How to choose cookware for an induction cooker and whether to throw away old pans

Purchasing new household appliances for the kitchen is always a holiday for the housewife, and she wants to replace all the pots and pans with new ones. When buying a hob, not many people think about what kind of cookware is suitable for induction cookers and what qualities it should have to make cooking a pleasure to purchase.There are subtleties that need to be taken into account when replacing household appliances, and you also need to know the features of the heating element, which will allow you to cook quickly and tasty.

Why do induction cookers need special cookware?

This type of hob is significantly different from conventional burners, which are heated by gas or electricity. An induction cooker is more economical in energy consumption and will never heat up without interacting with the cookware.

The principle of operation of household appliances is to create a magnetic field that reacts to the metal and begins to heat it. But if you place your favorite glass saucepan on such a surface, it simply will not boil. Therefore, when buying a new stove, it is worth carrying out a complete audit of the utensils in the kitchen and choosing the right one.

Requirements for induction cookware

Most modern kitchens use stainless steel pans - they are better suited for such a surface. But there are also special factors that you need to know when choosing induction equipment that will allow you to cook food quickly.

Criteria for choosing cookware for an induction cooker:

• flat bottom, without defects, as close as possible to the plane of the slab;
• the material used to make the dishes can be magnetized;
• pan bottom thickness 5-20 mm;
• diameter is at least 12 cm, the pan must occupy more than 70% of the burner surface.

On a note. If we are talking about purchasing new utensils, then it is better to buy a set of pans, the diameter of the bottom of which fully matches the size of the burner - this will prevent overheating of the dishes and their deformation during cooking.

What are cookware for induction cookers made of?

The main thing is that it is a metal with magnetic susceptibility.But modern manufacturers also make glass and aluminum products that can be placed on induction cookers and they will heat up. Such pots and pans have a bottom that can react to the magnetic field of the cooking surface and heat up.

Stainless steel

Great for cooking. Stainless steel heats up quickly and has an attractive appearance and is easy to care for. Typically, stainless steel pots and pans are made with a high multi-layer bottom, which increases the efficiency of induction perception. But when choosing, you should look at the smoothness of the surface that comes into contact with the burner - relief and embossed patterns are excluded.

Cast iron

Using such cookware is not very convenient due to its weight, but dishes made in cast iron turn out to be the most delicious and aromatic. The metal distributes heat evenly over the entire surface of the pan for a long time, which facilitates quick cooking. When choosing cast iron cookware, you need to pay attention to the presence of an anti-corrosion coating and its quality, otherwise it will quickly rust. You should also use such utensils with caution; if the pan is accidentally dropped, it can break the ceramic surface of the stove.

Enameled cookware

Kitchen utensils coated with enamel are made of steel, which has good magnetic properties. The coating is made in different colors and patterns. A variety of shapes and diameters will allow you to purchase a set, the bottom of which will correspond to the size of the burner. When using old enamel pans, you must avoid using dishes with chips, which will quickly lead to deformation of the bottom, which will negatively affect the speed of heating.

Glassware and non-magnetic alloys with a steel bottom

Such pots and pans exist. Manufacturers make cookware from materials that are not entirely suitable for induction surfaces. When purchasing, the main thing is to determine whether the bottom has a special layer capable of magnetization, which is necessary for heating.

Which sign identifies cookware for induction?

The marking on the bottom ensures that the stove will heat the utensils and cook the food. When buying dishes, you need to pay attention not only to the sign, but also to whose product it is.

If you have the slightest doubt about the quality, it is better to refuse the purchase; there are a lot of fakes on the market for this type of kitchen utensils that can spoil the impression of the new stove. The induction cookware icon is applied in the form of a horizontal spiral designation or the inscription “Induction” on the outside of the bottom.

Magnet: will help determine whether the cookware is suitable for induction

To ensure that you get the necessary utensils, you can take a small piece of magnet with you. If the magnet sticks to the bottom, regardless of the material of manufacture, then you can buy it, because this is what will accurately determine that the induction element will heat the pan. This will help you purchase the necessary kitchen utensils if the purchase is made in an unfamiliar store.

Induction cookware manufacturers

When choosing kitchen utensils, you need to pay attention to manufacturers who have proven their products, which guarantees not only good interaction of the utensils with the stove, but also their long-term use without deformation of the bottom.

High-quality products from world brands cannot be cheap; on average, the price varies from 3,000 to 7,000 thousand rubles per frying pan.

The most expensive cookware on the market includes German manufacturers Fissler and Woll; the cost of their kitchen utensils can reach 8,000 per pan. But there are less famous manufacturers: “Hackman” from Finland, “Cristel” from France, “Risoli” from Italy, as well as the famous French pots and pans “Tefal”, which have long been familiar to everyone.

