17 Jun Induction Hot Plate Converter: Should One Use it?
There is nothing compared to an induction cooker when it comes to efficiency and design. The only downside of it is one has to use compatible cookware for the hob to serve its purpose. Imagine someone just shifted to an induction cooker from a gas stove, and all the old cookware is not compatible with the new hob. Surely, it would make the user unhappy. This is when the induction hot plate converter comes in.
This converter plate can be used as an adapter for non-magnetic pans to function with the induction cookers. Though most people would still go for changing their cookware, some still go for using what they currently have. But, the question is, is it as effective as using an induction compatible cookware?
With that, this blog talks about when to use an induction plate adapter and its effectiveness when using it with an induction hob.
Compatible Cookware for Induction Stove
Induction cookers work by electromagnetic fields. It passes the heat to the pan through a magnetic current. Thus, it has a specific requirement when it comes to cookware compatibility; it must be magnetic conducive for it to receive the heat from the hob.
With this, the cookware must be cast iron, enameled cast iron, and stainless- steel. Though, there are cookware manufacturers that make aluminum or copper pans with a magnet at the bottom. To check if a pan is an induction cooker compatible, place a magnet on the bottom surface. It’s induction compatible when the magnet sticks.
So, all pans that are made of aluminum, copper, or glass will not work with an induction cooker alone. An induction hot plate converter must be used for them to receive heat from an induction stove.
What is Induction Hot Plate Converter and When to Use It?
A converter plate is either a stainless-steel or iron-made disk that allows non-inductive cookware to be used with an induction stove. It has the capability to pick up the heat from the hob and transfer it to the pan.
When one still wants to use non-inductive cookware with an inductive stove, a converter plate is needed. The disk is placed between the surface of the cooking zone and the cookware. This enables the pan to receive the heat from the hob through the converter.
The converter plates are available on the market, though their quality differs from one another.
Does it Work like an Induction Compatible Cookware?
It is supposed to work like it, but in reality, it doesn’t. First is that, its cooking efficiency is lower compared to using cookware compatible with an induction stove.
Since cookware is not evenly polished, there are tiny rough parts where air can stay during the transfer of the heat from the cooker to the cookware. The air slows down the transmission of heat to the pot, thus, it takes more time to cook or boil anything in the pan.
Secondly, since the heat builds up in the converter plate, it gets hotter than the usual temperature which can overheat the induction cooker. This is because some of the build-up heat in the converter plate goes down to the ceramic glass.
Conclusion
An induction cooker requires a pan to be cast iron, enameled cast iron, and stainless- steel for it to function. Thus, aluminum, copper, or glass cookware is not compatible with an induction cooker without the use of a converter plate.
Surely, non-induction compatible cookware with the help of a converter plate can be an alternate for induction compatible pans. But, it doesn’t have the same efficiency as using induction-compatible cookware. Other than that, it takes time to cook food with an induction hot plate converter; it can also overheat the induction hob.
Therefore, it is still better to use induction-compatible cooking pans.
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