Induction cooktops are becoming more and more popular. They have a lot of advantages, but one main disadvantage for owners is having to buy all new cookware because normal cookware is not compatible with conduction cooktops.
Naturally, the prospect of replacing an entire set of cookware leaves a nasty taste in many home cooks’ mouths. So is there an alternative? The short answer is, yes. You can use non induction cookware on induction cooktops but there are a few caveats and you may still need to make a purchase or two – but it’s still a whole lot better than buying an entirely new set of cookware.
In the following article we will be discussing how you can use regular cookware on an induction cooktop but first, it may be helpful to understand how an induction cooktop works and why you can’t use regular cookware on one normally.
How an Induction Cooktop Generates Heat
In normal circumstances, you can’t use ordinary cookware on an induction cooktop because of the way an induction cooktop conducts heat. Induction burners use metal coils under the cooktop surface, much like an electric stove. However, the coils don’t generate heat. Instead, they produce a magnetic current. This is why induction cooktops stay cool to the touch even when they are on.
The magnetic current reacts with magnetic cookware (induction-ready cookware) which produces the heat needed to actually cook your food. So instead of producing heat between the cooktop and the cooknig vessel, the heat is generated in the cookware itself because of the magnetic reaction it creates with the cooktop.
This is why induction-ready cookware features a magnetic base. The magnetic base is needed to react with the magnetic current that the cooktop produces. Without this reaction, there is no heat generated in the vessel to cook food. However, some clever people have come up with ways to spur this magnetic reaction even if your cookware isn’t induction-ready…
Methods for Using Non-Induction Cookware on an Induction Cooktop
You may be surprised to know that there is more than one way to use normal cookware on an induction cooktop. In general though, you have two main options:
- Buying a Converter Disk – A converter disk, sometimes called an interface disk, is usually made of iron or stainless steel. The purpose of a converter disk is to act as a conductive medium between the induction cooktop and the cooking vessel. The metal of the disk is conductive with the magnetic current that gets put out by the induction top, generates heat and transfers it to the cooking vessel. Converter disks are flat and have a handle so you won’t burn yourself handling them. They sort of look like skillets with no sides. You simply lay the disk on the surface of the induction top and place the cooking vessel on top of it.
- Steel Nets – Now that induction cooktops are becoming more popular, people are coming up with clever ways to negate the need to by new induction-ready cookware. One of these ways is to used steel nets, sometimes called simply, netted steel. You can pick up steel nets at your local hardware store. They are usually used in construction as a separator of materials or in farming to fence in livestock. They serve the same purpose as converter disks: to act as a conductive medium between the cooktop and the cooking vessel. Simply cut a length of netted steel so that it is twice the size of the induction burner. Fold the length in half and place it on the cooktop surface. Then, place the cooking vessel on top of the folded netted steel and you’re ready to cook.
Of course, there is some downside to using both of these methods. First of all, one of purposes of an induction cooktop is to not produce a hot surface on which you can burn yourself. Using netted steel or a converter disk will essentially create a hot surface.
Also, using either of these method will add time to your cooking. Since the heat is generated in a medium material, it can take almost twice as long to cook your food using either of the above methods.
Parting Thoughts
While it may not be ideal, using non-induction cookware on an induction cooktop can save you a lot of money as induction-ready cookware can be very expensive. If you have the time and resourcefulness though, you can still enjoy cooking with your old cookware on an induction cooktop.
