In short, no; Xtrema cookware is pure ceramic and does not contain the metal necessary to transfer the energy from the induction burner to the food.
Induction cooking can be intimidating to home cooks, but it is quickly rising in popularity because it is much more efficient than either gas or electric. Every kitchen is unique – we often collect cookware, tools, and utensils over time, so our collections contain an assortment of products made from numerous materials. Due to the variety of cooking products we use on a daily basis, all home cooks face the conundrum of what type of cooking tools to use with the type of cooktop they have in their kitchens. In this article, we explain how induction ranges work, so you can save yourself the time and money it takes to replenish your collection of cookware or tools.
What Is an Induction Range?
Induction cooking is a process by which cooking vessels are heated by magnetic induction. Traditional gas and electric ranges use thermal conduction from an open flame or electrical heating element to heat cooking vessels instead, which can cause radiant energy to pass on into the food you prepare. An induction burner uses electromagnetic energy to directly heat your pots and pans. Induction burners feature a ceramic plate with an electromagnetic coil beneath. Once a burner is turned on, an electric current runs through the coil and generates a fluctuating magnetic field but no heat on the burner itself. When you place an iron or a stainless-steel pan on the burner, the magnetic field induces smaller electric currents in the metal construction of the pan. Much of the energy produced by those small currents is converted to heat. Focalized heat such as this allows you to boil water or cook foods in half the time that it takes with a standard gas or electric stove. Induction cooktops also cool more quickly than conventional burners.
What Kind of Cooking Tools Can I Use on an Induction Range?
Deciding whether your cookware is compatible with an induction cooktop can be difficult, but this quick guide should help you decide. Stainless steel cookware can be a point of confusion for most home cooks because its induction compatibility depends on how much nickel the stainless steel contains. Nickel will block the magnetic field. Cast iron and enameled cast iron cookware are also compatible and safe to use with induction stovetops. Aluminum, ceramic, copper, and glass cookware cannot be used on an induction oven. Xtrema's pure ceramic cookware does not contain ferromagnetic or iron materials, so it should only be used on a gas, electric, or glass top stove.
Whether you are in the market for a new cooktop or you are debating whether to invest in ceramic cookware for your existing stove, we hope that this guide provides the insight you need to shop with confidence. Please contact us today if you have any questions or concerns about ceramic cookware.
