Induction Stove Tops

Induction stove tops operate using magnetic principles. Rather than a burner heating and transferring heat indirectly to a pot or pan to cook, in an induction stove top it is the pan that heats up, not the burner. Induction stove tops therefore have no risk of fire and it is their high degree of safety that have made them commonplace in high density Asian apartment houses.

However, the fact that heating of the cooking vessel is direct rather than indirect also results in electrical savings of 89-90% over traditional electric stoves and are 50% more efficient than propane or natural gas stovetops.

These devices remain relatively pricey at $2000 or so for a four burner system, but single burner models are available for as little as $250. One consideration is that the cookware must be steel or iron and have a perfectly flat bottom for optimal functionality. Even though an induction stovetop is much more efficient than an electric range, it still uses enough electricity that it will put a strain on a solar power system such as the one detailed here. Final home configuration that includes an induction stove, for instance—or other energy consumptive appliances—may require expansion of the solar power system in order to meet the energy requirements.