Induction Cook Top

[cloudhopper]

Hi I wonder if anyone who has used an induction cook top, which requires cast iron cook ware, would like to rate it c/w gas or common electric cook tops. Also where you bought it - if here in LOS... Thanks!

[PennyFarthing123]

I bought an induction cooktop at Home Pro. It is the 3 burner TEKA brand. I wanted a gas cooktop when we renovated our condo as that is what I always used in the past. We found out that gas is not allowed in the condos. I don't know if that is just a local law or if it is universal throughout Thailand.

When I bought my cooktop I knew that it required special cookware but mistakenly assumed my Circulon pots and pans would work. After installation I discovered to my dismay they did not work. But I replaced them with another model of Circulon that does work. The test is if you can stick a magnet to the pan it will work. But I would be sure that the bottom of the pan is quite thick so it will handle the heat and not warp.

At first I was disappointed and thought I had overspent and should have bought a conventional cooktop. Now after using it for a few months I love it and would not consider going back to either gas or conventional.

With gas I found that with an open window I had problems maintaining a constant heat. Also was a pain to keep the burners clean. With the conventional I am impatient with waiting for the heating and cooling. I like the instant response of induction. Also with the cooktop I chose, it is completely smooth and so easy to keep clean. Just wipe it down with warm soapy cloth and wipe dry.

So for me it is induction without a doubt.

[Gary A]

I recently visited a friend of mine and he HAD to demonstrate his new induction cooker. He loves it and I was impressed too. It boils water in just a few seconds. They gave him some pots and pans to seal the deal. He bought a little single burner. As mentioned the pans must be magnetic.

[popshirt]

I have had one for about a year and like it so much I never use the normal cooktop in my Bkk condo.

Most of the positive reactions have been mentioned in posts above.

But I also like the fact that no heat escapes into the room whilst cooking, a good thing here in this climate.

I am finishing a condo at the beach just now and have decided to simply use two of the portable induction units, taking one or both out when needed and otherwise storing in a cabinet. This gives me much more counter space and we don't use the hobs or burners that much anyway.

I, too, had to purchase some new cookware, but stainless steel or iron are fine. What WON'T WORK with induction is aluminium. So all those old pots and pans went up to the farm.

[Cuban]

Just how hot does it allow the item being cooked to get?

Enough for really really hot oil?

[popshirt]

Just how hot does it allow the item being cooked to get?

Enough for really really hot oil?

I would say yes. Hotter than a normal electric hob but this may depend on the wattage of the unit.

Good quality stainless steel vessels assist in induction I think. A thin stainless steel pot of mine developed "hot spots" where food browned too quickly; when I changed to a better quality steel, no problem.

Portable units vary in price from under 2,000 bhat to around 8 or 9,000 baht.

My first unit was a gift with another appliance purchase and is the least expensive model. It is the one I use in Bkk and I have no complaints for stir fry or deep fry. My only objection to this unit is that it is ugly in colour, you know the ubiquitous Asian light blue and pink look, all that's missing are the teddy bears!

For my beach condo I purchased two "space age" sleek units for a total of 8,000 Thb on sale at Home Pro. The brand is Fagor.

[Cuban]

....thanks for that - I'll take a closer look next time I go shopping.

[cathyy]

Excellent summary about induction cooktops. Thanks for all the good info! The only point I will add is that the pans must have a perfectly flat bottom to work well, so the cheap stainless steel pans so common here aren't your best bet. They warp. I have one in which I have never done anything except boil large quantities of water, and it won't sit flat on my electric hob once it begins to heat.

[justsignedin]

Hi,

I have been considering buying a induction hob when i have my new kitchen fitted so finding this topic is a nice surprise. I was going to post one myself asking the same questions. Seeing as i have seen all these positive responses i will just add one question of my own. When i buy a hob i obviously have to take into consideration my Thai Wife who uses wok for ninety percent of her cooking. I would like to know can you buy specially adapted woks for induction hobs, and does anyone here do a lot of cooking with a wok on their induction hob. Thanks for any response to this question, I may have a hard time persuading My Wife that this is the way to go.

[sabaijai]

Hi,

I have been considering buying a induction hob when i have my new kitchen fitted so finding this topic is a nice surprise. I was going to post one myself asking the same questions. Seeing as i have seen all these positive responses i will just add one question of my own. When i buy a hob i obviously have to take into consideration my Thai Wife who uses wok for ninety percent of her cooking. I would like to know can you buy specially adapted woks for induction hobs, and does anyone here do a lot of cooking with a wok on their induction hob. Thanks for any response to this question, I may have a hard time persuading My Wife that this is the way to go.

