Electric Range & Cooktop - How Does Induction Work?

What is Induction Cooking?

Induction cooking uses a high-frequency induction coil that heats cookware using a magnetic field rather than open flames like a gas cooktop or heated coils like an electric cooktop. Induction cooking is the only cooking method that directly generates heat in the cookware itself.

 

See how GE Induction Technology works in the video below.

 
 

Electromagnetic Energy + Magnetic Pans = Fast, Efficient Induction Heating

The key to induction cooking is electromagnetic energy. This kind of energy is around us every day in the form of AM and FM radio, cell phones, wireless laptops, microwave ovens, infrared, and visible light. It works on a two part system.

 
  1. First, beneath the ceramic surface of an induction cooking product is a copper coil. When an electrical current is passed through this coil it creates an electromagnetic field of energy.
  2. Second, an iron core pan is placed on the cooktop. At this point the pan will start to heat up. The surface stays cool until both these steps are completed. The video below further illustrates the mechanics of induction cooking.
 

Your Cookware Matters 

For your induction cooktop to create heat, the bottom of the pan must contain some iron. You can perform a simple test to see if your pan will work with an induction cooking: If a magnet sticks to the bottom, the pan can be heated on an induction cooktop.

 

When a magnetic pan is placed on the induction cooking surface, iron molecules in the pan begin to vibrate very quickly - 20,000-50,000 times per second! The friction between the molecules generates heat and that heat is created in the bottom of the pan. This is why the surface stays cooler while your cookware stays hot.

 

Cool to the Touch Cooking Surface

Induction cooking only heats the area in direct contact with your cookware. This means that the induction cooktop surface not covered by cookware remains cool to the touch.

 

Our Induction - Cool to the Touch video below shows you how this works.

 

Additional Information

Our Induction page overs all of this information and more! Explore Induction Cooking and what we have to offer.