Induction cooktops are a form of kitchen technology that allows a cook to prepare foods without the use of a standard electric hot coil or an open gas flame. Induction cooktops work by using a magnetic coil beneath a glass surface to transfer magnetic energy to iron atoms in the cookware, vibrating them to cause friction. This heats the pots and pans almost instantly. Induction cooking has its share of advantages, including easy cleanup, precise temperature control and energy efficiency. However, the induction cooktop is not without its problems.

Cooking on an induction cooktop means many advantages and a few problems.

Limited Cookware

One of the major problems with using an induction cooktop is the cookware that is necessary. With other types of ranges you pretty much have your choice when it comes to selecting your cookware, but in the case of induction, some of them just may not work at all. The presence of iron to react with the magnetic function of the induction cooktop is necessary to create the heat needed to cook food. There are plenty of options when it comes to buying induction-friendly cookware, but it could be a problem if you already have cookware and have invested in copper, ceramic, aluminum or glass cookware. None of these are suitable for induction cooking. You'll need to buy cast iron or stainless steel cookware if you want to make this switch, according to The Induction Site.


With all of its advantages, you may wonder why everyone doesn't switch to induction cooktops. The answer is simple. It's expensive. In comparison to gas or electric stoves, an induction setup is likely to cost you considerably more on the front end. If cookware is also a problem, then the investment could be even more, according to the Kitchen Bath Ideas site.

Noise and Vibration

Induction cooking is almost silent--at least the cooktop itself is. However, the magnetic nature of the process may make your cookware a bit noisy. When used on high power settings, the magnetic field may vibrate loose pan handles or lids on pots, and it may even cause some lower-quality cookware or cookware with an uneven bottom surface to rock, rattle or buzz when cooking.

Electricity Required

Unlike gas ranges, the induction cooktop requires a constant flow of electricity to make it work. If there is a loss of power, the heat drops off quickly. When using a gas range, the electricity can be off indefinitely and it will not affect cooking functions.