Is There Any Difference Between Electric Stoves and Inductions?

I was arguing with one of my friends that Electric stoves and Induction stoves are both the same. But, later realized that they are different. Do you also think that there are no differences between Electric stoves and Inductions?

If you are also confused about how Electric stoves and Induction are different as they both use electricity to operate, then this blog will be quite helpful to make you clear what creates an actual difference between them.

Let’s get into knowing the difference between an Electric stove and Induction.

The History 

Today, electric stoves, as well as induction stoves, are widely used in the kitchen, but do you know how it started? So before going to what’s the actual difference between them, let’s begin with a brief history of them.

Electric Stove 

The journey of the electric stove began in the late 19th century when electricity became widely available for household purposes. The Electric Stove was first introduced in 1892.

However, the credit for making electric stoves popular goes to a Canadian electric company that marketed electric stoves by preparing an entire meal with the help of electricity.

Induction Stove 

Similarly, the technology behind the induction stove was first introduced at a world fair in Chicago in 1933.

It was 1970 when the Research and Development Department of Westinghouse Electric Corporation developed the first modern induction stoves in the United States.

The Working 

The working of the Electric Stove and Induction Stove is what makes them different from one another, besides both using electricity for operation. So, are you excited to know how they are different?

Electric Stove 

Electric stoves consist of a metal coil under the glass or ceramic surface through which electric current flows. When the electricity is passed to the metal coil, the coil starts to get hot, resulting in the coil’s glow due to electrical resistance.

The heat is then transferred through the glass surface to your pan or other vessels. In this case, the surface of the burners is the one that gets heated and transfers heat from the metal coil to the pan or vessel.

Induction Stove

Induction Stoves are the ones that use electromagnetic fields to heat pans and pots. So, there is no transfer of heat on the surface of the burners; instead, the pots or pans are directly heated.

In an induction stove, electricity is passed on a coil placed inside the glass or ceramic surface that generates a magnetic field. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the surface of the stove, currents are induced in the pan, generating instant heat.

Make sure you go through Infrared Cooker vs. Induction Cooker to know in depth about the working of induction stoves.

The main difference

By going through the working of electric and induction stoves, I hope you are clear on the difference between electric stoves and inductions based on their working, but let me make it easier to understand.

Electric stoves transfer heat between the metal coil and the pan or vessel placed on the surface by heating the surface of the burners. The surface of the burner is the one that gets heated.

On the other hand, induction stoves transfer heat directly to the induction-compatible pan or pot without heating the surface of the burner through the use of electromagnetic fields. 

This is similar to the working of a wireless charger that uses a magnetic field to charge your phone.

Pros and Cons 

So, as we know now, the working of the Electric Stove and Induction Stove is what makes them different from each other. Pros and cons about both of them will make it clear which can be a better choice for you.

Electric Stove  

Pros : 

• Helps in keeping food warm as the burner surface remains hot due to residual heat.
• Provides higher precision on temperature control.

Cons :

• Residual heat on the burner surface can be dangerous if neglected.
• There are chances of uneven heat distribution throughout the burner surface.
• Electric cooktops take a longer time to heat up.

Induction Stove 

Pros : 

• No residual heat as the pan or pot is directly heated, resulting in lower energy costs.
• Faster cooking time as compared to other alternatives.
• Easy cleaning as the burner surface remains cool after use.

Cons : 

• Costlier as compared to other alternatives.
• It can only be used with induction-compatible cookware.

Overview 

Though Electric stoves and Inductions both use electricity, the major difference between electric stoves and inductions is the working principle behind them.

Induction stoves work by transferring heat directly to the induction-compatible cookware without heating the burner surface. On the Other hand, electric stoves work by transferring heat to the burner surface.

In simple words, in an Induction stove, the cookware is the one that gets directly heated up. While in electric stoves, the burner surface gets heated, transferring the heat to the cookware.

Final Words  

Both Electric, as well as Induction stove have their pros and cons. It depends upon your need to choose among them.

Investment in an Induction stove can be quite costly as you need to buy induction-compatible cookware additionally. In contrast, electric stoves do not need any additional investments as you can use cookware that is already available at home, but this can add to energy costs.

Choosing the One with Quality 

Don’t be confused; I won’t be giving you suggestions on which stove to choose, whether Induction or Electric. It completely depends upon your needs and choices.

I’m sure you have made up your mind whether to get an Electric Stove or an Induction stove by now. Also, in addition to knowing the difference between Electric Stoves and Inductions, you should definitely not compromise on the quality, as safety is a major concern.

So, make sure you go through Better Home Appliances to get high-quality Electric as well as Induction Stoves at an affordable price. Better Home Appliances won’t disappoint you with your Home Appliances needs.