The electric stove here could well be the original stove, 70+ years old. Electric cooktop with the coil heaters. Inefficient.

Don’t want to replace it yet until I know what I want to do with the kitchen.

Bought a “Tefal Everyday Induction Portable Hob” as induction is the most economical way of heating and cooking food.

Interesting. The pans I have, stainless steel with a copper disc incorporated in the base—induction plate does not work! This is not the end of the world—a circular steel plate with a handle makes any pan an induction-cooking capable pan. But some loss of efficiency.

My stock pots are fine—all stainless steel and the porcelain coated cast iron fry pans also work. If I need to replace a saucepan obviously I need to replace it with an induction-capable pan!

Dunno if the aluminium pressure canner will work on the plate. It should but will see.

If ordering an induction plate from Amazon—if it comes directly from overseas you will be up for the cost of replacing the French or US plug with one that fits into Australian sockets. Something to bear in mind.


Anyone does a lot of cooking using induction?

I bought the Westinghouse single portable, mostly to cook smelly stuff outside, but I also use it for super slow cooks as I'd never leave gas unattended.

I wish my whole stove was induction as it's sooo damn fast and efficient. Every scrap of energy goes into cooking.

Whereas the old fashioned coils take minutes to heat up!

Bit surprised about the saucepans tho.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DqSShVuqWE&ab_channel=DesignerAppliances

I prefer gas but the next will likely be induction.

Did you know that induction cooking was invented in the early 1900's.

I have always found cooking on electric to be horrible.

Seems that induction has the advantages of gas - better than electric.

One warning is that they can interfere with a pacemaker or such.

Jovial Monk wrote on May 20^th, 2023 at 10:26pm:

Whereas the old fashioned coils take minutes to heat up! Bit surprised about the saucepans tho.

They also take minutes to cool down - less responsive than gas or Induction.

Thank your lucky stars you don’t have to cook on MY antediluvian electric cooktop! The white enamel is starting to flake off rapidly!

Re the pacemakers—induction uses magnetic fields.

Dnarever wrote on May 20^th, 2023 at 10:41pm:

Jovial Monk wrote on May 20th, 2023 at 10:26pm: Whereas the old fashioned coils take minutes to heat up! Bit surprised about the saucepans tho. They also take minutes to cool down - less responsive than gas or Induction.

Yes. Just less efficient, like LED lights v incandescent.

Some warnings, caveats and lots of useful info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CrI33N-Sjg&ab_channel=HelenRennie

e.g. the magnet in my induction plate is 193mm/7.6" so I can put a 200mm pan on it no probs. If I put a 400mm pan on it the food in the centre will cook, those outside the 193mm will take ages to cook.

Warping of pans—a saucepan with water and, say, potato in it is fine, the water will absorb the heat. A frypan will eventually warp if put straight onto high heat, left to warm up then oil added to it. The oil must go in first and the plate turned on low and then the heat slowly increased. Pan warping is not just from induction—if you let a ss pan boil dry then add cold water to clean it while the pan is still hot it will warp.

I would like to get an induction cooktop and I was happy to learn that all the Master Chef cookware from Coles is induction friendly.

Much of our old cookware would have to go though.

Mind you, many induction cooktops are quite expensive to buy. I suppose over time they will save money on electricity.

Speaking of energy efficiency ... we are having our old Gas storage hot water system replaced with an electric Heat Pump storage hot water system this Tuesday.  8-)

I've just got an induction hotplate that I got from Ikea. I can plug it in inside or outside. Works a treat when i want something fast and for big meals I still have my regular cooktop.

Yeah, like use it to cook beans then use it to can the beans in the pressure cooker. Stovetop still 100% available.

Captain Nemo wrote on May 21^st, 2023 at 10:41am:

I would like to get an induction cooktop and I was happy to learn that all the Master Chef cookware from Coles is induction friendly. Much of our old cookware would have to go though. Mind you, many induction cooktops are quite expensive to buy. I suppose over time they will save money on electricity. Speaking of energy efficiency ... we are having our old Gas storage hot water system replaced with an electric Heat Pump storage hot water system this Tuesday.  8-)

Woot, the plumbers turned up on time, did a neat job and tidied up after themselves.  8-)

A thing of beauty and a joy forever:

https://i.imgur.com/ynViQ7q.jpg

Please excuse the crappy grass, that is next on my reno list.  ;D

Captain Nemo wrote on May 21^st, 2023 at 10:41am:

