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Induction vs Gas Cooking | Pros and Cons


induction vs gas cooking
(Last Updated On: December 15, 2022)

Which is better, induction vs gas cooking? Induction cooktops have become all the rage as of late, which is for a pretty good reason. Yes, people still use traditional electric coil cooktops as well as hot burning gas versions too. However, induction cooking is making a quick rise to the top of the cooking pack.

Which is better for cooking gas or Induction?

Induction cooking is much faster than gas cooking. On an induction cooktop, you can boil water in under half the time it takes to boil on a gas cooktop.

It is much quicker to cook anything with an induction cooktop than with gas or an electric stove. Induction cooktops are much more efficient than gas cooktops. 

Many people might be wary of induction cooking, which is understandable because it is new and weird. Yet, the fact of the matter is that induction cooking is safe, easy, and fast. Now, we don’t want to destroy your heavenly ideals concerning gas cooking.

See Also: Best Portable Induction Cooktop Reviews

Don’t get us wrong, cooking with gas has been around for a very long time now. There is no denying that cooking with natural gas is reliable, time-tested, and works—however, others like the newest and more modern induction cooking approach.

See Also: Best Tea Kettles for induction cooktops

Let’s take a closer look at each type, Induction cooking and gas cooking, so you know what you are getting into with either of them.

Is Induction cooking cheaper than gas?

Induction burners are more efficient than gas, but they do come at a significantly higher price. Is it worth that price? The efficiency of induction cooking is what makes it more expensive than gas. Induction burners use electricity directly to heat the pot, making them much more efficient.

In other words, for every watt you put into your induction burner, your pot gets 1% hotter. For gas burners, only about 44% of the energy gets transferred to the pot. It takes twice as much gas to do the same amount of cooking. Therefore, induction cooking is less expensive.

induction vs gas cooking

How reliable is an Induction Cooktop?

Induction cooktops are highly reliable. How reliable is it? Induction stoves use electromagnetic energy to cook your dinner, which means far fewer components can go wrong than with gas stoves.

As a result, induction burners will last many years without any significant problems. If something does go wrong with your induction cooktop, the good news is that replacing one would be easy enough. After that, you would need to purchase a new induction cooktop.

Do chefs prefer gas or Induction?

Professional chefs prefer induction cooktops because they are more straightforward than using gas or electricity. Chefs adore induction cooking since it produces fast heat and precise temperature control.

The controls are safe to use since you never have to worry about open flames or hot burners. The process also saves money on utility costs, providing a more efficient cooking option. However, there are still some disadvantages to this system. 

Many professional chefs agree that the initial cost is a little higher than traditional cooking systems. Although I’ve used gas cooking for many years in my restaurant, I have to say that the advantages of using gas in a commercial kitchen are obvious: You do not need a lot of space or electrical outlets.

Does induction heat up faster than gas?

Induction burners can boil 750ml of water in a little over 4 minutes, compared with about eight minutes for gas stoves.

According to the department of energy, induction cooker cooktops can be up to 84% efficient, while gas cooktops are only about 44%. A great article to read before making the decision is our Induction Cooktop Buyers Guide.

Induction Cooking: Pros & Cons of Induction Cooktops

As we said, many people are turning to induction cooking nowadays. Why is that? Let’s find out right now.

Pros

  • Induction cooking is much faster than gas cooking. You can boil water in under half the time it takes to boil on a gas cooktop on an induction burner. It is much quicker to cook than with gas or an electric stove.
  • Induction cooktops are much more energy-efficient and cost-effective. Pretty much all of the heat energy they generate goes into the pots. They are much more efficient than gas cooktops. Induction cooktops may be more expensive to buy, but they end up saving money in the long run.
  • Induction cooktops stay cool to the touch. They don’t heat your home, and they won’t burn you either. On that same note, liquids and foods will not burn and stick on them, thus making induction cooktops much cleaner and easier to clean. Safety is perhaps the biggest bonus you get with an induction cooktop.
  • Precise heating control

