Induction stoves — A smart choice for health, environment, and cooking
By Jim Hooton, CCL Co-State Coordinator
Are you tired of cooking with a gas stove that burns fossil fuels and creates indoor air pollution?
Induction stoves are the answer! When most people think about electric stoves, they think about traditional electric resistance stoves that operate like your toaster; the burner gets hot when electricity passes through a resistance element. Induction stoves use electromagnetic energy to heat the cookware directly, instead of the air or the stove's surface, which makes them faster, safer, and more energy-efficient.
In this article, we will discuss the advantages of induction stoves and the rebates available to purchase them under the Inflation Reduction Act.
Advantages of induction stoves:
Health Benefits: Induction stoves eliminate the risks associated with gas stoves, such as carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazards, and indoor air pollution. Unlike gas stoves, induction stoves do not emit any fumes, flames, or heat, which makes them safer for your health and your home.
Environmental Benefits: Induction stoves are more eco-friendly than gas or traditional electric resistance stoves. They use less energy and produce less greenhouse gas emissions, which helps reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your energy bills.
Cooking Benefits: Induction stoves are faster, more precise, and more versatile than gas or electric resistance stoves. They can heat up your cookware in seconds, boil water faster, and simmer food more evenly. Induction stoves also offer advanced features such as temperature controls, timers, and safety locks.
Cookware:
Because induction stoves use electromagnetic energy to heat your cookware, you may need to get new pans. You can tell if your cookware will work if a magnet sticks to it. This generally means steel, cast iron, and most Dutch ovens will work, while copper and aluminum pans will not. Non-magnetic cookware won’t cause a problem, it just simply won’t heat up on the stove.
Cooking with Induction:
Cooking is faster with induction stoves. In fact, seeing how fast water boils is a real thrill! But on the other hand, you generally need to be more watchful, especially until you adjust to the reduced heating times.
Rebates available in 2024:
Unfortunately, induction stoves are not cheap. They typically cost around $2,000 but can range from $600-6,000. But depending on your income, rebates will be available by the end of 2023 to make the purchase more attainable. Under the Inflation Reduction Act, the federal government will offer point of purchase rebates of up to $840 for low-income and 50% of the purchase price up to $840 for moderate income towards the purchase of induction stoves. To qualify for the rebate, the stove must be certified by the ENERGY STAR® program, which ensures that the appliance meets the highest energy efficiency standards. The details of this rebate program are still being worked out and won’t be available until the end of 2023 or early 2024, but they will apply whether you are replacing a gas stove or an older electric resistance stove. Additional rebates up to $2,500 will be available to upgrade any wiring needed as part of the electrification process.
Low Cost Option:
Interestingly, single burner portable induction stoves are available for less than $100 from Amazon and many other retailers. They have the same advantages as their larger siblings and may help you reduce your dependence on using your gas cooktop.
Conclusion:
Induction stoves are a smart choice for your health, your home, and your planet. They offer numerous benefits compared to gas or older electric resistance stoves, including health, environmental, and cooking advantages. With the rebates available under the Inflation Reduction Act, you can save money while investing in a high-quality, energy-efficient appliance that will enhance your cooking experience and improve your quality of life.
Learn more on the Carbon Switch website.