I would like to get an induction cooktop and I was happy to learn that all the Master Chef cookware from Coles is induction friendly. Much of our old cookware would have to go though. Mind you, many induction cooktops are quite expensive to buy. I suppose over time they will save money on electricity. Speaking of energy efficiency ... we are having our old Gas storage hot water system replaced with an electric Heat Pump storage hot water system this Tuesday.  8-)

I like this one and would buy it for a new build, but to replace my existing could cost nearly 10k in trades when I factor in running a new circuit  and possibly screwing up my stone bench.  Instead I just use my $100 portable which I actually use heaps

https://www.winnings.com.au/p/asko-pro-series-pro-series-dual-fuel-cooktop-hig1995ad

What I like most about the induction is how bloody fast it can heat up something like huge pot of water.

My stove is also 2 meters from my sliding door so I can't cook with gas with the door open when it's windy

Also with the induction hot plate I'm confident to leave it on low power unattended, which I'd never do with gas.

Don't you have to have 'specialised' pots n' pans for Induction?

You can buy a steel plate, put that on the induction cooker, put your non-magnetic pan on the plate. You lose a bit of efficiency. The saucepans I have have a copper disc in the base and they do not work with the induction plate.

I have a Le Creuset saucepan that I had forgotten about. That works fine. Boiled some spuds in it—the induction plate had the water boiling in an incredibly short time! Shallow fried the boiled spud in my cast iron frypan, went fine (OK little bit burned, learning curve.)

Captain Nemo wrote on May 23^rd, 2023 at 3:08pm:

Captain Nemo wrote on May 21st, 2023 at 10:41am: I would like to get an induction cooktop and I was happy to learn that all the Master Chef cookware from Coles is induction friendly. Much of our old cookware would have to go though. Mind you, many induction cooktops are quite expensive to buy. I suppose over time they will save money on electricity. Speaking of energy efficiency ... we are having our old Gas storage hot water system replaced with an electric Heat Pump storage hot water system this Tuesday.  8-) Woot, the plumbers turned up on time, did a neat job and tidied up after themselves.  8-) A thing of beauty and a joy forever: https://i.imgur.com/ynViQ7q.jpg Please excuse the crappy grass, that is next on my reno list.  ;D

Awesome!!!

I’ve been dying to know IF the change over is worth the trouble. What/where are the benefits wrt $$$ savings?

Note : Our electricity and gas bills are outta control here 😩

Jasin wrote on May 23^rd, 2023 at 4:46pm:

Don't you have to have 'specialised' pots n' pans for Induction?

Yes you do.

It’s a bit of a bugger too.

Nothing beats a gas stove cooktop IMO.

Induction reaches boiling temperature much faster than gas! Cheaper too.

Lisa Jones wrote on Jun 10^th, 2023 at 8:27pm:

Captain Nemo wrote on May 23rd, 2023 at 3:08pm: Captain Nemo wrote on May 21st, 2023 at 10:41am: I would like to get an induction cooktop and I was happy to learn that all the Master Chef cookware from Coles is induction friendly. Much of our old cookware would have to go though. Mind you, many induction cooktops are quite expensive to buy. I suppose over time they will save money on electricity. Speaking of energy efficiency ... we are having our old Gas storage hot water system replaced with an electric Heat Pump storage hot water system this Tuesday.  8-) Woot, the plumbers turned up on time, did a neat job and tidied up after themselves.  8-) A thing of beauty and a joy forever: https://i.imgur.com/ynViQ7q.jpg Please excuse the crappy grass, that is next on my reno list.  ;D Awesome!!! I’ve been dying to know IF the change over is worth the trouble. What/where are the benefits wrt $$$ savings? Note : Our electricity and gas bills are outta control here 😩

Too soon to tell how the bills will work out plus I have the added difficulty of comparing prior bills because we also had a reverse-cycle air conditioner put in around the same time.  :D

We used to rely solely on a gas wall furnace for heating.

My hope is that the gas bill will drop in proportion to the increase in the electricity bill. Time will tell.

However, the up-front cost of the heat pump is quite large, so this is more about the long term benefit from consuming less energy since the heat-pump is the most efficient method for heating the water.

Will be interesting to see how the gas bill and electricity bill track though.

Into the mix will be that horrible 20 - 30% increase in electricity prices later this year.  >:(

Things should improve once our bigger Solar panel array and battery are installed ... hopefully by August / September.

