Switching to An Induction Cooktop
January 14, 2022 12:48 PM Subscribe
How does it work to switch from a gas to an induction cooktop? Questions inside.
We currently have a GE Profile JGP975SEK1SS gas cooktop (with a hood, which we rarely use) but are concerned about indoor air quality and have been considering switching to an induction stove, maybe something like the Bosch 500 or 800 series, or maybe a lower-budget option. Key questions:
1) Right now, our cooktop is (of course) connected to the gas. If we have someone like Best Buy install the induction cooktop, will they also shut off and close the gas connection?
2) Will the cooktop fit in the existing area as long as it's the same 36" size?
3) Have you noticed any meaningful change in performance since switching?
Thanks!
We currently have a GE Profile JGP975SEK1SS gas cooktop (with a hood, which we rarely use) but are concerned about indoor air quality and have been considering switching to an induction stove, maybe something like the Bosch 500 or 800 series, or maybe a lower-budget option. Key questions:
1) Right now, our cooktop is (of course) connected to the gas. If we have someone like Best Buy install the induction cooktop, will they also shut off and close the gas connection?
2) Will the cooktop fit in the existing area as long as it's the same 36" size?
3) Have you noticed any meaningful change in performance since switching?
Thanks!
Most houses built for gas cooktops wire 120V/15A to the cooktop. Most electric cooktops are 240V/30A or 240V/40A. Make sure to add electric rewiring to your plans.
posted by saeculorum at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by saeculorum at 1:04 PM on January 14, 2022 [4 favorites]
I was thinking about this just a few hours ago, because my gas bill arrived, and it was astoundingly low. As in under a hundred dollars for the whole year of 2021. I realized that there is absolutely no incentive to change to any other energy source for our family.
But we have two homes, and in our other home, gas is a complicated option and we have an induction stove. Over time, I have gotten used to it, and recommend.
Since I am not in the US, I can't talk about the service, we had our old stove removed and replaced for "free", within the price of the new stove. I think it is worth negotiating, since some companies sell on your old stove.
The big issue was the replacement of pots. I literally have a roomfull of pots that don't work with induction, but are perfect for normal use on gas. For me, buying new pots and pans was a very large extra expense, but it depends on what you have.
For the home with the induction stove, I have bought a very cheap electric burner. I use it for low simmering ceramic pots, like congee. On the other hand, I may well buy a cheap induction burner for the gas stove home, because of the amazing precision: you can get something to a boil within a minute, and then keep it on a low simmer for hours. Now, I use a heat diffuser for the low simmer, but imagine having that going on with no worries on a separate burner. You could do it in a slow cooker, but a single induction burner is way cheaper where I live.
posted by mumimor at 1:17 PM on January 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
But we have two homes, and in our other home, gas is a complicated option and we have an induction stove. Over time, I have gotten used to it, and recommend.
Since I am not in the US, I can't talk about the service, we had our old stove removed and replaced for "free", within the price of the new stove. I think it is worth negotiating, since some companies sell on your old stove.
The big issue was the replacement of pots. I literally have a roomfull of pots that don't work with induction, but are perfect for normal use on gas. For me, buying new pots and pans was a very large extra expense, but it depends on what you have.
For the home with the induction stove, I have bought a very cheap electric burner. I use it for low simmering ceramic pots, like congee. On the other hand, I may well buy a cheap induction burner for the gas stove home, because of the amazing precision: you can get something to a boil within a minute, and then keep it on a low simmer for hours. Now, I use a heat diffuser for the low simmer, but imagine having that going on with no worries on a separate burner. You could do it in a slow cooker, but a single induction burner is way cheaper where I live.
posted by mumimor at 1:17 PM on January 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I just did this. My contractor took care of the gas and the new wiring. Best Buy just plugged it in. I got this stove and I really like it but they have plenty fancier. I was hesitant because I cook with cast iron but as long as you're careful it's fine. It offers the same even heat as gas; it's nothing like the old electric coil stoves.
posted by headnsouth at 1:25 PM on January 14, 2022
posted by headnsouth at 1:25 PM on January 14, 2022
We swapped out a gas range for an induction range.
1. I think (but am not positive) that we just turned the valve off back there. I don't think there was any permanent decommissioning of the gas line.
2. Yes, slid right in, looks perfect.
3. Omg, do it, you will never regret it. My partner still has a gas range and when I try to boil water over there I am astounded at how much longer it takes. Like 10x as long? I have a power boost feature on mine and even a huge pot of water comes to a boil in probably less than two minutes. The low is low enough that you can melt chocolate directly on it without it scorching. It is just superior in every way, and so much safer, not only in terms of air quality but also in risk of setting yourself or the house on fire. I would never go back to gas, never, never.
posted by HotToddy at 1:51 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
1. I think (but am not positive) that we just turned the valve off back there. I don't think there was any permanent decommissioning of the gas line.
