Where to Start When it Comes to Induction Cookware?
Most kitchen owners will be familiar with the conventional gas and electric cooktop for cooking. These days, more and more kitchens are fitted with induction cooktops as they are energy efficient and safer for homes with young children. If you’re new to induction cooktops and you're in the market for
induction cookware to complement your brand-new cooktop, you have come to the right place.
What is Induction Cooking?
Induction cooking utilises electromagnetic coils that create magnetic friction to produce the heat when in contact with induction cookware. When the induction cookware is moved away, the heat will gradually dissipate because the cooktop is no longer able to create that friction that generates heat.
Why Induction Cooking?
Home and even restaurant owners are now turning to induction cooking for the following reasons:
- Cooking temperature adjusts quickly and with great accuracy. The moment induction cookware meets the induction cooktop, heat gets generated almost instantaneously cutting down on cooking time.
- It is safer, especially with young children around, as the cooktop surface remains cool to the human touch once the cookware is removed.
- Easy to clean. As the surface remains cool to the touch, it is very easy to clean any oil splatters or dirt right after cooking.
- No heat loss. Heat can only be generated and transferred when the induction cookware is placed directly on the induction cooktop. This allows the heat to be concentrated only on the cookware which means no wasted heat on any of the surrounding areas. No heat loss equates to energy efficiency which results in lower electricity bills!
Tips on Finding Induction Cookware
Unlike conventional cooking, induction cooking requires special induction cookware for the electromagnetic coils to transfer the generated heat accordingly.
Generally, all cast iron cookware is induction cooktop ready. However, you can also opt for non-stick or stainless steel options depending on your cooking style and the recipes you plan to whip up.
When switching to induction cooking, the easiest method to find out if your current cookware is compatible with induction cooktops is to take a magnet (this is the best time to put your fridge magnets to good use!) and place it directly at the bottom of the cookware. If the magnet sticks, your cookware is good to go on top of the induction cooktop.
However, if your magnet prefers to stay put on the fridge, here are some induction cookware that you can consider adding to your collection.
Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron cookware provides exceptional heat dispersion and heat retention which makes it perfect for long and slow cooking. All cast iron cookware is induction cooktop compatible, so if you already have them at home you can start whipping things up straight away on your induction stove.
Brands we recommend:
Here are some of our best-selling cast iron cookware:
Beautifully crafted in Alsace, France, this cocotte is made of enamelled cast iron both inside and out. It absorbs heat quickly and retains it longer, making it great for cooking even the most delicate dishes. Furthermore, Staub has designed self-basting spikes underneath the lid which will help continuously baste the food so you can take a step back and let
Staub work its magic for you.
2. Le Creuset Signature Round French Oven 28cm Mist Grey
A versatile cookware,
Le Creuset French Ovens are ideal for stewing, roasting, searing and braising. The tight-fitting lid ensures that your food cooks thoroughly, sealing in the heat, moisture, flavour and nutrition. What’s more, the lid is designed to close securely and reduce the loss of moisture when cooking.
Made in France, this
grill pan comes with a thick cast iron base which provides even heat distribution and only requires low to medium heat. Its square shape makes it great for grilling chops, steaks, mushrooms and asparagus or fish fillets. The beautiful sky blue colour by
Chasseur adds a nice touch to serving at the table and looks attractive enough to even be stored as a stovetop feature.
The
Lodge Cast Iron Skillet comes pre-seasoned and ready for use. It withstands higher heat levels (as it's raw cast iron and not enamelled) to seal in the flavour of meat, poultry, seafood or vegetables. With this skillet on hand, you can fry chicken, meat, eggs and even do your baking! Easy peasy!
Non-stick Cookware for Induction Cooktops
Using
nonstick cookware is every cook’s dream. It works even better when paired with an induction cooktop as you get the best of both worlds – super quick heat up and your cooking stays intact. What's important to note is that not all non-stick cookware is induction compatible so ensure to check when shopping.
Brands we recommend:
Here are some of our best-selling non-stick induction friendly cookware:
1. Woll Diamond Lite Pro Induction Saute Pan 28cm 3.5L
If you think diamonds are only made to be worn, think again. Made in Germany, the
Woll Diamond Lite Pro Induction Saute Pan has diamonds placed in each layer of the pan's construction process to reinforce it, allowing for optimal durability and creating better heat conductivity. It is also worth noting that this is the
hardest wearing non-stick on the market and should last you many years.
Made in Denmark,
Scanpan’s Tall Dutch Oven gives you a 6.5L capacity to work with and its 5 Layer non-stick surface makes it metal utensil safe. What's more, it is made from 100% recycled high-grade aluminium, a material that produces less waste and only requires 10% of the energy to make.
This wok features a Ceramic Titanium Non-stick coating and is made from 100% environmentally friendly recycled Aluminium core which is squeezed cast for quick and even heat distribution. The ergonomic stainless steel handles make it oven safe to 260°C. Enjoy stir-frying and Asian style cooking? This wok will take care of that for you! See the full range of
induction woks.
From Switzerland, the coating in this
frying pan contains 20% more diamond crystals than their previous cookware range. The diamond crystals provide even heat distribution to prevent hotspots and makes cleaning fast and easy especially when it comes to cooking eggs. With a heavy-duty aluminium base, you don't have to worry about any shape warping, tipping and spinning, making it durable and energy-efficient. See the full range of
induction frying pans.
A secret known to many chefs but only a handful of home cooks know about. This deep frypan is tough and its effective non-stick surface makes it ideal for deep frying and “one pan” recipes (think paella, risottos, curry, pasta sauces and more).
Stainless Steel Cookware for Induction Cooktops
A classic form of cookware and commonly found in varying shapes and sizes,
stainless steel cookware is great for all kinds of cooking method.
Not all stainless steel cookware is suitable for induction cooktop as they may not react magnetically to the cooktop due to the high nickel content. Give the magnet test a go to be sure and when shopping with us, ensure to check the product descriptions to ensure the cookware is induction compatible prior to purchase.
Brands we recommend:
Here are some of our best-selling stainless steel cookware that work on induction cooktops:
Made in France and renowned by professional chefs globally, this
De Buyer pot is made from high-quality 0.6mm stainless steel. It features a generous 8L capacity which makes it perfect for batch cooking, stew, soup and more. The French-style bolstered curved handles help to keep your hands safe from heat whilst the grooves under the handles provide optimal comfort and easy handling. See the full range of
induction stockpots.
This French
saucepan has three stainless steel outer layers which makes it ideal for ultra-fast cooking saving vitamins, energy and time. The Affinity Saucepan heats up very quickly and will stop further cooking your food once you remove it from the stovetop, giving you control when whipping up delicate sauces, caramels and creams.
A truly versatile pan with uncoated stainless steel interior which makes it perfect for searing meat, fish and vegetables. Covered by a Lifetime Guarantee, you can rest assured that this tough pan can take on various recipes and cooking styles. Its beautiful design means the pan can be taken straight from the kitchen to the table with style.
Developed by Scanpan’s Danish innovators, the thick base of this frypan ensures even heat distribution for fuss-free cooking. The 18/10 stainless steel makes
Scanpan Impact Frypan durable and compatible with various cooking energy sources.
If you’re thinking of switching over to induction cooking or if you’re in the market for induction cookware, head over to our website where you’ll be spoilt for choice.