I have a bit of a pipeline of work that is being held up by the replacement and extension of the carport. That has still not commenced and the roof restoration has to follow that, then finally the new Solar system.

They say patience is a virtue.  :-/

I have a long, narrow shed running roughly north-south. I reckon getting some of the smaller, secondhand solar panels and putting them on the roof of that shed will give a nice burst of power in the morning and again in the afternoon, assuming it an be married to the big new panels.

Lisa Jones wrote on Jun 10^th, 2023 at 8:33pm:

Jasin wrote on May 23rd, 2023 at 4:46pm: Don't you have to have 'specialised' pots n' pans for Induction? Yes you do. It’s a bit of a bugger too. Nothing beats a gas stove cooktop IMO.

Yes gas is the best. Haven't tried induction but thinking about getting a portable induction cook plate.

Last time we replaced the oven we had to swap to electric from gas as we couldn't get a gas replacement. Electric oven is absolute crap. Just about to replace it in about a week.

Food idea, DNA.

Induction heats faster than gas BTW.

Jovial Monk wrote on Jun 11^th, 2023 at 7:51am:

Induction reaches boiling temperature much faster than gas! Cheaper too.

Not in MY kitchen, it doesn't.
When we designed and built the new kitchen, we were determined the best looking - and best operating, "made to measure" kitchen" that money could buy.

But why stop there, we thought.
We also added the top-of-the-range Scanpan copper cookware - and a full contingent of Japanese knives.

With solar power, low star rated appliances, heat-pump hot water, washing machine and clothes dryer - and fully electric car.

The only remaining "relic" from the fossil fuel age is the hot plates on the stove, fed by a small barbecue gas bottle - so I was looking forward to the swap to induction plates.

Alas, no chance.

The Scanpan cookware set I have, is "incompatible" with the induction plate system - as their copper content is too high.
I don't want to ditch a few thousand dollars' worth of the best cookware I've ever used, so I've got quite a lot of weighing up 'pros and cons' to do.

https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/induction-cookware-guide.html


.

Yup there are pans—and a pressure canner—that I can’t use on the induction plate because of copper in their bases. The pans I can use—induction is fantastic, fast heating and energy efficiency.

Jovial Monk wrote on Jun 15^th, 2023 at 10:02pm:

I can’t use on the induction plate because of copper in their bases.

This is the issue.
We have a LARGE Scanpan (10 litre, I'd guess) pot which contains no copper for simmering stock, all day
I bought a stand-alone hot plate for this very purpose, not realising was an induction plate.

It works a dream.
Even better than gas.


.

I got one of those and a 5L stockpot all ScanPan. I have one of Mum’s 3L pans should work

No, Mym’s big pan did not work. But I saw the pan I had bought, to have something to cook in until my furniture etc arrived and tried that. It worked!

My 8L preserving pan and the pressure canner won’t work—preserving pan has a massive copper disc in the base most likely and the pressure canner is aluminium.

Still, 2 cast iron + porcelain pans will work as will the ss saucepan I bought so no hassles with day to day stuff and my cast iron frypans work. So can muddle along without having to buy more pans and enjoying the superfast heating of the induction plate.

Dnarever wrote on Jun 11^th, 2023 at 7:31pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jun 10th, 2023 at 8:33pm: Jasin wrote on May 23rd, 2023 at 4:46pm: Don't you have to have 'specialised' pots n' pans for Induction? Yes you do. It’s a bit of a bugger too. Nothing beats a gas stove cooktop IMO. Yes gas is the best. Haven't tried induction but thinking about getting a portable induction cook plate. Last time we replaced the oven we had to swap to electric from gas as we couldn't get a gas replacement. Electric oven is absolute crap. Just about to replace it in about a week.

Got the Kmart one after a bit of reading. It has been very good, easy to use and saves a lot on the clean up and seems about comparable to gas. 1000% better than electric for about $50. You can get cheaper online but the reviews say the Kmart one is better built. Doesn't have fancy features but I never use them anyway.

Yeah, I love my induction cooker.

Heated up some frozen soup last night after I had made croutons in an induction-compatible small frypan. The soup got heated up in a cast iron + porcelain small saucepan, a Le Creuset I got with the small braiser for about $250 or so. Bargain now I have the induction cooker saving $$$ on electric bills.

Mine is not good for long simmering since it switches between boiling and not. However, for long simmering no real difference with the electric cook top anyway.