An induction cooktop uses an impressive technology. The only part of the cooktop that heats up is the part that touches the pan. This means that you can place a pan on one-half of the cooktop and ice cubes on the other half; the ice cubes won’t melt. There are a few distinct advantages to using an induction cooktop. It greatly reduces the incidence of severe burns, and it helps save energy.
Step 1
Get the right type of pans. Induction cooktops require a pan with some iron in the bottom. The energy passed through the cooktop is transferred to the iron, which heats up the pan.
Step 2
Test out your old pans if you don’t want to buy new ones. To test your pans for iron, put a magnet on the bottom of the pan. If there’s enough iron in it, the magnet will stick. Otherwise, you will need to buy new pans.
Step 3
Turn on the induction cooktop. Each model will have slightly different directions, such as pushing a power button or turning a knob, so check your owner’s manual.
Step 4
Place your pot onto the induction cooktop. The cooktop will sense the iron content in the pot and start to heat it up immediately.
Step 5
Time your food appropriately. Induction cooktops are more efficient, meaning your food will cook faster. For example, if something usually takes about 14 minutes to cook on a standard cooktop, it will generally only take about 12 minutes on an induction cooktop.