The induction stoves have become very popular due to their energy efficiency. Additionally, they can cook the food sooner than electric and gas stoves.
According to several experiments, an induction stove has an efficiency of 84%. On the other hand, electric and gas stoves only have an efficiency of 74% and 84%, respectively.
Read on more to find how to calculate the power consumption of an induction stove and how it cooks food sooner by consuming less electricity.
How to Calculate Induction Stove Electricity Consumption?
We have made it clear that induction stoves are energy efficient and consume less power. But how much power does it exactly need for cooking?
Consider your induction stove is using a wattage of 1800 watts. The number of kilowatts consumed per hour is 1 unit of electricity. When the induction stove runs at this maximum wattage for one hour, it will draw 2 units of electricity.
Now, the formula for calculating daily energy consumption is,
(Wattage x Hours)/1000
If you are not into mathematics and calculations, we have another option for you.
You can get an electricity usage monitor to measure the electrical usage of appliances. You have to plug the device into the power socket and connect the induction stove to this device. The reading on the device will give you the electrical consumption of your induction stove.
Why Induction Cooktops Need Less Electricity?
An induction stove works on the concept of electromagnetism. It draws less current but heats the food soon. It creates a magnetic field using the current.
The magnetic field produces a current inside the pans which generates heat. As you can see, in an induction cooktop, electricity is not directly used for cooking. The electricity is only used to create a magnetic field.
Furthermore, an induction cooktop uses 85% to 90% of the heat energy generated for cooking. But the gas and electric cooktops use only 65% to 70% for cooking. So, you can cook your food sooner using the induction cooktops. This reduces the consumption of electricity.
Additionally, the induction cooktop turns off immediately. As soon as you cut the power supply, it turns off and cools down. There is no wastage of electricity.
Some of the latest models come with smart technology. They optimize the power and reduce the power if you cook the food for a longer duration. It senses if there is no cookware placed on the top and cuts off power.
What is the Difference Between 1200 watt and 1800 watt Induction?
Watt is the unit of power. Every induction cooktop will come with specific watts. An induction cooktop with a higher watt can generate more heat than the one with a lower watt.
For instance, the 1800 watt will produce more heat than the 1200 watt. Hence, you can cook your food faster. However, the downside is that 1800 watts will draw more power than the latter.
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. How much power does an induction stove consume?
The induction stoves are rated with a power range between 1500 to 3000 watts. This power is higher than the power rated for the majority of household appliances.
2. Do induction cooktops use more electricity?
Yes, they use the concept of electromagnetism to draw less current for cooking. Furthermore, the induction cooktops turn off instantaneously and cool down which reduces unwanted consumption of electricity.
3. Do chefs prefer gas or induction?
In the initial stages, almost all cooking was done using gas stoves. However, the situation is gradually changing and these days, a lot of chefs prefer cooking in induction cooktops.
4. Is induction cooking harmful?
Induction cooking is one of the safest cooking methods. They do not have gas lines and do not cause combustion. They turn off automatically once the timer reaches zero. Some models come with smart features that turn off the appliance automatically if there is no cookware placed on the top.
5. How fast does induction boil water?
On average, an induction cooktop takes 4 minutes to boil 0.75 liters of water. It takes 7 and 8 minutes for electric and gas cooktops, respectively, to boil the same quantity of water.
6. Can we use normal vessels on an induction stove?
No, it is not advisable to use normal vessels on induction stoves. You have to use vessels made of ferrous metal in the base. Materials like fully stainless steel, copper, and aluminum won’t work. Even if they work, the efficiency would be very less.
7. Does induction cooktop scratch easily?
The induction cooktops have a glassy surface, but they are very sturdy. They can resist scratches to a great extent. Sometimes, it can cause scratches on the cookware.
Conclusion
As you can see, induction cooktops are the most energy-efficient among all three cooktops. Still don’t believe us? You can use our formula to calculate the power consumption and see for yourself.
If you have any other queries or doubts, let us know using the comments section below, and we will help you out.