Can You Use Induction Cookware on a Regular Electric Stove?
If you want to know whether or not your induction cookware will work on an electric stove, I have the answer for you. My answer to you is yes; sure, you can use induction cookware on an electric stove. The principle works pretty much like every other metal heat transfer process. Here, the electric stove produces heat that heats up the surface of the cooktop, and then the cookware.
Can You Use Induction Cookware on a Regular Electric Stove?
Yes, you can use your induction cookware on a regular electric stove if it is made of sandwiched-clad stainless steel. This mashup means a combination of the durability of stainless steel and heat conduction of aluminum or copper.
If the cookware is composed of cast iron, it will absorb heat slowly due to the cast iron. But when it finally absorbs heat, it retains it and eventually sends it back to the cooktop, which can lead to the shutdown of the appliance as a way of ensuring safety.
Induction cookware with porcelain cast iron will produce a good result if the bottom of the ware is thick and flat and the cast iron is completely covered in porcelain. Cookwares with porcelain can melt if boiled dry.
What are the benefits of using induction cookware?
There are advantages that make using induction cookware more preferred than other cookware. See them as more like reasons why you should consider getting some induction cookware as well as induction cooktops. Here are seven of them below:
- Induction cookware conserves energy
Due to the mechanism that goes into the production of induction cookware, energy produced goes directly into the magnetic zone, thereby reducing energy wastage by 90%. This kind of energy management means that the kitchen remains cool while you do your cooking. So, no more sweats!
- Induction cookware transfers heat faster
The electromagnetic system of the induction cooktop quickly transfers heat to the panel at the bottom of the cookware, heating it up within minutes.
- Induction cookware is easy to clean after use
Cooking with induction cookware makes cleaning up easy since the material used in its manufacture does not support very tough stains.
- Induction cookware is resistant to corrosion
Induction cookware lasts long, partly because they are resistant to corrosion.
- Induction cookware can be used on other types of cooktop
Some induction cookware can also be used on gas cookers and electric stoves. So, it makes it more energy versatile.
How does induction cookware work?
Induction cookware in conjunction with an induction cooktop work on the principle of heat generation by electromagnetism. Alternating current from a power source flows into the coil beneath the surface of the cooktop, creating a magnetic field. This magnetic current thus generated passes resistive electric current into the cookware, producing heat. This heat remains in the cookware without escaping into the surrounding.
What are the disadvantages of using induction cookware?
Just like there are pros, there are also cons that are associated with using induction cookware. I will mention and explain some below.
- Induction cookware is expensive
Compared to traditional cookware, induction cookwares are pricier, probably because they are made of expensive materials and they are not so common.
- Induction cookware has limited usage
Some induction cookware will not work on other cooktops because they have aluminum, glass, or copper, which are less electromagnetic materials.
- Induction cookware can damage cooktops
When roughly placed, induction cookware can damage ceramic cooktops, leading to the malfunctioning of the appliance.
Are there any safety concerns associated with induction cookware?
There are actually no safety concerns associated with using induction cookware. It has been described as the safest.
Firstly, with induction cookware, there is no excess heat that may lead to a hazard. All heat energy produced is channeled into the panel at the bottom of the cookware.
Secondly, the cookware remains clean at the base even after cooking with it, unlike the state of your wares when you use them on a gas cooker or a stove.
Thirdly, it requires little power to heat induction cookware, less than the amount of power needed for a water heater or electric iron.
Fourthly, there is a low risk of getting food burnt. This is possible because the temperature of the induction cooktop can change and be controlled in a single moment.
Finally, if the cookware is empty or when it gets too hot, the cooktop automatically turns off, preventing burning.
How do I know if my cookware is compatible with an induction stove?
For cookware to work efficiently on an induction stove, it has to be made of enameled cast iron or some type of stainless steel. Cookware made of aluminum or copper bases will not work because they do not have magnetic properties. High nickel content in some stainless steel materials will also hamper the efficiency of magnetism that is supposed to be witnessed with induction cookware unless there is a layer of magnet on the base of the wares.
So, how do you determine if the pan you want to buy is induction-supportive? Follow the procedure:
- Place a magnet on the bottom of the cookware. If the magnet holds on to the bottom of the ware, it means it will work on an induction stove
- But if the magnet weakly clings to the base of the cookware, then its heat efficiency will be low
- Finally, if there is no attraction between the underside of the cookware and the magnet, then the ware totally lacks any magnetic properties and so will not work at all on an induction stove
Additionally, you can also use non-induction cookware on an induction stove by placing a pan adapter—a stainless steel induction hob heat diffuser, on the induction stove. The pan adapter will establish the required magnetic connection which will in turn transfer heat to the cookware.
What types of food can be cooked with induction cookware?
Let me set the records straight first of all. Here it is: foods cooked with induction cookware are in no measurable way different than the ones cooked with other types of cookware. The only difference is the means of heat production in the induction stove that heats the induction cookware. Now that I have laid this background, let me show you the list of recipes that can be made using induction cookware.
- Deep-fried chicken
- Savoury Shakshuka
- Parlor-style skillet pizza
- Beef stew
- Seared scallops with lemon butter sauce
- Chicken marsala
- Pasta e Fagioli
How do I care for my induction cookware?
After due consideration, you finally got yourself a set of induction cookware. Congratulations, cooking has never been more enjoyable! But it’s not enough to get the wares and get served by them. Taking care of them is very important if you want them to last long. I’ll give you a couple of easy steps you can take to put your wares in perfect shape! Since it is not safe to wash your induction cookware in a dishwasher, what you need to do is:
- Boil a pot of water
- Add some soap to the water
- Pour the hot, soapy water over the wares and then wipe off the dirt
- You can also soak the cookware in mildly abrasive soapy water so that the particles that are stuck to the wares can be loosened for easy cleaning
Where can I buy induction cookware?
You can get various shapes and sizes of induction cookwares from your favorite supermarket or some leading online shops like amazon.com, Alibaba, Jumia, Konga, Wal-Mart, etc. Remember to test the bottom with a magnet to ensure it’s inductive in nature.
Recommended Read – Do You Use Hot Or Cold Water For Portable Dishwashers?
Can I use my induction cookware on other types of stoves?
In the absence of an induction cooktop, yes, you can still make dinner with your induction cookware on any other type of stove. For instance, except for two factors, you can cook with your induction cookware on a gas cooker. The reasons are:
- If the base steel of the cookware is thin, and
- If the outside surface of the cookware is sprayed with a magnetic layer or non-stick layer
Asides from these two factors, you do not need to worry about cooking with your induction cookware on a gas cooker, as long as the surface of the ware is metal or enamel. It is pocket-friendly if your cookware can be used on multiple cooktops.
Conclusion
Summing up, I have told you about the possibility of using your induction cookware on an electric stove, with some exceptions, though, based on the materials used in their manufacture.
Next, I presented to you the benefits as well as the demerits of using induction cookware. You saw the working principle of induction cookware, the types of cookware compatible with an induction cooktop, the types of food you can prepare with induction cookware, and how to care for it.
I hope you have been convinced enough to place an order for that good-quality induction cookware today! Enjoy your product after purchase.
Also Read – Can You Run A Portable Dishwasher Overnight?
