Induction Cooktops - Burner Size vs Pan Size
emeline12
8 years ago
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lharpie
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Induction Cooktop: Burner & Pot Size Matching?
Comments (74)For searching out info in the future, it might help to know that "induction tabletop units" are often referred to as "portable induction cookers" which sometimes is abbreviated as "PIC." Now, on your questions about pans, are you looking for a way to heat several pans together on a single induction burner? If so, the caterer's serving pan idea won't work any better than it would if you used it over a small gas burner. Induction heating is not passed by magnetic contact between pans over a PIC --- well, only on such an infinitesimally small scale as to be of no perceptible use in cooking :>). Basically, the strength of induction fields falls off so rapidly that it has no heating effect on pans more than a fraction of an inch above the burner surface. For the same reason, stacking pans won't work either. Further complicating things for you, your PIC may claim to be a 9-10" unit, but the actual induction field on them is only 3.5" to 6" (depending on brand.) Beyond that small field, you have to rely on your pan's mass and conductive abilities to spread and transmit the heat widely. A stainless steel caterer's serving pan is just too thin to function that way. IOW, it won't work like an induction adapter disk (which basically converts the induction heating into a radiant electric surface.) In theory, something thicker might work as an adapter, such as one of Chef King's rectangular, 14" x 23" carbon steel stovetop griddles (about $70 last time I checked). My experience with this kind of thing has been that these can heat other pans but so slowly that they work better on PICs as warming trays rather than for bringing other pots to heat. Frankly, it might be easier to heat up each pan separately on the PIC, then put on the caterer's pan with hot water, and use the PIC to heat the water that will keep the pans warm. If there is a second electrical circuit, you also might consider buying a second PIC. IIRC, there are some Duxtop units which have pretty good reviews and now are priced in the same neighborhood as the Chef King griddle that I mentioned above....See MoreSize of pans on induction cooktop
Comments (8)If the pan is larger than the burner then the edges could be "cool". As I remember, my Fagor guide recommended no more than an inch larger than the burner diameter (e.g., 10" pan on 9" burner). I'll have to recheck tomorrow. See also the cookware link below. If the pan is smaller than the burner ... "will the reduction in power be noticeable?" You mean that your electrical bill will be lower? That a pan-sensing feature will decrease the burner output (so that a 10 setting is effectively, say, a 7 setting)? That there will be an electromagnetic field beyond the pan edge that is wasted (note that there won't be any reduction in cooking power)? Something else? Here is a link that might be useful: cookware: diameter extension ......See MoreCooktop size and induction cooktop control
Comments (17)I like induction a lot and I like the Fagor. That said there are some negatives. I still can't get the grease shine off of the glass top to my satisfaction and cleaning at the metal rim is a nusiance. Also, I sometimes foolishly walk away and the water is boiling away furiously when I get back. Have to stay at an induction cooktop unless it's something on a very low setting. I don't know if the diamond configuration is best for a 30" unit. A rectangular or asymmetric burner configuration might be better. But it's not something that will keep me awake at night. You have the same kind of issue with the various 36" configurations but there is more flexibility since it will probably be rare that all will be used concurrently. Although the induction site mentions a 10 piece cookware set that comes with the unit I would verify it. I got a 7 piece pressure cookware set instead - they ran out of the 10 pice cookware set and I don't think that Fagor makes it anymore. (Never had one before and finally made some chili in it. Turned out to be less complicated to use than I thought and the beef cubes were "soft" in 25 minutes.) If I had the room for a 36" unit I would re-evaluate since there are more units available now. (Notice that the vast majority of inducion cooktop owners at GardenWeb is happy with their chosen unit.) It wouldn't surprise me if I would still pick the Fagor since it has a balance of proven track history, minimal amp requirements and air space beneath, and cost. I wonder if kimwok, bikefan, dvbkansas and some others purchased a Fagor and also had comments. My longest responses on Fagor (and other stuff) is at the link. You can also search for dbaguy and Fagor for more. Here is a link that might be useful: New induction cooktops ......See MorePan Size: Wold CT36G 5 Burner Gas Cooktop
Comments (2)You should call Wolf technical support and ask them about it. I can't imagine what the problem would be....See Moreseb225
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