Induction vs Electric Cooktop: Which Should You Buy?

If you are in the market for a new cooktop, you may find yourself looking at all your choices while scratching your head. There are so many to choose from – and so many new options, such as induction vs electric cooktop.

Like, induction cooktops. What are they? Is induction better than electric? Should you just stick to what you know? Or is it time to invest in something new?

If you’ve got just a few minutes, let’s run through all the differences between an induction vs electric cooktop so that you know which one you should buy.

The Cost

Cost is one of the things that many consumers look at first when making a big purchase. For some, it doesn’t matter how great a certain appliance is if it costs a great amount more than other options on the table. Affordability is often a must.

So, how does the cost of an induction cooktop compare to an electric version? Believe it or not, there is not much difference between the two. In most instances, induction cooktops are slightly higher than electric, but the difference is often not significant.

If you were basing your decisions on cost, you wouldn’t find it here. You will have to take a look at a few other key factors.

Heat Generation

The way heat is generated by each of these cooktops varies. In fact, it is the biggest difference that sets them apart. Unlike a gas cooktop, they both use electricity to obtain their heat, but that is where the similarities end.

With an electric cooktop, you have an element that heats up an iron coil. This coil becomes hot and will, in turn, heat your pan for cooking. Some electric ranges will have this coil exposed, whereas most electric cooktops have it encased under the glass cooking surface.

Heat generation using an induction cooktop is different. This type uses magnets to transfer heat between the cooktop and the pan. There is an electric current that runs through a coil creating a magnetic field in and around the cookware. The heat goes from one to the other without touching the cooktop itself.

Safety

Whether you realize it or not, there are many dangers lurking in your kitchen. And burns while cooking is one of them.

Because of the manner in which heat passes through the magnetic field in an induction cooktop, the surface never gets hot. You could place a stack of napkins in between the burner and the pan, and they would be absolutely fine. That’s how cool the surface remains while cooking. This is very beneficial when it comes to safety concerns – especially involving kids and pets.

An electric cooktop will remain hot even after the burner is turned off. As time passes, it will cool down and become safe to touch. Most electric cooktops will come equipped with safety features letting you know when the surface is or is not safe to touch.

Efficiency

Efficiency is always an important topic when referring to money and energy. So it is only natural that it will be something to consider when investing in a new cooktop. Between an electric vs induction cooktop, which one is more efficient?

Electric cooktops offer a consistent flow of heat which is important for energy efficiency. Unfortunately, a lot of this heat can escape into the atmosphere in your kitchen, wasted. This also makes your kitchen temperature rise and forces your air conditioner to work that much harder.

Induction cooktops, as you know, don’t allow heat to escape. Remember, their surface is always cool to the touch – even when actively cooking. This means that there is no wasted energy at all – from the cooktop or the air conditioner.

Cookware

Something you may not have considered is the cookware needed to use each of these cooktops. While cooking on an electric cooktop allows you to use any piece of cookware you prefer, the same does not hold true for induction cooktops.

Because a magnetic field is utilized to transfer heat in induction cooking, you will need the proper cookware to receive the heat and cook your food. For instance, this needs to be ferrous metal like stainless steel or cast iron. Cookware made of copper, glass, ceramic, or aluminum won’t work.

If you are partial to your cookware, this may be something to consider.

Induction vs Electric Cooktop: Pros and Cons

Below you will find a breakdown of the pros and cons of both induction cooktops vs electric cooktops. You can use these to help you make your decision.

Induction Pros:

+Highly energy efficient

+Faster heating times

+Even heating

+The surface remains cool during and after cooking

+Easy to clean

+Easier response to changes in temperature

Induction Cons:

-Only works with certain cookware

-More costly than other options

Electric Pros:

+Familiar and easy to cook with

+Easy to install

+Energy efficient 

+Less expensive

Electric Cons:

-Residual heat left behind after the burner has been turned off

-Slower to heat up – resulting in longer cook times

-Potential uneven distribution of heat through coils

Induction vs. Electric: Which Should You Buy?

Well, since you have stuck around to learning the ins and outs of induction and electric cooktops, which should you buy?

It all comes down to your personal choice. Take some time to consider what matters most. For instance, would you rather have a safe, cool cooking surface or the ability to cook with any pan you own? Or does it matter more that you save money initially on your one-time purchase or continually over the years due to your investment in an energy-efficient appliance?

Take a look at your choices and decide what is a better fit for your home. Then, when you are ready, explore the high-quality, pro-style appliances by Thor Kitchen. Both their induction cooktop and electric cooktop give you a long-lasting cooking solution for your kitchen. With a lot of features and attention to detail, you may be surprised how this one purchase can boost the value of your home!

Induction vs electric cooktop – which one is the best option for your kitchen? Search for your nearest dealer to find out.