Kitchens, from restaurants to homes, swear by induction cookers for their efficiency and convenience. Induction cooktops are also more favored in dorms for their portable size and sleek design. But can any type of cookware be suitable on these cooktops? Since one can’t see an actual flame, is the heat on these cookers even easy to turn up and regulate? For these questions and more, read on to know how induction works and how to use induction cookers.
How Induction Works
Electrical induction is the primary heating function that induction cooktops use. In contrast to the traditional cookers that heats food with a flame through thermal conduction, induction cookers are flameless. One does not see fire issuing from the stove while cooking. The induction cooker’s heat occurs on its surface, coming from a hidden system of coils underneath. When the induction cooker is turned on, and a pot is placed on top of it, an electric current is passed through, producing the heat that would cook up the meal. If there is no cookware placed on the induction cooker, no heat will issue from the hob even if the appliance is switched on. This is also a helpful safety feature of an induction cooker.
Using induction cooktops ensures that food is evenly cooked because heat is distributed evenly. Without you shifting and tilting the pan or stirring your food around, evenly distributed heat is not always possible in a traditional stove that uses a flame.
Not all types of cookware are compatible with an induction cooker, however. Pots and pans made of copper or aluminum are not suitable unless these have been updated with bottoms and layers that work with induction cookers. Always check the label to see if cookware is induction-friendly.
The cookware used on induction cooktops should be made of ferromagnetic steel. The base of this cookware — cast iron and stainless steel, for example — is magnetic, so try sticking a magnet onto it to test if it would work on your induction cooker.
Steps on How to Use Induction Cooker
Getting your induction cooker to work is fairly easy because all it takes is to push some buttons. These buttons are usually labeled according to the cooking function you wish to use, from boiling water to making a hotpot, steaming, frying, etc. It then becomes your induction cooker’s job to match the needed heat for your type of cooking. In detailed but simple steps, here’s how to use an induction cooker:
Step 1. Plug the power cord of the induction cooker into a power source.
Step 2. Place your induction cookware on the hob ring of the induction cooker. It is important to place the cookware first before switching the appliance on to steer clear of radiation. However, some units have a magnetic wall to reduce and eliminate risks.
Step 3. Make a long press on the power button of the induction cooker.
Step 4. On the control panel, choose and press the cooking function you want to use.
Step 5. Regulate the heat by pressing either the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ sensors on your cooker.
Step 6. Turn off the appliance as soon as you are finished cooking.
Step 7. After letting it rest and cool down, clean the induction cooker. Use a damp cloth to wipe its surface clean. Never use anything that has a rough, abrasive surface, like a scouring pad or a sharp implement.
Benefits of Induction Cooker
After learning how to use an induction cooker, let’s check some of its benefits. Induction cookers are generally safer to use, especially if you have small kids in the house. Some of the notable features and benefits that are in many updated induction cookers are the following:
- Child lock. In some cooktops, this feature is present, and what a relief that they are. Simply activate the child lock feature so that the appliance does not heat up even if children tinker with its buttons.
- Pause button. You have the option to pause your cooking and resume it again at your convenience.
- Delay options. You may also delay your cooking by assigning a preset time or schedule so that the cooker can do the job for you, even while you are attending to other things.
- WiFi control. In some high-end models, you can control and manage your appliance remotely. Smart!
Conclusion
The induction cooker has significantly taken over thermal induction stoves, and for a good reason. It assures you of ease and speed in your cooking time. For example, the time it takes to perform the most basic boiling water task is reduced to half when on an induction cooker. You also have properly cooked food, without worry that anything is undercooked or overcooked or burnt because the menu options are a no-brainer. It also looks sleek and seamless in your kitchen, like nothing’s there on your kitchen countertop. More than the design, this makes your trusty appliance space-saving and clutter-free. Also, the induction cooker does not cause a lot of heat to your kitchen, so on a busy cooking day, you can still keep your cool. There are still many benefits from learning how to use induction cooker in the right way. Just explore and enjoy! Know more about how to use appliances.