Induction cooktop is also known as Induction cooker, Induction stove, Induction hob and some even call it as Induction oven. This is one of the modern cooking device.
How the Induction Cooker work?
In
the Induction cooker the mains AC power supply at 50Hz frequency is passed
through a rectifier which converts it into DC power. This DC power is
again converted into alternating electric current of high frequency of between 20KHz to 40 KHz frequency by a voltage resonant converter. The Induction cooker has a copper wire coil placed just below the top pate, above which the cooking utensil is placed. When the high frequency alternating current passes through this coil it produces oscillating magnetic field. This
oscillating magnetic field produced passes through the cooking utensil
producing eddy current in the bottom of the cooking utensil due to which it
gets heated up.
Cooking utensils used in Induction cooker should be made out of ferrous material like cast iron or stainless steel. Utensils made out of aluminium, copper or any other non magnetic materials are not suitable for cooking in induction cooker.
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Cooking Utensil should be of magnetic material
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A simple test to find out whether your utensil is compatible to use in induction cooker is - touch a magnet to the bottom of the utensil, if it sticks to the bottom then that utensil could be used in induction cooker.The bottom of the utensil should be flat so that the entire bottom of utensil could make contact with the top surface of the Induction cooker. The bottom diameter of the utensil should be more than 12 cm for most of the cooktop models. Similarly very large diameter utensils also can not be used, when the vessel covers the control panel.
Advantages of Induction cooktop
Induction cooktops heat faster and distribute heat more evenly heating the food more evenly as compared to conventional electric stoves and gas stoves.
Has better more responsive and precise temperature control. This feature is very handy to use while some of the cooking processes like frying in oil. Also there is provision for very low temperature setting and control.
As per some lab test the energy efficiency, that is the ratio of energy delivered to the food stuff to the energy consumed by the cooker/stove, is 40% in Gas stove, 74% in Electric stove and 84% in Induction cooktop.
Induction cooktops are more safer. There is almost no fire hazard, like clothes catching fire or fingers getting burnt, since there is no flames and only the cooking utensil will gets heated up, the top plate or body of the cooktop remains cool.
There is no risk of electric shock since the body and top plate of the cooker is made out of material which is non conductor of electricity.
It is much easier to clean induction cooker because the top surface is flat and plain and there are no holes or slots. If there is any food or liquid spilled, it will not get burnt or enter inside the stove.
Now are you excited to buy one? There is very wide choice of many models by many different brands available in the market. If you go through the details of all of them it will be too tedious, time consuming and confusing to select one. So let me suggest few good models, available in Indian market. I have short listed these models based on user feedback, reviews and ratings. But you may find some more models not listed here which are also good choice.
01/08. PHILIPS Viva HD4928/01
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| PHILIPS Viva HD4928/0 |
SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 2100 Watts
Dimension: 37 cm X 34.8 cm X 10.5 cm [Hight X Width X Depth]
Weight: 2.8 Kg
Top material: Ceramic
Body material: Micro crystal plate Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 20 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: should be less than 8 Kg
FEATURES:
Preset cooking menu: 6 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes
Timer: 0 to 3 hours cooking time presetting Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Dual heat sensor: information not available
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: not provided
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: information not available High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: information not available
Anti magnetic wall: information not available
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.3/10
Price: Present offer: 3000/-[MRP: 4500/-] [offer price keep changing]
02/08. PHILIPS Viva HD4938/01
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Philips Viva 4938/01
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PHILIPS Viva 4938/01
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 2100 Watts
Dimension: 37 cm X 34.8 cm X 10.5 cm [Height X Width X Depth]
Weight: 3.6 Kg
Top material: Glass
Body material: Micro crystal plate Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 20 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset cooking menu: 10 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes
Timer: 0 to 3 hours cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: 24 hours preset timer
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Dual heat sensor: information not available
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available Child lock: provided
Control panel: Touch panel control
Automatic voltage regulator: information not available High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: provided
Anti magnetic wall: information not available
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.7/10
Price: Present offer: 4500/-[MRP: 5995/-] [offer price keep changing]
03/08. Prestige PIC 6.1 V3
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Prestige PIC 6.1 V3
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 2200 Watts
Dimension: 34.6 cm X 46.2 cm X 10.5 cm [Width X Depth X Height]
Weight: 2.8 Kg
Top material: Glass
Body material: information not available
Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 20 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset cooking menu: 7 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes [Dosa/Chapati, Pressure cook, Curry, Saute, Deep fry, Idli, Heat milk]
Timer: cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: senses pressure cooker status & switches to keep warm function
Dual heat sensor: provided [prevents over heating]
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: information not available
