Induction cooktops
Instead of heating an element or burner, induction cooktops heat your pots directly using an electro-magnetic field. This turns your cooking pot into a heating element, allowing you to cook quickly and efficiently.
Photo Jullian Meehan
How does it help save money and reduce emissions?
Induction stovetops are fast, powerful, easy to clean, and provide precise, controllable heat.
According to Sustainability Victoria, induction cooktops are twice as efficient as gas and ordinary electric stoves. The less energy you use for cooking, the more money you save and the less carbon emissions you generate using energy from a grid currently powered by fossil fuels.
Another important consideration is health and safety. Research shows cooking with gas is bad for our health and causes 12% of childhood asthma. Induction cooktops produce cleaner air for your family, and because the cooktop's surface remains cool during cooking, they have lower burn risks for children.
How do I get it?
All the major appliance retailers sell induction cooktops. Many offer cooking demonstrations so you can see first-hand how induction cooktops work and ask questions.
If you don’t want to replace your stovetop or are renting, portable, plug-in induction stovetops are available from $50 to $100.
Resources:
Choice – How to buy a great induction cooktop
Choice – How to find a great portable induction cooktop
Renew – Induction cooktop guide
Asthma Australia – Things to consider when switching from gas to induction