Why I Cook With Induction

I made this video in partnership with Mothers Out Front about why I cook almost exclusively with induction these days - and why I won't be going back to gas in my home.

I first discovered induction when I was out doing popups in Detroit - and I was immediately impressed by the quick cooking speeds, cleanliness, and precise temperature control. The technology uses magnets to heat a metal pan directly - so changes in temperature are almost instantaneous.

But what really got me hooked on the technology is how much it changes the atmosphere in the kitchen. The gas ranges in professional kitchens can be pretty merciless. Gas burners release a ton of waste heat - and as I've now learned, air pollution - into the kitchen. Adopting induction into my small studio allowed for us to maintain a level of comfort we’d never get with gas.

I've also learned that gas is a major source of climate and indoor air pollution which I do see as a personal responsibility to mitigate if it is within your means to do so.

If you have access to an induction cooktop, I highly recommend you give it a try.

[ladygrndr]

That wok burner is amazing! I just got a whole induction cooktop delivered this weekend as a replacement for the glasstop electric that cracked. A lot of the reasons you mentioned in the video are why we chose it over gas (plus the expense of routing a new gas line to the kitchen), and everything cooks so fast! But the part I really love is that the glass itself cools so fast after cooking something. The number of times I burnt myself or melted something because I didn't realize the stove was still hot...it's embarrassing. Getting it was also a great excuse to declutter pots and pans, and get down to a few really good ones that will last.

[Lostadvent]

My girlfriend and I use to cook all the time together, then we moved into a apartment that had a gas stove and oven. After that it got too hot to cook together, thankfully we have found a new place that has induction and the joy of being able to cook together again is wonderful.

[dreammix]

I learned about induction cooking a couple of years ago and how beneficial it was and I decided it when I build my house I'm going to have an all induction cooktop installed. Thanks for bringing this to everyone's attention

[atelier]

Been using induction for over ten years now and wanted to for ten years before that. I will never go back. Thanks for the link to the wok I will be adding that soon. If anyone is looking for a simple single induction burner that is affordable IKEA has a good one. They often sell out.

[Supernaturlisch]

I was shocked to learn that induction isn't as common in other countries as in Sweden, where I live. I'd say every new kitchen since around 2010 has an induction stove, and if it doesn't, it's a very specific preference thing. like someone wanting to go the retro route.

[EdricHsu]

This seems to be the messiest stir fry on your channel, haha, but I guess it’s to show that it’s easy to clean up? Lol What an interesting induction burner, especially for wok use. Putting it on my to-get list!

[ryanboyce]

THANK YOU! I recently converted for the exact same reason. Got an air quality monitor and realized everytime I cooked my air quality took massive dips. The environmental impact factor is a solid reason as well. I get shit from friends who see me cook on a portable induction sitting next to my gas stove and feel like I'm always defending it. lol

[brandonlee]

I'm apartment hunting right now and I was really only looking for apartments with gas stoves until I saw this video. You make a lot of really good points. I'm a lot more open to other housing options now. Keep up the good work 👍

[theocarney]

Great video. I just saw The Times podcast has an episode called "Goodebye, gas stoves? The fight heats up." Queue immediate existential terror about not being able to do good wok cooking in the future. This vid was just what I needed to see. Really appreciate your ethical focus on environmental issues, indoor air pollution, and working conditions for people working in the kitchen.

[mon]

I love how excited you got when talking about induction 🥰

[jayaychare]

I accidentally ordered induction with my kitchen 20 years ago. Thought it was a standard ceramic. Never looked back. Love it

[pameladallaire]

Thanks for the video. I was online looking for an iduction cooker today and remembered your video. I'm going to try the one you use. :)

[lyndseywilliams]

I have a small kitchen so I covered my stovetop and have 2 induction burners. Now I have more room and I love it.

[cinemaocd]

Our gas stove died in 2020 and switched to induction and haven't looked back. The main thing I missed was cooking with my wok. I bought a stainless flatbottomed wok for my stove but it just is not as good as my old carbon steele round bottomed wok. I didn't realize there were induction wok burners! That is really cool. Rather than get a new wok, I could just get a new burner!

[tya]

A lotta good points to consider. I love my induction burner so much that I remove two of the coils on the range in my apt so my induction can sit there.
Though, I'd be cautious about the blanket statement that electric cooking is more environmentally friendly than natural gas. At least in America, two thirds of us get electricity from power plants that burn natural gas or coal, then ~20% nuclear, and the rest is wind/solar/etc. Half the electricity produced at the plant is lost -- dissipated into the atmosphere as heat -- before it gets to your home, and the natural gas or coal burners at the plants are less than 50% efficient. So, if a gas stove is more than 25% efficient, then it's technically a smaller carbon footprint for most of us. Saying that cooking with electricity instead of gas is cleaner, when the power plant burns gas/coal, reminds me of Guy Montag's sieve and the sand. For those with nuclear/wind/solar, yeah, I can see electric totally being cleaner, and increasing that margin as we have been for years sounds grand.
My power plant burns gas, but I still love my induction burner!

[Mkragnes]

Wow. Just found this video randomly, which is crazy with what's going on right now with gas stove bans. Good information, and well made video!

[neilpickup]

I first came across induction about 20 years ago and decided there and then that it was probably the way to go.

I couldnt afford to make the change at the time and had to stick with my gas hob which was only a few years old (efficiently vented as it was already on an external wall - the vent tube was only the width of the wall!)

I also like to cook on gas, because I was used to it, and I liked to see what I was doing.

However, from that day, I made sure that any pan I bought was induction compatible to allow me to move over if I wished at a later date without having the expense of lots of new pans. Only one of my pans was actually compatible! (When I moved out, my mother used it as an excuse to update her collection accumulated over 30 years).

I moved a few years later to a home where there was no mains gas, and after a few a few weeks of using a ceramic hob, it had to go. I could use it, but oh, the cleaning!

Although easier than the old gas hob, it had to be cleaned after every use. Often with a specual liquid, and sometimes a scraper.

To be honest, in 15 years of use I haven't noticed any down sides, but I did make sure that I chose a hard wired unit into the existing 32A 240v cooker circuit which was powerful enough to have all the 'burners' on full (although limited to a single burner on each side if on boost).

While I love the increased speed over gas, for me, the main advantage has to be the ease of cleaning.

In 15 years, nothing has resisted even one of those nylon non stick pads designed for non-stick pans!

[andresdasspatacsil]

Love this video! Would you mind sharing the deep induction top you use with your wok? I've not seen that before and I NEED IT IN MY LIFE.

[kper]

I'm obsessed with your induction wok burner.

[jMichaelEdwards]

I love this guy!

We cut off our gas 4 years ago. Our electric bull is steep but it's worth it.