Induction Cooking On the Cheap

Reader Contribution by Jennifer Tuohy
Published on August 22, 2014

In a recent post on MOTHER EARTH NEWS, Paul Scheckel touched on the benefits of induction as a highly efficient way to cook. But he brought up a common complaint: Induction cooktops are really expensive.

If you’ve been considering investing in induction cooking for its considerable eco-friendly benefits (close to 90% efficiency is pretty impressive), but have been stonewalled by the $1,200 to $3,000 price tags, then I have good news. There are ways to integrate the hottest new technology in cooking into your kitchen without winning the lottery.

First things first though, let’s review the benefits for Mother Earth of this method of cooking.

Energy Efficiency. Induction cooking heats the cookware itself, not the stove top, making the pot or pan the heating element. This is where the optimal efficiency comes from. The U.S. Department of Energy determined the efficiency of energy transfer for an induction cooker at 84%, versus 74% for a smooth-top, non-induction electrical cooker. This isn’t a huge difference, but when compared to 40% efficiency of gas, which is often touted as the eco-friendly cooking option, the difference is more than noteworthy. Additionally, gas cooking generates substantial ambient heat, often requiring extra energy be expended on cooling the kitchen.

Speed. It’s the speed of induction cooking that is a big selling point both for chefs and eco-warriors. The ability to boil a gallon and a half of water in half the time of gas or electric saves precious resources, and time. That speed also means a faster heat response – when cooking with the correct cookware – all without the unpleasant byproducts of combusting gas in your home.

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