Induction vs Infrared Cooktops

Amid LPG shortages due to the West Asia conflict, Indian households are shifting to induction and infrared cooktops. The trend highlights alternative electric cooking technologies and their operational differences.

Induction vs Infrared Cooktops:

Dimension	Key Details
Working Principle	Comprises induction cooktops using electromagnetic fields for direct heating and infrared cooktops using heated coils emitting infrared radiation for indirect heating.
Cookware Compatibility	Comprises induction cooktops requiring ferromagnetic cookware and infrared cooktops supporting all types of cookware.
Efficiency	Comprises induction cooktops with 85–95% efficiency and infrared cooktops with 70–80% efficiency.
Heat Control	Comprises induction cooktops using precise electronic control and infrared cooktops using coil-based phase-angle control.
Cooking Speed	Comprises faster heating in induction cooktops and slower heating in infrared cooktops.
Grid Impact	Comprises induction cooktops causing demand spikes and infrared cooktops causing localised stress due to waveform distortion.
Safety	Comprises induction cooktops with relatively cooler surfaces and infrared cooktops with hotter surfaces increasing burn risk.