Today, many new kitchens incorporate induction cooking , which due to its peculiarities of operation and being a relatively new concept, raises many doubts about buying the ideal induction cookware .

In this article we try to answer the frequent question: Will it work for me with induction ?

How induction works

An induction cooktop generates a variable electromagnetic field. This magnetic field induces heating of any ferromagnetic material that comes into contact with the plate.

In other words, it is important to understand that the induction hob only heats up if it comes into contact with magnetic metals , to which a magnet would stick, such as iron or stainless steel of some kinds . Therefore, if for example you place a ceramic plate on an induction hob, it will not heat up even if you turn it on — the magnetic field has no effect on the ceramic.

The great advantage of induction cookers is that the container is heated directly ; In a standard glass ceramic hob, the electrical resistances are heated first, which in turn transmit the heat to the container placed on top, with the least efficiency that this entails. Induction heats up much faster , with the consequent energy savings.

Induction cookware

The answer to which products are suitable for induction cooking is clear: any product that has an iron or ferromagnetic steel base . Among these utensils , we find induction pans, induction frying pans and pots for induction cookers, among others. Nothing will work if the base only has aluminum, terracotta, ceramic, glass or copper.

In theory, to check if a utensil is suitable for use on an induction cooker, all we have to do is use a magnet that you probably have on the fridge door: if the magnet sticks to it, it is suitable for induction* .

Pans suitable for induction

All the pans in our catalog are suitable for induction , either because they are made entirely of ferromagnetic material (all iron pans), or because they have a special diffuser base made of ferromagnetic material, suitable for induction.

There are also cheaper pans on the market that do not have a diffuser bottom, but at Claudia&Julia we prefer pans with a diffuser bottom because it also gives the induction pieces greater strength: it is more difficult for the pan to deform. Thus, you will see that all the non-stick pans in our store are also suitable for induction, and the same is the case with the stainless steel pans in the store - they are all suitable...


iron pans

In the store we are fans of iron pans , among other reasons, because they do not require any specific diffuser bottom for induction, since the entire pan is sensitive to induction and heats up completely. In other words, any cast iron skillet in our store is suitable for induction.

You should know that in the market you will find iron pans that are not suitable for induction. This happens because they are very thin and could be deformed (for this reason the manufacturer will have indicated that they are not suitable for induction) or they have an iron % alloy that is not sufficient to be able to induct).

But all the iron pans of Claudia&Julia (from De Buyer, Le Creuset and Skeppshult), have a quality and thickness that is more than enough to induce perfectly.

Cocottes and casseroles suitable for induction.

Another good example is the cocottes: Le Creuset's cocottes are made of cast iron, perfect for induction.

You should also know that, if you are looking for cocottes or clay pots suitable for induction, have the Emile Henry Delight range : it is a range that includes cocottes, casseroles, tagines and other utensils into which the brand has injected, with state-of-the-art technology, a ferric iron base that makes it suitable for induction. Thus, with this range of traditional ceramic cocottes suitable for induction.

As for the casseroles and saucepans, the same theory applies as in the pans and cocottes: the iron casseroles, all are suitable for induction; A priori ceramics will never be suitable for induction, with the exception of Emile Henry's Delight range that includes that magnetic base; and non-stick casseroles and stainless steel pans will be suitable if they include a diffuser bottom that makes them suitable for it ( all those in our store have it).

Cocottes and casseroles for induction

We take this opportunity to mention the tajine: most tajines on the market are made of clay and not suitable for induction. If you want a tajine suitable for induction, you should opt for an iron one such as the Le Creuset tajine (which, although it has a ceramic lid, has a cast iron base -super versatile as well!-), or the Delight tajine if you you want pottery

Le Creuset Tajine (left) and Tajine Delight

Stainless steel: Batteries and pots suitable for induction

Stainless steel utensils with a ferromagnetic stainless steel base are equally suitable for induction hobs. Be careful, not all stainless steel utensils are of the ferromagnetic type, suitable for induction; There are old cookware made of non-magnetic stainless steel (which magnets do not attract) that are not suitable for induction cookers.

But good quality stainless steel pots or cookware with a ferromagnetic stainless steel diffuser base work great on induction cooktops. Exactly the same will happen to you with fast waves: if we are talking about a current and quality pressure cooker (Kuhn Rikon, WMF, Fissler...), they will all have a diffuser bottom suitable for induction.

Pots and batteries suitable for induction

Induction Cookware Size

Another common question is the size of the utensils to be used with induction. It is not necessary that the size of the base of the utensil have the same diameter as the fire where we intend to use it.