Cons

  • Tend to be very expensive to buy, which is a big drawback for many people. Higher upfront cost.
  • Rely on electricity. So, if the power goes out because of severe weather, you will not use the induction cooktop.
  • Not that accurate in terms of the temperature. Yes, temperatures can be adjustable, but they take much longer than gas cooktops to adjust to the desired temperature.
  • Require cookware that contains iron making them magnetic. Induction Cookware is becoming much easier to find nowadays. It is pretty easy to determine if your current cookware in Induction is capable
  • Glass surface: Can be scratched

Gas Cooking: Pros & Cons of Gas Cooktops

You probably grew up with a gas-powered cooking range in your home. Heck, 50 years ago, they were the standard that pretty much everybody had. So yes, they are reliable.

There is no doubt about that. So let’s take a closer look at gas cooktops to find out why they are good and some of their drawbacks.

Related Topic: 6 Tips for clean your induction cooktop

Pros

  • Without a doubt, one of the most significant advantages that you get from cooking with gas is ultimate reliability. What we mean is that as long as you have your gas tank filled up or connected to some gas line, you will always be able to cook with these things. Even if the power goes out, as long as you have a match or lighter, you will always be able to get a gas cooktop functioning. Both electric coil and induction cooktops cannot boast this excellent feature.
  • Another considerable advantage of gas cooking is that your ability to set an accurate temperature is unrivaled. When you change the strength or size of the flame on a gas cooktop, the changes take effect immediately. The ability to be so quick and accurate with setting the temperature and adjusting it is a big reason why most professional kitchens worldwide still use gas cooking as the primary means of cooking. Accuracy is essential here.
  • People also like the fact that gas cooktops cool down immediately after use. Induction cooktops disperse the heat into the cookware, and electric coil cooktops stay hot forever. On the other hand, the heat disappears instantly as soon as you shut off the gas burner. On a hot summer day, this is quite useful.

Cons

  • A big downside to a gas stove is that you always need to ensure that your gas tank is complete or connected to a gas line. These things need to be refilled with gas so you don’t run empty. Every time you have to refill the gas tank, you need to call in and pay for a professional gas expert to do it.
  • There is an obvious danger present with gas cooking, more than one. First off, fire is hot, and if you touch those flames, you will burn yourself. Second, gas lines can catch fire and explode. It does not happen often, but the possibility is there.
  • Gas is expensive to buy, so there is a cost issue here. Moreover, there’s a lot of wasted heat from the flame. The heat or energy goes into the room instead of the pot. Gas cooking is not very cost-effective.
  • The grates covering the burner on a gas cooktop can get messy and dirty. They are hard to clean and are often covered in stuck-on and burnt foods.

Induction vs Gas Cooking – Conclusion

The bottom line is that both ways of cooking, with gas and Induction, are good ways to go. However, if you want something very safe, cost-effective, and energy-efficient, induction cooking is the way to go.

Many people still like gas cooking because it does not rely on electricity, plus it is very accurate in terms of temperature. However, the portability, safety, and cost-efficiency of induction cooktops have made them increasingly popular. 

Induction technology uses a magnetic field to heat induction compatible cookware that is more efficient than conventional electric stoves, electric ranges, gas ranges, and electric cooktops. Induction cooking heats the pans directly, wasting less energy but a higher upfront cost for the appliance. 

Many home cooks have preferred a traditional gas stove for years, but as this new technology becomes more popular and more affordable, gas stoves can become more of a thing of the past. 

There is a bit of a learning curve, and as more cookware manufacturers make compatible cookware available, chefs are turning to induction cooking. To ensure your cookware is compatible, you can see a magnet sticks to the bottom. 

There are many safety features like an automatic turn-off and no open flame to burn you. If your current range is electrical, you may want to read this article on Why choose an Induction Cooktop over an electrical cooktop.

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