Discussion
Took me a couple weeks but I think I'm getting the hang of induction and doing everything on stainless steel. They were right--it really is faster and more precise than gas. I'm working on preheating my pans and have switched out to higher smoke point oils, and I can get pancakes and omelettes to slide right off now.
Still getting the hang of temperature levels--turns out a lot of my intuition was based on looking at the flame. Gotta keep practicing.
@aphyr 🤤
Perfection
@aphyr Glad I'm not alone in learning this change... I used to judge heat level by listening to the gas flame and now there is no sound at all.
@kevin yeah that is weird. OTOH they are temperature-sensing burners I think, and I'm realizing I can tell when they're at a stable temp because of the subtle on/off coil whine the burners make.
@aphyr Yep. Some of our clad cookware buzzes a bit too, but the cast iron stuff does not make any noise at all.
@kevin Oh man, I bought a ScanPan from the local cookware shop and while it seemed well made, it sang/vibrated so badly it started moving across the cooktop, even with water in it. The cast iron is basically silent. I wound up with heavy Demeyere pots/pans which are pretty darn quiet--a little buzzing sometimes but nothing major.
@aphyr Awesome! I think the sound of the metal hitting glass would be the biggest hurdle for me.
That and my cast iron skillets.
@biscuit_pup I'm using my cast iron still but the steel is definitely my focus. I did the math and realized I could splurge on pans, and they are.... Very nice
@aphyr did you have to give up cast iron? if so, how do you feel about that?
@wohali I still have an enameled cast iron pan, and a cast iron griddle. They both work, but I really notice the temperature differential--the steel/aluminum clad pans have nice even heat all the way across and up the sides, whereas the cast iron has a definite hot "ring", and the middle of the griddle is basically useless, even 30 minutes into cooking.
@aphyr Thanks, that's what I'd heard about the heating profile for cast iron, and I think is why most people abandon them with the switch, not because you can't, but because steel/aluminum just functions better in the environment.
Thanks!
@wohali Yeah. I like my cast iron aesthetically but it is SUCH a tank. I'm always worried about chipping the sink/stove.
Also for the first time in my life I am a Clean Stove person???? I *hated* cleaning the gas burners, and my stove always looked like a disaster.