Induction > Gas? 🤔

So you got place of your own & have now decided to embark on Reno. What stove should you get?

Here’s my personal take, after having experience with all 3 main types of cooktops (ceramic, induction, gas).

Whether you cook often or not, I’d like to share why induction stove should be preferred in most, if not all, cases for regular homeowners.

I assume we all know how gas stoves work so let’s start with:

🥘 WHAT IS AN INDUCTION STOVE?

2 main types of electric stoves: induction & ceramic

Ceramic:

- older technology

- coils under the ceramic glass heat up

- surface gets hot so pans get hot

- tends to be less expensive

Induction:

- high frequency electromagnets

- magnetic fields heat the pan, not cooktop surface

- more control & responsiveness in heat settings

- faster heating, more efficient

It’s a no brainer to choose induction over ceramic based on these factors. It’s more expensive but really the better choice all around.

🥘 WHAT ABOUT WOKHEY?!

Common concern when I mention this to friends. I used to think only gas stoves and open flames can achieve wokhey.

After living and cooking with a ceramic stove for 4 years, I am convinced that’s a myth. Sure, more precise heat control is a given for gas stoves because you can see the heat visually. But it’s simply about heat control at the end of the day. I’ve achieved wokhey with the right type of pan and high enough heat multiple times with an electric cooktop.

So don’t believe people when they tell you it’s impossible to achieve wokhey with electric stoves!

Tbh if we really wanted Chinese wokhey, we’d rather go eat zichar outside 🤣

🥘 FLEXI STOVE POSITIONING

I have a closed kitchen and a huge French door fridge. The induction stove can be shifted to another counter without worry of the gas pipe. You could even have it on an island!

🥘 HEALTH CONCERNS

did you know that gas stoves produce carcinogens and indoor pollutants? In recent years, scientists have been discovering more about this: you should google!

Yes, even when you’re not using the gas stove, it emits harmful gases.

Check out this article for more on the latest studies regarding gas stoves: Are gas stoves really dangerous? What we know about the science

🥘 EASE OF MAINTENANCE

Unfortunately, as ceramic cooktops get really hot, any spillage is at high risk of staining or scratching the surface.

However, all electric cooktops are flat & still way easier to keep clean on the daily basis compared to gas stoves with compartments to remove for cleaning.

Not to mention, if you don’t replace the gas spark, you’d have to get a separate gas ignition gun (I think that’s what they’re called), which is hella inconvenient and annoying to me when cooking. Especially when I just need to switch off the heat for awhile. There’s always a risk of burning oneself if you don’t switch it off. But if you do, you’d need to use the extra ignition gun again. Damn. (Yes it’s based on personal experience)

It’s just a press of a button for the electric stoves in comparison!

⭐️ if you ask me, trying to find the right cookware, or spending a little more for the induction cooktop are meaningful trade offs compared to the many cons for gas stoves!

Let me know your thoughts! Are you also resistant because of wokhey like I was in the last? 😛