Control panel: Touch panel control
Automatic voltage regulator: provided
High/Low voltage protection: provided
Power Indicator: provided
Anti magnetic wall: provided [prevents excess magnetic radiation]
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.1/10
Price: Present offer: 3800/-[MRP: 5695/-] [offer price keep changing]
04/08. HAVELLS Insta Cook ET-X
SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 1900 Watts
Dimension: 34 cm X 45.6 cm X 14.2 cm [Width X Depth X Height]
Weight: 2.6 Kg
Top material: Ceramic
Body material: Ceramic
Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 20 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset
cooking menu: 7 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes [Roti/Dosa, Idli, Gravy, Fry, Boil, Manual, Keep warm]
Timer: 0 to 3 hours cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Over heating protection: provided
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: provided
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: information not available
High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: information not available
Anti magnetic wall: information not available
Enclosure for anti repellent pill: available
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.5/10
Price: Present offer: 3340/-[MRP: 5595/-] [offer price keep changing]
05/08. BAJAJ Majesty ICX 7
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BAJAJ Majesty ICX 7
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 1900 Watts
Dimension: 29 cm X 38 cm X 6.5 cm [Width x Depth x Height]
Weight: 2.29 Kg
Top material: information not available
Body material: information not available Suited for cooking utensil: information not available
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset
cooking menu: 8 preset cooking menus [Stew, Soup, Braise, Boil, Deep fry, Fry, Hot pot, Stir fry]
Timer: information not available
Preset timer for delayed cooking: available
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Over heating protection: information not available
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: provided
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: information not available
High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: information not available
Anti magnetic wall: information not available
Enclosure for anti repellent pill: information not available
Country of origin: information not available
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.4/10
Price: Present offer: 3325/-[MRP: 4870/-] [offer price keep changing]
06/08. Prestige PIC 20 1600Watts
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Prestige PIC 20.0 1600Watts
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Prestige PIC 20.0
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 230 Volts, 1600 Watts
Dimension: 30.4 cm X 38.4 cm X 8 cm [Width x Depth x Height]
Weight: information not available
Top material: Glass
Body material: information not available Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 26 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset
cooking menu: 8 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes [Dosa/Chapati,
Pressure cook, Curry, Idli, Deep fry, Heat milk, Keep warm, Saute]
Timer: cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Dual heat sensor: provided [prevents over heating]
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: information not available
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: provided
High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: information not available
Dynamically monitors vessel temperature and adjusts power level
Anti magnetic wall: provided [prevents excess magnetic radiation]
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.3/10
Price: Present offer: 2200/-[MRP: 3345/-] [offer price keep changing]
07/08. Prestige PIC 20 1200Watts
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Prestige PIC 20.0 1200Watts
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 230 Volts, 1200 Watts
Dimension: 26 cm X 38 cm X 6 cm [Width x Depth x Height]
Weight: 2.2 Kg
Top material: Glass
Body material: information not available Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 26 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset
cooking menu: 8 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes [Dosa/Chapati,
Pressure cook, Curry, Idli, Deep fry, Heat milk, Keep warm, Saute]
Timer: cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: not available
Dual heat sensor: provided [prevents over heating]
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: information not available
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: provided
High/Low voltage protection: information not available
Power Indicator: information not available
Dynamically monitors vessel temperature and adjusts power level
Anti magnetic wall: provided [prevents excess magnetic radiation]
Country of origin: India
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.2/10
Price: Present offer: 2200/-[MRP: 2995/-] [offer price keep changing]
08/08. USHA Cookjoy IC 3616 1600Watts
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USHA Cookjoy IC 3616
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USHA Cookjoy IC 3616 Panel
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SPECIFICATIONS:
Power: 220 - 240 Volts, 1600 Watts
Dimension: 27 cm X 35.5 cm X 6.5 cm [Width x Depth x Height]
Weight: information not available
Top material: Glass
Body material: information not available
Suited for cooking utensil: bottom diameter 12 cm to 20 cm
Cooking utensil + food weight [max]: information not available
FEATURES:
Preset
cooking menu: 5 preset cooking menus for Indian recipes [Milk/Tea, Fry, Idli, Curry, Roti/Dosa]
Timer: 0 to 3 hours cooking time presetting
Preset timer for delayed cooking: not available
Auto-whistle counter: not provided
Over heating protection: provided
Automatic shut-off [if stove is on without utensil]: available
Child lock: not provided
Control panel: Push button control
Automatic voltage regulator: information not available
High/Low voltage protection: provided
Power Indicator: provided
Anti magnetic wall: information not available
Country of origin: Imported from China
Warranty: 1 year
Rating: 8.5/10
Price: Present offer: 2250/-[MRP: 4190/-] [offer price keep changing]
Hope
you find this information useful. Please suggest if there is any model which you have come across or used and found very good and better than any of the models listed here.