Unlike ceramic hobs, in modern induction cookers it is not necessary to cover the entire surface of the fire for efficient heating, since they adapt to the size of the utensil we use. That is, if the base is smaller than the fire, only the surface that is in contact will heat up. But be careful, it is a double-edged variable, because although it should happen that way, we must take into account that the plates are very sensitive, and the plate may not induce because it does not find enough base to do so (despite being a tool suitable for induction).

To consider

We warn that there are utensils that, despite containing iron, are not suitable for induction cookers. Although induction would work, it could be the case that the base of the utensil is too thin and could deform (which is why this utensil, despite being iron, will not be indicated for induction), that it is so thin and the induction hob very sensitive, or for some other reason could not be used with induction. We must always check on the packaging or instructions that the utensil can be used in an induction cooker.

I think for me this is all for now. And I remind you that you do not hesitate to tell us about any doubts that arise , because we are here to solve them and because we all learn from them!

Comments

Claudia said:

Hola Mishelle,
En respuesta a la duda que planteas, lo que puedo decirte es que a pesar de que la cocina sea de inducción, el horno debe trabajar con aire como todos (los hornos de inducción se utilizan más en la industria). Puedes usar los moldes que tenías sin problemas. :) Saludos!

Mishelle Forootan said:

Buen dia, tengo una cocina de induccion con horno, y deseo hacer un postre, pero en mi anterior cocina usaba los moldes normales que se conseguian en cualquier lado, quiero saber si en mi horno de induccion puedo usar este tipo de moldes o si necesito adquirir algun otro, o deberia hacer los postres en ollas, gracias por la respuesta

Ardid said:

No, no, me refería a mi experiencia pero no hablaba de vosotros. Siento si ha dado a entender eso. Muy buen post.

Claudia said:

Hola Eduardo,
Para tener acceso a las recetas, la forma sería que te suscribieras al newsletter, y recibirás las recetas que vayamos publicando.

Además, al darte de alta recibirás un libro de recetas en pdf gratuito.

Puedes suscribirte aquí:

http://www.claudiaandjulia.com/pages/libro-la-cocina-de-claudia-julia

Espero que lo disfrutes! Saludos, Claudia

Claudia said:

Hola Ardid, Respecto a lo que comentas, que te has encontrado algún utensilio que dice ser para inducción y que no funciona, me gustaría comentar un par de cosas: lo primero es que en la tienda sólo tenemos artículos en los que creemos, y con una calidad contrastada. Así, a nuestro entender todos los utensilios que dicen ser hechos para inducción es porque ciertamente funcionan en inducción.

Dicho esto, lo segundo que puedo comentar es que, para que funcione la inducción, se requieren de dos cosas: que el utensilio tenga el material inductivo necesario (que a veces no ocurre, pero no pasaría con los de la tienda), o que el disco es demasiado pequeño para generar esa inducción.

Así, si algún utensilio no te funciona tanto puede ser por una cosa o por la otra, o por una combinación de ambas.

Si te has encontrado con problemas con algún producto nuestro, te agradecería de veras que nos lo comentases, para solucionarlo o ver qué ha ocurrido, y hablar también con el fabricante.

Muchas gracias y no dudes en escribirnos si hay cualquier otra cosa. Saludos! Claudia

Claudia said:

Hola Isabel, lo normal en inducción es que funcione aunque el utensilio sea más pequeño que el disco. Si en algún utensilio no calienta también puede ser que la base no tenga suficiente metal inductivo. Ésto sumado a una base pequeña puede hacer que el disco no lo detecte. Espero haber aclarado tus dudas. Saludos!

eduardo nava said:

quiero tener acceso a sus recetas

Ardid said:

Hay algunas baterías que se venden para inducción y que, sin embargo, a la hora de ponerlas en el placa no funcionan. Es difícil encontrar la batería idónea.

Isabel said:

He comprado utensilios que no cubren toda la superficie del disco y, en mi caso, NO FUNCIONAN.

Recomiendo que no se rompa o tire el embalaje hasta comprobar que el utensilio funciona a fin de poder devolverlos.

Jose Luis said:

No estou muy de acuerdo con la certeza de que cualquier recipiente de acero inoxidable funciona con la induccion.El acero inoxidable no es magnetico, como puedes comprobar con un simple iman.
Hay algunos fabricados en acero inoxidable que tiene un fondo doble de hierro. Entonces si.
Pido disculpas si estoy equivocado

Jose Luis said:

No estou muy de acuerdo con la certeza de que cualquier recipiente de acero inoxidable funciona con la induccion.El acero inoxidable no es magnetico, como puedes comprobar con un simple iman.
Hay algunos fabricados en acero inoxidable que tiene un fondo doble de hierro. Entonces si.
Pido disculpas si estoy equivocado

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