Households across the UK with an induction hob in their kitchen are being urged to spend 25p now to make an important check. For most households, an induction hob is an appliance that is used day in and day out, often several times per day depending on what you’re cooking, but what you may not realise is that not all cooking pans are compatible.
Induction hobs work by generating a magnetic field under the glass surface, which creates an electrical current inside your pots and pans, causing them to heat up. But this only works if pans have a magnetic base, with the likes of cast iron, carbon steel and certain types of stainless steel all being compatible, so if you’re using the wrong type of pan, it won’t heat up efficiently.
This not only impacts your cooking, but it can also shorten the lifespan of your cookware. But luckily, there is a very cheap and easy way to check the compatibility of your cooking pans with your induction hob, and it simply requires spending 25p on a refrigerator magnet.
According to Miele kitchen appliance expert Ryan Adams, director of Ati Harrogate, a refrigerator magnet needs to be able to firmly stick to the bottom of your pan and if it does so, this indicates it’s compatible with induction hobs.
However, if the magnet doesn’t fully grip and easily slides off, it means the pan is likely not compatible and won’t heat up properly on your hob.
He explains: “To test if your cookware is suitable, use a refrigerator magnet. If it sticks firmly to the bottom of the pan, it’s likely induction-compatible. However, if the magnet slides off easily, the pan may not have strong enough magnetic properties for efficient heating.
“Pans made from cast iron, steel, or some types of stainless steel are usually compatible, but materials like aluminium, glass, or ceramic will not work. When shopping for new cookware, bring a magnet to double-check the compatibility before buying.
“Using the wrong pans on an induction cooktop can leave you frustrated, as incompatible cookware won’t heat up. Cast iron and stainless steel pans are great options, but using very high heat can damage their surfaces, wearing down non-stick coatings or causing discolouration on stainless steel.”
UK households are already being urged to make the switch from gas hobs to electric ahead of a potential sales ban to help meet net-zero targets, as induction hobs are more efficient.
But if you’re using an induction hob and your pans aren’t compatible, then it will impact your ability to cook efficiently, wasting both energy, money and time, so it’s important to do this quick 25p test as soon as possible.
Mr Adams adds: “If you use pans that are too small for the cooking zone, the cooktop may not detect them at all, wasting energy and time.
“Cheaper cookware can warp under high heat, leading to uneven cooking, and may even need replacement sooner, increasing your long-term costs. Investing in durable, induction-compatible cookware allows better performance and saves you money over time.”