Induction Cooktop Buying Guide
With so many outstanding options, searching for the perfect induction cooktop can seem overwhelming. However, KitchenAid® induction cooktops are outfitted with the styles and features you need to invent new meals and look good while doing it. Learn what to look for when searching for the best KitchenAid® induction cooktops.
What Is an Induction Cooktop?
As opposed to traditional stovetops, in which a heating element is the source of the heat, induction cooktops utilize electromagnetic energy to interact with compatible cookware via a copper coil. This creates heat directly within your pots and pans instead of heating the surface of your appliance.
What Should I Look for When Buying an Induction Cooktop?
The considerations to keep in mind when buying an induction cooktop are similar to those when purchasing a gas or electric stovetop. The essential factors to be aware of are aesthetic as well as performance-based, such as size, style, number of burners and features.
1. Size
Available in 30-inch or 36-inch versions, induction cooktops can fit in either small or large kitchen configurations and along your countertop. Larger cooktops may offer more burners, bridge elements or simply give you more space to maneuver large pots and pans.
2. Style
Complement your kitchen aesthetic with black or stainless-steel options for your induction cooktop. Create an edge-to-edge monochromatic look with black induction cooktops featuring touch controls, or make a statement with a contrasting stainless steel trim.
3. Number of Burners
With an option for two, four or five burners, you can choose the cooktop that best fits your making style. Additionally, bridge functions in induction cooktops allow you to combine elements into larger cooking zones for both griddles and wider pans.
4. Features
KitchenAid® induction cooktops are designed with a number of impressive features on select models, including: 12 heat level settings that allow you to move seamlessly from melting to sautéing, pan size detection to select the correct cookware for each element as well as sensor induction technology to cook with the right amount of heat at the right time.
What's the Difference Between an Induction and Electric Cooktop?
The three main differences are heat source, energy loss and responsiveness. Despite both being powered by electricity, induction and electric cooktops differ in three important ways. The first is by heating source: whereas electric cooktops heat the surface of your stove, induction cooktops will heat only your cookware.
The second is by energy loss. Induction cooktops create heat directly in your cookware, so there is little-to-no heat loss from the surface of the appliance to your dish. When cooking with regular electric cooktops, there can be some heat lost from the element that radiates heat through the surface of the cooktop.
Lastly, induction cooktops offer exceptional responsiveness to temperature changes. Because the coil in induction cooktops does not generate heat on its own, you do not need to wait for the coil to cool when lowering the heat setting. This allows you to quickly go from a rolling boil to a gentle simmer.
What Are the Benefits of Gas, Induction and Electric Cooktops?
The benefits of induction cooktops include responsive and precise cooking, potentially less energy loss to the pan and easy cleanup with a relatively cool surface, which reduces the chance of baked-on spills. However, there are those who prefer the direct flame provided by gas cooktops while others enjoy the familiarity of radiant electric cooktops.
What Is the Best Cookware to Use on an Induction Cooktop?
The best cookware to use on an induction cooktop is made of metals that are induction ready. Some examples include cast iron and stainless steel. There is also a simple test to determine whether your current pot or pan is induction ready. If a magnet sticks to the bottom of your cookware, it can likely be used on an induction oven.
Shop KitchenAid® Induction Cooktops
Offering increased precision and control when you need it most, KitchenAid® induction cooktops support every stage of making. With added features on select models like Power Boost for short bursts of heat when you’re attempting a new technique, you can continually push the boundaries of your culinary imagination.
