Builders looking to set themselves apart from the competition—whether in innovation, ease of maintenance or energy efficiency—have a new weapon in their arsenal: induction cooktops.
Already popular in Europe where they’re projected to claim 50% market share, induction ranges have recently come down in price thanks to new innovations. They now can be purchased for well under $1,000, similar to the cost of radiant ranges. Because of induction’s historically high price point, many builders may not be familiar with the ranges’ benefits—and why they’re ideal for buyers with families.
Here are four key benefits induction offers homebuyers over gas or radiant cooktops:
1. Faster. Induction ranges boil water in less than two minutes. That’s because unlike radiant electric or gas, induction cooktops use powerful magnets to directly heat metal pans. Once the pan is on the cooktop surface, magnetic sensors detect the cookware and automatically adjust to the size of the pan. An electric current then passes through the coil located below the cooktop’s surface and creates an electromagnetic field of energy that directly and consistently heats the pan. By comparison, gas ranges only transfer 20% to 30% of their heat to the pot. That’s why induction ranges heat up to 50% faster than either radiant electric or gas ranges.
2. Safer. Because induction directly heats the pan, energy doesn’t spread to the surface of the range as it does with gas and radiant electric. A cool-to-the-touch surface means safer cooking and avoiding burns from the surface of the range. As an added safety measure, induction elements shut down automatically when a pot or pan gets removed from the cooktop, reducing the risk of accidently leaving a burner on, as with gas or electric.
3. Easier clean up. Direct heating also means easier clean up. The surface stays cool so spills, splatters and boil overs can be cleaned up right away. With gas or radiant electric ranges, those same spills get burned on to the surface, making them difficult to remove.
4. Better cooking. Another benefit to homebuyers is what induction means for cooking. At the molecular level, induction causes the iron atoms in the cookware to vibrate, which creates heat. When the atoms vibrate slowly on lower settings, it’s an ideal way to melt chocolates or cook other delicate foods. When the atoms vibrate rapidly on a higher setting, foods cook quickly. Those benefits really add up. For example, making a spaghetti and sauce meal takes just under 18 minutes on an induction range compared to more than 32 minutes with gas and 39 minutes with radiant electric coil.
For more about induction cooktops visit www.frigidaire.com/Kitchen-Appliances/Cooktops/
