Induction cooker - a stove that works on the principle of the influence of eddy currents on the molecular structure of the dishes, which leads to its heating. Stream swirls in the current flow are created due to the action of a high-frequency magnetic field.
The susceptibility of the material to the magnetic field from which the dishes are made directly affects the efficiency of its heating. Given this fact, the modern market for kitchen accessories offers a wide selection of items suitable for these purposes.
Cookware Features
For cooking on the induction stove, you can use any dishes made of ordinary steel. However, the effectiveness and level of efficiency from such use may be low. Moreover, operational loads exerted on the plate during the working process may exceed the normalized degree, which will reduce the uptime of the device.
Cookware suitable for heating by magnetic induction is made of steel of various markings. This material has ferrimagnetic properties, which allows it to respond best to the effects of a magnetic field.
The special properties of steel create an obstacle to magnetic fluxes. As a result of this resistance, energy is generated that causes the metal molecules to make frequent vibrations, which leads to heating of the material.
Cookware made of ceramic, glass or plastic has a very low heating coefficient on the induction cooker.This is due to the fact that these materials easily pass a magnetic field, which excludes the factor of the effect of the latter on their molecular structures. Heating occurs, but its degree is so small that the environment absorbs heat earlier than the temperature rise can occur.
To increase the heating efficiency of the induction cooker, it is recommended to use special cookware marked with the corresponding marking. The location of the mark may vary depending on the model and design of the dishes.
What does the sign look like and what does it mean
The designation that determines the suitability of a particular cookware for use in combination with an induction cooker is presented in the form of a horizontal spiral enclosed in a square contour.
The spiral designation of the properties of this dish was not chosen by chance. The main working element of the heating block of the stove is a copper circular spiral, along the turns of which an eddy current flows.
This name of the information sign is recognized international and has a single stylistic standard. This allows ordinary users to easily distinguish cookware suitable for induction cookers from unsuitable cookware.
Combination of induction labeling with others
Most often, marking is applied to the bottom of the dishes. At the same time there may be several icons.
- At the bottom of the pan, suitable for use in combination with a gas stove, a designation in the form of a gas burner can be located, which confirms its specific characteristics.
- Next to this sign can be located a symbol denoting a horizontal induction spiral, as well as a frontal sign of the spiral, which prescribes permission to use the pan on a conventional electric stove.
- The presence of images of these markings in a combined version determines the versatility of utensils. Usually they have a thickened flat bottom, which increases the heating efficiency on any sources of thermal energy, including an induction hob.
The thickening of the metal in the bottom makes it possible to accumulate heat and determines its effective return during cooking. When using cookware with a thickened bottom on the induction cooker, its heating coefficient increases. A thick layer of metal better restrains the magnetic field of the plate, which leads to a reduction in heating time.
Precautions
When buying cookware for an induction cooker, it is important to pay attention to the markings located on the bottom. The quality of this dish is also determined by the parameters of its mass. Utensils made in violation of technology, as well as fakes, have a reduced weight. This is due to the presence of a visual presence of a thickening of the bottom and its actual absence.
It is not recommended to use enameled and aluminum utensils having a bottom concave inward. The presence of bottom convexity leads to a decrease in the area of contact of the bottom with the plane of the hob. This can lead to overheating of the device, since the magnetic field will not be completely absorbed by the dishes, which will entail its early failure.
When using an induction cooker at home, it is recommended to purchase and install a stabilizer that rectifies the current in the household electrical network, which will reduce the likelihood of a burnout of the device board due to voltage surges.
See how to choose the right cookware for induction cooker in the next video.