Buy a wok adapter ring that you can place over the flat burner. This will allow you to use woks and other round-bottomed cookware just fine.

I use all kinds of pots and pans with induction hobs, never had a problem. Obviously they must be flat but I don't see what the 'magnetic' business is about - aren't most metal pans magnetic?

[MMR]

I also own a couple induction cooktops. Great units, bought them at one of the home shows at Sirikit convention center.

Great product... Especially for condos. Only complaint is that the heat can be a little uneven sometimes.

[zeusbheld]

Buy a wok adapter ring that you can place over the flat burner. This will allow you to use woks and other round-bottomed cookware just fine.

I use all kinds of pots and pans with induction hobs, never had a problem. Obviously they must be flat but I don't see what the 'magnetic' business is about - aren't most metal pans magnetic?

short answer, effectively no. aluminium and copper in particular won't work, and not all stainless steel works. rather than going into the physics of it, if you're considering buying a pot just take a magnet with you to the shop (as PennyFarthing123 mentioned above).

a question: i've heard that wok-shaped induction cooking surfaces exist, anyone seen one/used one/priced one?

(dredged up this old thread as i'm considering buying an induction burner myself)

[Numerounos]

I am looking for a single ring cooker for condo. Does anyone know if you are allowed gas bottle in condos, I have seen small bottles about a ft high which would fit nicely with a gas burner ring attached?

If not I might give the induction ring a try as need to buy pans anyway.

[Derifo]

Buy a wok adapter ring that you can place over the flat burner. This will allow you to use woks and other round-bottomed cookware just fine.

I use all kinds of pots and pans with induction hobs, never had a problem. Obviously they must be flat but I don't see what the 'magnetic' business is about - aren't most metal pans magnetic?

short answer, effectively no. aluminium and copper in particular won't work, and not all stainless steel works. rather than going into the physics of it, if you're considering buying a pot just take a magnet with you to the shop (as PennyFarthing123 mentioned above).

a question: i've heard that wok-shaped induction cooking surfaces exist, anyone seen one/used one/priced one?

(dredged up this old thread as i'm considering buying an induction burner myself)

Yes, they do exist. Try Big C or Tesco Lotus.

[Derifo]

I am looking for a single ring cooker for condo. Does anyone know if you are allowed gas bottle in condos, I have seen small bottles about a ft high which would fit nicely with a gas burner ring attached?

If not I might give the induction ring a try as need to buy pans anyway.

Just smuggle it in, and when the gas runs out, do the same thing to get a refill. That was what I used to do back in the days.

[bkk_mike]

a question: i've heard that wok-shaped induction cooking surfaces exist, anyone seen one/used one/priced one?

(dredged up this old thread as i'm considering buying an induction burner myself)

Do a search for wok induction hob, and you can find them on US/UK websites/AliBaba, although they do appear to be mainly aimed at the restaurant trade.

Not seen anything other than plain flat induction hobs in Thailand though, which seems odd considering.

[Numerounos]

a question: i've heard that wok-shaped induction cooking surfaces exist, anyone seen one/used one/priced one?

I saw one in robinsons today

[naboo]

Anyway to by-pass the need for certain pans? I've got one, and my 6 pans don't work with it, only the pan that came with the hob is ever used and is rubbish for frying bacon.

[bkk_mike]

Anyway to by-pass the need for certain pans? I've got one, and my 6 pans don't work with it, only the pan that came with the hob is ever used and is rubbish for frying bacon.

No. It's basically the way it works. The induction coil relies on the magnetic properties of the metal to heat the metal. Copper and aluminium are too good conductors, so only excite the bottom couple of atoms or so, not enough to generate enough heat to cook with (but DON'T put aluminium foil on an induction cooker as it will melt into the surface).

Essentially the trick is to buy pots that a magnet sticks to the bottom. The best apparently have steel or cast iron on the bottom of a predominantly aluminium pan as the aluminium is better at spreading the heat, avoiding hot spots.

P.S. I saw a wok-style induction hob at the BOI show today (stand V32 in the Challenger building), and thought of this thread. I took a photo with my phone - Model number (which is unreadable) was IH-D3500.

Edited January 8, 2012 by bkk_mike

[naboo]

Ah well, thanks for the info. I thought it was just a safety precaution to prevent it heating up when nothing is on top.

Will have to buy a steel based pan in time for shrove Tuesday. Or just sort myself out with a gas burner.

[RobU]

An excellent method of heating pans, it will work with cast iron and stainless steel but remember that some stainless steel is not magnetic. I have been using a Zanussi 4 ring induction hob for 10 years and I am very satisfied with it. Just plug it into a normal wall socket (with earth) no need for special wiring