You’ve probably cooked on a gas or electric stove before, but using induction might be new to you. As more communities and households wean themselves off natural gas, it seems induction cooking — and thus induction ranges — will only become more common.
Induction ranges have long been used in Europe and in professional kitchens, but they are still relatively new to the U.S., thus many home cooks have never used this method. I’m a chef, not an electrical engineer, so I won’t pretend to know all the intricacies of how these things work — here’s a better primer — but I can tell you that induction ranges heat cookware fast and efficiently. This is true whether you are using a built-in induction range or even a portable induction burner, like the one pictured above that I regularly use (my main range is gas).
But not all cookware works on induction. However, those that do all have this one thing in common: They’re magnetic.
Induction cooking works via a form of magnetism, so to find out if your cookware will work with an induction range, simply grab a magnet and see if the magnet attaches to the bottom of the pot, pan, skillet, etc. If the magnet sticks, that cookware will be able to heat via induction.
You might be surprised at what cookware will and will not work well with induction. Cast iron such as Lodge works incredibly well since it is highly magnetic due to its ferrous material, as does enameled cast iron pieces from brands like Le Creuset and Staub. So does carbon steel. But many a stainless steel or even nonstick pan will work, as long as it is made with a ferrous (magnetic) material. Much of my All-Clad cookware does, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that my Nordic Ware nonstick pans do, too.
Unfortunately, my beloved vintage Corningware is a no-go on induction, as it is made from a specialized ceramic material called Pyroceram, which is not magnetic. Neither does my anodized aluminum pieces from Calphalon.
Some cookware will say on the bottom that they are induction-ready. If you’re unsure whether your other cookware that you have or that you’re considering buying at the store will work on an induction range, simply grab a magnet.