesn't raise the temperature in the kitchen.

Future of Induction Cooking

Many professional chefs believe that induction cooking is the wave of the future. It is catching on in commercial settings and in contemporary home kitchens. If you are concerned with safety, improved cooking capabilities, and increased energy efficiency, you may want to investigate induction cooking the next time you're in the market for a stove.