Induction Stoves

Fridgidaire induction range

Why an induction stove is good for the environment

Gas stoves leak significant amounts of greenhouse gases and other particulates into homes. Recent studies have shown that these emissions are bad for the environment and may be harming your health. 

Induction ranges offer many of the performance attributes of gas ranges such as low simmer temperature gauge, responsive controls and high searing temperatures. They boil water faster, use less energy and are easier to clean. 

Replacing your gas cooktop with an electric induction cooktop is a smart choice! 

How induction ranges and cooktops differ

Induction cooktops look like electric glass cooktops but they work differently. Gas and electric cooktops use thermal conduction to transfer heat from the burners to the cookware, warming both the pot and the food inside. 

Induction stoves are essentially electromagnets that interact with magnetically conductive cookware to immediately generate heat and cook the food. This means that more of the heat goes into cooking and less into the stove, the cooking pot and the surrounding air. Induction cooktops use 90% of the heat generated to cook the food compared with only 40% for gas stoves and 65-75% for electric stoves.

Benefits of induction stoves  

  • Better energy efficiency and a smaller carbon footprint
  • Faster cooking time
  • Precise temperature control
  • Even cooking across the pan without hot spots
  • Improved safety: the cooktop remains cool to the touch, it will not generate heat without cookware on the range, they cannot be turned on by accident
  • Better home air quality: no noxious gas emissions in your kitchen
  • Easier to clean

Induction stove adopters say it is “just a better way to cook – overwhelmingly superior”. 

Costs

  • An induction cooktop is less expensive than a full induction stove
  • For induction cooktops, prices range from $1,000 to $5,000+. Most recommended models are in the $1,000-$3,000 range
  • For induction ranges, prices range from $1,500 to $10,000+. Most recommended models range from $2,500-$4,500
  • Prices have decreased in the last few years
  • You may be able to save money by ordering on-line. Prices on-line are often cheaper than the prices for identical models offered by big box stores or by higher end speciality appliance stores

Government grants and rebates

$150 rebate/discount offered through the Home Renovation Savings program.

Cookware

Most new cookware is induction cooktop compatible including any ferrous pots and pans such as cast iron and Le Creuset. Some stainless steel cooking sets will work fine on an induction cooktop. The best way to determine if your current cookware will work is to test it with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of your cookware, then you can use it on your induction cooktop. Cookware made of aluminum, glass, copper or ceramics is not suitable for induction cooktops.

Installation

  • Induction stoves require a dedicated, grounded 240 volt circuit. 
  • If you are replacing an existing traditional electric stove the existing circuit and receptacle will work. If you are replacing an existing gas cooktop you will likely need to upgrade the receptacle to 240 volts—gas stoves typically use a standard 110 volt receptacle. You will also need to cap the gas pipe and close the valve to ensure it is completely sealed.
  • While small (portable) induction stoves only require a circuit with 15 amps, most larger induction cooktops have a minimum circuit requirement of 40-50 amps.

From 2022-2024 The HVRA Net Zero Project partnered with Best Buy to promote induction stoves and to provide discounts at Best Buy on a wide array of induction cooktops and ranges. This bulk buy program was very successful—over 125 people purchased induction stoves through Best Buy and qualified for discounts ranging from $200 to $800.  Many more were inspired to purchase induction stoves and cooktops from other retailers. This bulk buy program has now been disbanded but it is still possible to find good deals on induction stoves.  It is best to do your research online first. Compare the various models and features, read reviews and recommendations and then visit retail outlets to do some comparison shopping. 

__
Last update: 10 August, 2026