Try a Portable Induction Cooktop
Did you know that cooking with natural gas not only creates carbon emissions, but also affects our health? Cooking with a portable induction cooktop or instant pot is an easy, low-cost way to cook without gas or just save money and time over an electric stove top. It’s better for you and better for our environment!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
The best part is, if you have a natural gas cooktop now, trying a portable induction cooktop will make a big difference for your health and on carbon emissions. When natural gas stoves burn, they not only create carbon emissions; they also release particles into the air that can cause asthma and other health problems. Cooking with induction can help you get rid of this indoor air pollution and breathe easy while you cook your favorite meals.
If you’re not ready to replace your whole stove, a portable, single-burner induction cooktop is a great option! Just find a spot for it on the counter, plug it into the wall and start cooking. Another option to skip the gas stove and save money is a programmable pressure cooker, often called an Instant Pot.
These options are super affordable - you can buy a single-burner induction cooktop or Instant Pot for $40 - $70! You’ll help reduce carbon emissions and create a healthier home!
1Choose your Induction Cooktop
Know what size is right for you. Induction cooktops come in a variety of sizes and power levels. Larger cooktops are usually more powerful and heat your pan more evenly. That’s helpful if you want to cook a full meal, but for things like boiling water, smaller models work just fine.
Keep the controls simple. Because induction cooktops don’t have flames, you can’t just eyeball the temperature. Instead you’ll have to rely on the cooktop’s controls, so make sure you choose a user-friendly model.
Take advantage of safety features. Induction cooktops are incredibly safe - perfect for cooking with kids and older adults! An induction cooktop won’t turn on unless there’s a pan on it, and will turn off once the pan is removed. Some models come with additional safety features, like timed auto-shutoffs and small object detection.
2Go Instant Pot
Instant pots save time, energy, and money. If you use them instead of a gas stove or oven, they also improve your health and lower carbon emissions!
If you already have a rice cooker or pressure cooker, you’re good to go! Just pull it out and try some new recipes.
3Tips for using your Induction Cooktop & Instant Pot
Induction Cooktop tips:
- Make sure you have the right cookware. Induction cooktops work with most cookware, and will heat anything that’s made of iron or magnetic steel. Luckily, these are common materials - you probably have at least a few pans that will work! You can easily test your cookware with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom of your pan, the induction currents will be able to heat it.
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Use it for simple meals. A single-burner cooktop comes in really handy for quick tasks like boiling water or heating up a one-pan meal. Try it out and see what it can do!
Instant Pot tips:
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Get creative! Multi-cookers are so versatile, you will be surprised at how much they can do! And how much time you will save… Check online for recipes and get creative!
Enjoy cleaner air and savings! Remember, gas cooking creates air pollution inside your home. If you have a gas stove top, by using an induction cooktop or Instant Pot you’ll be breathing free and easy - and lowering carbon emissions, too! You will also save time and money over electric stovetops.
Extra credit: Next time you upgrade your stove, upgrade to an induction range! Check out our Upgrade your Oven/Stove Action for more info.