Have you heard of induction cooking? Are you wondering what all the buzz is about? Or perhaps you’re a homeowner wondering if induction stoves are worth the switch? The Center for EcoTechnology (CET) has launched a campaign, Cooking with Magnets, to help you answer those questions!
What is Induction Cooking?
Unlike gas, propane, and electric cooktops, which use an open flame or heating element, induction cooking uses electromagnetic energy to heat pots and pans directly. A high frequency electric current passes through a copper coil beneath the cooking surface, which then creates a magnetic current that excites the metal molecules in the bottom of the pan, creating a direct heat connection. Because only the pan is heated in this process and very little heat energy is lost, induction is more efficient than any other method of cooking.
Why Induction Cooking?
Here are some of the key benefits:
Environmental
Using an induction stove instead of gas cuts your cooking carbon emissions in half. Unless you’re sun-drying tomatoes or cooking eggs on burning hot pavement, induction is the greenest cooking method out there!
As a part of a wider de–carbonization strategy, switching appliances in your home to be electrically powered instead of dependent on fossil fuels contributes to strategic electrification. When paired with renewable energy sources, strategic electrification increases energy efficiency and reduces pollution.
Health & Safety
Induction stoves eliminate harmful indoor emissions that come from gas. A 2020 study by the UCLA School of Public Health linked air pollutants from gas appliances to several acute and chronic health effects, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. These pollutants have also been found to increase the risk of childhood asthma by 45%.
While homeowners with gas or propane stoves can reduce indoor air pollution with ventilation from range hoods, fans and even open windows, induction cooking eliminates the risks altogether. Additionally, induction cooking only heats the pan, offering protection against burns and fire hazards.
Economic
Induction burners are roughly three times more efficient than gas. This means it will take less power to cook the same meals, reducing your energy bills. Additionally, many utilities offer great rebates to help with the costs of upgrading, like Ipswich’s incentive of up to $750 through the ReSource Ipswich program, or SELCO’s incentive of up to $500 through the NextZero Program.
(If you are a Shrewsbury or Ipswich resident, you can try induction cooking for FREE with our lending program! See below for more information.)
Cook time
Because of their precise heating mechanisms, induction stoves can cut your cooking time in half. A traditional stove will take 7 minutes to boil water, but induction can do it in under 4. Spending less time waiting for pans to heat or sauces to simmer means more time for you to enjoy your delicious meals!
Cleanup
Induction cooktops are a breeze to clean. They have smooth surfaces that can be wiped down easily with a wet rag, and the burners don’t get hot enough to bake on food, so you can put away that scouring sponge!
Precision
Induction burners are quicker to respond to temperature adjustments than gas burners. Instead of “high,” “medium,” and “low” settings, most induction burners will have multiple modes for exact temperatures or specific types of cooking, like boiling, simmering, or frying. This means you will have dynamic control with very little wait time for it to heat up or cool down when adjusting the heat.
Fall in love with the precision and ease of induction today
CET has launched an Induction Lending Program, helping residents in Ipswich and Shrewsbury get Cooking with Magnets. Induction cooking kits are available at the Ipswich Public Library, Ipswich High School and Shrewsbury Public Library. Kits include a portable induction burner, induction-ready cookware, and instructions to get started.
“We’re really excited to pilot this effort,” said Ashley Muspratt, CET’s Director of Innovation. “Electrification is important for a just and equitable transition to the low-carbon economy, and the numerous benefits of induction cooking make it a great step toward achieving that goal!”
We’re not the only ones excited about cooking with magnets, watch what the professionals say about using induction stoves.
If you aren’t in the Ipswich and Shrewsbury areas, there still may be incentives available through your local utility programs, along with all of the benefits that switching will bring to your home!
Learn more about Cooking with Magnets!