When purchasing, do not forget about manufacturers from Russia, who create products of decent quality and at an affordable price. You can pay attention to the dishes: “Neva-Metal Tableware”, “Siberian Goods”, “Skovo”, “Steelemal” and “Gourmet”.

What to buy: choosing the minimum required for cooking

The best option would be a set of four-piece cookware with a bottom size that completely matches the diameter of the burners. Such kits are easy to find in specialized stores that sell kitchen utensils.

When purchasing, it is worth considering that it is better to purchase a pan with a smaller height and a wider bottom - this will optimize the heating efficiency. Usually the set includes: a frying pan and three cooking pots for 5.3 and 2 liters, but with a large selection in stores, you can easily choose your own option.

Adapters for induction cooker

A special device consisting of several layers of metal will allow you not to throw away your favorite dishes made from the wrong material. The adapter can be purchased immediately along with the induction hob. The device is manufactured in different diameters and can have a stationary or removable handle, which will allow you to quickly remove it from the burner. The stand will also be indispensable if the diameter of the bottom of the dish and the size of the heating element do not match, for example, to brew coffee in a Turk.

Proper use and care of kitchen utensils

Cookware for induction cookers does not require special care, but knowing the small details, you can avoid mistakes that will lead to excessive energy consumption and deformation of the bottom.

Useful tips for using and caring for pots and pans:

1. Any container on the stove must be placed strictly in the center of the burner, especially for glassware that is adapted for induction.
2. If a person has a pacemaker, it is worth consulting with a doctor about the possibility of cooking with this type of household appliance.
3. You should wash dishes only with mild detergents and avoid coarse abrasives that leave scratches on the surface.
4. Do not heat the frying pan for a long time without food, as this will cause the bottom to deform and it cannot be used on an induction hob.
5. Even if the hob is not hot, you should not wipe it or wash it immediately after cooking; the ceramic coating can heat up to a temperature of 60 degrees and interaction with water can lead to cracks.

In general, induction cookware is no different from ordinary pans in terms of operation and care, so it can be used as ordinary kitchen utensils.

Myths and their revelations about the induction cooker

Most of the fables that were told about this type of household appliances have long been refuted by the manufacturer. But still, some subtleties of the operation of the electromagnetic coil, which is the main heating element of the stove, must be taken into account when purchasing a hob.

Health hazard

The likelihood that an electromagnetic field will affect a person is negligible.To get a negative effect, you need to be at a distance of 10 cm from the hob for quite a long time. Typically, when preparing food, a person does not come closer than 50 cm to the pan, which reduces the impact of the field to a minimum. This type of hob should be used with caution by people who have a pacemaker; the induction field may affect the operation of the device.

All old accessories need to be replaced

There is no need to throw away your favorite utensils that can still be used, but you will have to get rid of old, crumpled pots with uneven bottoms. There are adapters for glass, ceramic or aluminum that will help you use cookware made from these materials on your new induction cooker.

Heats up like glass ceramics and other stoves

The hob surface never gets hot. The cooking process begins only when metal utensils are placed on the burner, which begins to heat up when interacting with the field. You can only get burned on a pan, but this is impossible with the surface of a stove.

Metal that accidentally gets into the work area will become very hot.

An accidentally forgotten fork or spoon on the surface will not heat up. In order for the induction field to interact with the metal, you need a pan diameter of at least 12 cm. And it is desirable that the contact between the burner and the bottom is tight, otherwise the heating coefficient is significantly reduced.

Cannot be used near other electrical appliances

The induction field at a distance of 50 cm is unable to interact with waves from a microwave oven. Therefore, there is no danger to electrical appliances if you do not place them close to the hob.

Answers on questions

Most happy owners of an economical and safe stove do not know the answers to simple questions; therefore, before purchasing household appliances, you should read the manufacturer’s instructions. In order not to damage the hob the first time you use it, you need to know a few nuances.

What kind of pan should not be placed on the stove?

There is no direct contact between the burner and the pan, which has an uneven bottom, which leads to uneven heating and loss of efficiency. It is desirable that the bottom of the dish be multi-layered and at least 5 mm thick.

In this case, if the bottom surface is uneven, induction will be ineffective, which will increase cooking time and energy consumption. The hob simply will not heat other dishes made of glass, ceramics or non-magnetic metals without a special adapter.

Are cookware with a special bottom suitable for gas and electricity?

There are no restrictions. Special cookware adapted for induction has a metal plate at the bottom, which heats up and transfers heat to the entire pot or pan. Also, this type of kitchen utensil can be used on gas and electric burners, and can also be placed in the oven.

When purchasing an induction hob, you should immediately think about being ready to replace old cookware with new ones, but this is not necessary. You can buy an adapter and not think about throwing away your favorite glass saucepan, but buy special utensils as needed.