A portable induction cooktop is a relatively inexpensive alternative to a natural gas stove.
Want a cooktop with precise temperature control and zero harmful gasses? And a cooler kitchen? Some hardcore cooks may think natural gas is better, but things on the electric side have improved rapidly…
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I have wanted to cook using the electricity produced by my rooftop solar panels and improve our indoor air quality, so I read a Consumer Reports article and a Wirecutter article and chose a top rated Duxtop portable cooktop unit to test out the technology.
Note: If you want to really go for it, I see Duxtop also has a dual burner portable model ;) Or there are large built in versions (induction ranges). Whatever you purchase, see if you might qualify for Inflation Reduction Act rebates.
The Duxtop 9600LS is our hands-down favorite. Not only was it among the fastest to heat, but it also held remarkably steady simmer and melt temperatures, too. In fact, it was the only cooktop that excelled in all lab assessments.
–Consumer Reports
Some pictures and videos from my kitchen comparing induction vs natural gas:
Natural Gas Concerns
Why stop using our gas range? There are a few potential reasons. Gas cooktops and ranges have been under the microscope over the last few years and their effect on human health has been questioned (nitrogen oxides exposure). Natural gas appliances also might heat up your kitchen and contribute to climate change.
I’ve done a lot to improve our home’s indoor air quality, and getting a portable induction cooktop was just another step. For other steps, scroll to the bottom.
Pros of Induction Cooktops
- Cooks well, nice control of temperatures and programmable features.
- Kitchen seems cooler (induction makes the pan itself get hot instead of using a flame below, so it is more efficient).
- Easy to clean.
- Nice in an emergency as well (could run off our generator or take it with us to a shelter).
- Boils water very quickly. Cooktop cools very quickly after use (safer).
- Can “lock” the unit (safe for kids).
- Can be taken with you anywhere (good for emergencies).
- Option for fossil fuel free cooking if using with solar panels.
Cons of Induction Cooktops
- Only *magnetic* pans will work, and just small/medium sized ones perform the best. That being said, induction works with any magnetic cookware, including cast iron, enameled Dutch ovens, and most stainless steel.
- Requires buying yet another kitchen appliance, and you have to put it somewhere. Buying yet more stuff wastes a lot of resources. But if you cook a lot, year after year…
- Height of cooking surface may be an issue for some people.
- Electromagnetic field – EMF (pacemaker warning). I did some tests with my EMF multi meter and it didn’t seem very different than our blender. If you are curious about this, I can provide more info. When using appliances you might want to be mindful of how much time you spend very close to them, since the fields are more powerful when you are very close.
My Experience With a Portable Induction Cooktop
Overall it has been a nice experience, and here in the desert my kitchen does seem cooler. That is especially helpful in the summer.
In terms of climate change concerns I like the fact that we can cook using the electricity our rooftop solar panels is creating. Our gas bill is smaller, too.
One major factor is that our house doesn’t have a range hood that exhausts to the outdoors, when you turn on the fan it just slightly filters the air under the microwave and sends it back into the room, so ventilating while using natural gas involved cracking a window and letting hot or cold air in. This was not ideal. We still often ventilate minimally with the induction cooktop but there are no byproducts from a flame.
Helpful Links
Duxtop’s official website
Duxtop’s Amazon store
Inflation Reduction Act information (appliance purchases)
Geek out on Wikipedia’s induction page
More nerdy diagrams on Canary Media’s induction page
Questions?
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Email Me (chris@diyecoguy.com)
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© August 8, 2024 Chris Graber