The Best Induction Pan Sets

Induction Pan Sets Buying Guide

Have you just purchased a new home with an induction cooktop in the kitchen -- or are you thinking of switching from gas or electric to induction cooking? Induction cooking has many benefits compared to traditional cooking methods. Induction heats a pan much more quickly than a gas flame or electric element -- and with less preheating time, you'll cook your food more quickly. An induction cooktop also generates no heat unless a pan containing iron is on its surface. When the pan is removed, the cooktop returns relatively quickly to room temperature. Switching from an electric or gas range to induction cooking, in other words, can greatly reduce the risk of accidental burns. Since induction cooktops are flat, they also benefit from easy cleanup.
In short, induction cooking:

• Reduces cooking times
• Doesn't generate as much heat in the kitchen
• Makes accidental burns less likely
• Makes cleanup easy

The one potential downside of induction cooking is that your existing pots and pans may not work on an induction cooktop. That's because induction cooking uses electromagnets to generate alternating currents that pulse through your pans. While traditional cooking methods generate heat below a pan, induction cooking heats the pan itself via electromagnetism. If a pan contains no iron, it isn't magnetic -- so it won't work on an induction cooktop. To use an induction cooktop to maximum effect, you'll need to replace your copper, glass and aluminum cookware.
These tips can help you find a great induction pan set.

Material

To work with an induction cooktop, a pan must contain iron. Cast iron and enameled iron cookware will always work for induction cooking. Stainless steel cookware will usually work, but there are some stainless steel alloys that contain nickel rather than iron. If a pan's packaging doesn't say that the pan works with induction cooktops, you can check with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of the pan, the pan will work. You can even find induction-compatible pans made from materials that usually don't work with induction cooking -- such as copper. A copper pan can work for induction cooking if the manufacturer uses ferrous steel for the bottom of the pan.

Which material is best for induction cooking? As long as you use cookware that contains iron, you can use whichever material you prefer. Stainless steel tolerates rough handling and is usually dishwasher safe, but you'll have to cook with care to prevent your food from sticking. Seasoned cast iron resists sticking and is an excellent retainer of heat, but it isn't dishwasher safe. You also have to clean cast iron carefully to retain the seasoning that prevents sticking and protects the pans from rust.
The surface of an induction cooktop is usually glass. If you decide to use cast iron pans with your induction cooktop, exercise care when moving the pans. Because they are very heavy, cast iron pans can scratch induction cooktops easily.

Non-Stick Surface

Induction-compatible pans with non-stick surfaces are becoming increasingly common. If you buy a set of non-stick pans for your induction cooktop, you'll enjoy the easy cleanup of stainless steel and the non-stick properties of cast iron. Although many non-stick pans aren't dishwasher safe, the fact that food doesn't stick to them makes them quite easy to wash by hand.
The one downside of non-stick surfaces is that they aren't as chemically inert as stainless steel or cast iron. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) -- the most common non-stick material -- begins to decompose at temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit. At even higher temperatures, PTFE can emit hazardous fumes. Because an induction cooktop heats pans very quickly, you should take care not to leave an empty non-stick pan unattended when using it for induction cooking.

Handle

The handle material can have almost as much of an effect on your experience with a pot or pan as the material used for the cooking surface. If a pan has a plastic or silicone handle, the handle will resist becoming hot during cooking. You generally won't require a potholder when lifting the pan. However, plastic and silicone aren't oven safe at high temperatures. If your pans have metal handles, you can safely use them in the oven -- but metal handles can become hot during cooking on an induction cooktop.
There is great variety in the metals that cookware manufacturers use for pan handles. In general, though, a heavier pan requires a heavier handle. Very thick pans often use cast iron handles for durability and weight balance. If you can afford the price, you should look for pans with riveted -- rather than welded -- handles. A pan with a riveted handle won't have a completely smooth interior -- you'll see the bumps of the rivets when you look inside the pan -- but riveted handles are much more durable than welded handles.

Shape

A pan can only work with an induction cooktop if the metal on the bottom of the pan is very close to the electromagnetic coil under the glass surface. For maximum effectiveness, a pan should have a flat bottom that's about the same size as the induction element that you want to use. A pan with a rounded bottom -- such as a wok -- will not work well on an induction cooktop because only the flat portion of the bottom of the wok will become hot enough for cooking.

A Word About Induction Interfaces

If you have a few pieces of treasured cookware that you don't want to replace, you can use them on an induction cooktop by purchasing an induction interface. An induction interface is a stainless steel disc that you place on an induction surface. You can then place the pan of your choice on the interface for cooking.
The downside of cooking with an induction interface is that it works via indirect heat like an electric range. With an electric range, the range doesn't heat the pan -- it heats an element. Over time, heat moves from the element to the pan. An induction interface works in much the same way. Although it'll allow you to use your favorite non-induction cookware on an induction surface, it'll also greatly increase your cooking times.

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