Induction Cooktops vs. Gas Stoves: How Do They Compare?
September 6, 2022
Whether you’re building a new home in the Sacramento area or looking to upgrade some of the appliances in your existing home, you’ll need to make some important decisions when it comes to your stove. In the past, homeowners could compare natural gas vs. electric coil stoves, but today there is a much more appealing option for those who want to electrify their homes—induction cooktops and ranges. Induction cooktops offer a number of advantages and are perfect for homeowners who are looking to:
Make their home better for the environment
Avoid using fossil fuels
Create a safe, healthy home and steer clear of potential health hazards
Follow local building codes (more than 50 California cities and counties have adopted building codes that either ban natural gas hook-ups or strongly encourage making new construction all-electric ready)
But just what sets induction stoves apart from their gas and electric counterparts? And which one is best for cooking your favorite meals? Let’s explore the differences.
How Do Induction Cooktops Work?
Unlike traditional electric coil stovetops, which heat food using electrical resistance and infrared energy, induction cooktops use electromagnetic radiation to pass electric currents to cookware. Gas cooktops, by comparison, use flame burners to heat your food. While both gas and electric stovetops maintain residual heat—and can’t be touched for some time after they’re turned off—induction cooktops are cool to the touch as soon as they’re shut off.
One key difference between the 3 stovetop options is the type of cookware they can heat. While you can use any type of cookware on gas and electric cooktops, there are some stipulations for the cookware you can use on an induction cooktop. An easy way to test your cookware is to see whether a magnet sticks to the bottom of it. If the magnet sticks, the cookware will work on your stovetop; if it doesn’t stick, you will need to either use a different pan or purchase a pan adapter. That being said, many types of cookware, including cast iron and most stainless steel, are compatible with induction stoves.
Do Induction Cooktops Cook Faster (or Better) Than Gas Stoves?
You’e heard the expression “now we’re cooking with gas” but it’s time to change that thinking! In fact, one of the big advantages induction cooktops have over gas stoves is cooking time. Roughly speaking (this can vary depending on the individual models you’re comparing), a pot of water will take twice as long to boil on a gas stovetop than on an induction cooktop.
Induction cooktops also offer more precision and greater temperature control than other stovetops do. While many folks believe that gas stoves offer the best cooking experience, induction cooktops cook more evenly and more precisely than both gas and conventional electric stovetops. Now we’re cooking with induction!
Are Induction Cooktops Better for the Environment?
Because induction stoves operate solely on electricity and don’t burn fossil fuels like gas stoves, they can help lower your home’s carbon footprint and avoid releasing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. In fact, it was recently discovered that many gas stoves leak methane even when you aren’t using them.
According to ENERGY STAR, induction ranges are 3x more efficient than gas stoves, saving money and helping the planet by wasting less energy.
Are Induction Cooktops Safer Than Gas?
One of the biggest surprises to many homeowners in Auburn, Davis, and Elk Grove is how unhealthy gas stoves are to use. They emit air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide, and when you’re cooking, studies have shown that indoor air quality levels can “easily reach levels that would be illegal outdoors,” according to the New York Times. Electric induction stoves avoid these emissions, making cooking in your home a safer, healthier activity.
Electrify Your Home with Brower Mechanical
Induction stovetops are just one of the ways that Brower Mechanical can help you upgrade your California home. From electric mini-split heat pumps to heat pump hot water heaters, solar panel installation, and more, our team of local home experts can help you reduce energy bills, improve indoor comfort, and create an all-electric home that meets current and future building code requirements and is better for the environment.
