Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common House Kitchen Stove - Induction Cooking

[Douglas G. Larson (ddhle]

I have experience with induction cooking and so have a few comments in
response to those already posted. 

 1)  Induction cook tops do require that you use ferrous pots and pans but
they don't have to be heavy cast iron. A good way to test a pot or pan is to
use a magnet. If the magnet is attracted to and adheres to the pan bottom
firmly and strongly, it will work on the induction stove. If it has no
attraction or only a weak attraction, it won't work.  

 2)  Its true that induction cook tops don't generate any heat when on but
without a pot on it, but I believe that many, if not most, of them also have
a sensor that simply turns off the burner if there is no pot is on it after
a few seconds. That's the way mine works. 

 3)  A single pot induction hot plate (about 12" square) cost between $75
and $150. Mine (about 4 years old) cost $75. I have priced full induction
cook tops (4 to 6 burners without an oven underneath ) and they go for
around $1,800 to $2,500. I haven't priced a full electric oven with an
induction stove over it but I would guess they sell for around $2,000 and
up. 

 4)  Boiling water on my induction hot plate takes about 2 minutes. Its
wonderfully fast. 




Douglas Larson,
Songaia Cohousing,
Bothell, WA