2. Yes, slid right in, looks perfect.
3. Omg, do it, you will never regret it. My partner still has a gas range and when I try to boil water over there I am astounded at how much longer it takes. Like 10x as long? I have a power boost feature on mine and even a huge pot of water comes to a boil in probably less than two minutes. The low is low enough that you can melt chocolate directly on it without it scorching. It is just superior in every way, and so much safer, not only in terms of air quality but also in risk of setting yourself or the house on fire. I would never go back to gas, never, never.
posted by HotToddy at 1:51 PM on January 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Edit--just realized you're talking about a cooktop, not a range, but I'm sure it will be the same deal.
posted by HotToddy at 1:52 PM on January 14, 2022
posted by HotToddy at 1:52 PM on January 14, 2022
Cooktop sizes are pretty standardised so you should be fine. Double check about shutting off the gas, and whether your electrics will support a specific induction cooktop. I switched from gas to induction and I found it straightforward (and have since moved house). You can test your pans with a magnet - magnetic pans will work and non-magnetic ones won't. The only thing that I recall being an adjustment is that it's not as obvious with induction whether a specific burner is on or not.
posted by plonkee at 2:18 PM on January 14, 2022
posted by plonkee at 2:18 PM on January 14, 2022
1. Yes to the first degree of turning off the valve when removing the old thing. No on removing pipes or any of that. (lol, I actually did warehouse and installations for Best Buy in a past life).
2. Probably. 3. Don't know.
Probably the rest is what's been said about actual power requirements and pots/pans. Some of your things just might end up useless. Some things might be better.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:43 PM on January 14, 2022
2. Probably. 3. Don't know.
Probably the rest is what's been said about actual power requirements and pots/pans. Some of your things just might end up useless. Some things might be better.
posted by zengargoyle at 2:43 PM on January 14, 2022
We made this swap because there was a leak in the pipe feeding the hob where it ran under the floor. In a space that would have required taking up tiles to get at. Cheaper to get induction - and to get the leaking gas pipe branch sealed off at source.
If your induction hob is the same size as the gas one or bigger - then using the existing hole or getting it enlarged - is easy. Not so if the hob is smaller, of course- so shop around.
In terms of changes: any cookware which a magnet will attach to will work. So maybe test what you have. Induction hobs are good at heating both more and less rapidly then gas: on the one hand you can use them directly to melt butter or chocolate, on the other they can easily go hot enough to destroy the lining of some non stick pans; take care!
Best overall changes: vastly easier to clean, can be set to keep food at a boil or simmer, can be set to shut off burner after x mins, very quick to heat, no extraneous heating.
posted by rongorongo at 3:52 AM on January 15, 2022
If your induction hob is the same size as the gas one or bigger - then using the existing hole or getting it enlarged - is easy. Not so if the hob is smaller, of course- so shop around.
In terms of changes: any cookware which a magnet will attach to will work. So maybe test what you have. Induction hobs are good at heating both more and less rapidly then gas: on the one hand you can use them directly to melt butter or chocolate, on the other they can easily go hot enough to destroy the lining of some non stick pans; take care!
Best overall changes: vastly easier to clean, can be set to keep food at a boil or simmer, can be set to shut off burner after x mins, very quick to heat, no extraneous heating.
posted by rongorongo at 3:52 AM on January 15, 2022
Chapter 5 of the Electrify Everything in Your Home is all about this. (You can put in any fake email you want and it will give you the PDF download immediately.) They estimate the cost at $2000-$3000. $500 of that is the cost of an electrician to install the 50A circuit you probably need.
I'll add that replacing a cooktop is really pretty easy. The size issue can be a little subtle; there are minor variations in the width and depth, so you want to measure carefully. I recently replaced a cooktop and had to widen the hole in the granite countertop for the new one; not a big deal, but took a few hours of a granite expert's time. Also check the depth, if you have drawers below the cooktop you don't want it intruding into the storage space. I believe induction cooktops are quite shallow though.
posted by Nelson at 8:41 AM on January 15, 2022
I'll add that replacing a cooktop is really pretty easy. The size issue can be a little subtle; there are minor variations in the width and depth, so you want to measure carefully. I recently replaced a cooktop and had to widen the hole in the granite countertop for the new one; not a big deal, but took a few hours of a granite expert's time. Also check the depth, if you have drawers below the cooktop you don't want it intruding into the storage space. I believe induction cooktops are quite shallow though.
posted by Nelson at 8:41 AM on January 15, 2022
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1. Probably not; normally it's the job of a plumber to do this. Your gas company might also do it. Even if they did, I don't think I'd allow a Best Buy installer anywhere near my gas lines.
2. Unless you find something really odd, yes it should. They are normally all the same height as well.
3. This is going to be harder for me to answer meaningfully as we had the electric interloper between gas and induction. What I've found is water heats to a boil much faster, the closer a pot or pan is to the size of the 'burner', the better it will perform, and small changes in the knob are big changes on the burner. Our larger burner seldom goes any lower than a 4.5 and seldom higher than a 6 on the control knob. the two medium burners tend to either be around a 2 for simmering rice, or 8 to bring the pot to a boil without letting it boil over. The small burner is, quite honestly, useless. Even on full high it can't bring water to a boil.
We ended up removing about half our pots and pans from use, as they were not the correct metal for induction. So that may be something to consider. (Ours did come with an offer for $700 of cookware, so that eased the sting a bit.)
posted by neilbert at 1:02 PM on January 14, 2022