Cooking using an induction cooker is more like using a gas or a stove, the main difference is that, unlike an ordinary gas or stove, heat is not generated by the familiar blue flames of burning gas.
This is an amazing heat-free cooking technology that relies on magnets of both the stove-top as well as the pan to do the cooking.
When using induction technology, the base of the cooking pan becomes the ‘cooker’ which subsequently cooks the food.
The hob of the induction cooktop does not generate heat by itself.
The hob is a strong and powerful magnet and when it comes into contact with an iron pot, this combination creates a magnetic field that generates heat inside the pot.
Heat cannot be generated when the pan is removed from the induction cooktop, as the magnetic field between the pot and the induction cooktop would have been broken.
Using an induction cooker would be the best bet for your kitchen as it has certain advantages that distinguish it from other ordinary cookers.
For instance, an induction cooker is highly efficient and uses significantly less energy compared to other cooking types.
This is because energy is generated from the pan rather than the gas burner. This ensures that the energy goes directly into the cooking pot.
Some estimates point that more than 90% of the energy generated goes straight into the pan.
Induction knobs are highly responsive which means the electromagnetic currents can be easily controlled, subsequently meaning precise control over temperature settings.
Furthermore, heat from the pan is instant, which translates into faster heating of the pot and the food inside it.
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How to Clean an Induction Cooker.
It is clearly evident that induction cooktops have revolutionized the cooking experience.
This is why proper cleaning and maintenance of the cooktop is important so as to continue enjoying its many benefits.
Many people consider cleaning induction cooktops much simpler and easier as compared to ordinary cookers, mainly because of less spillage of food and liquids.
As seen above, only the cooking pot is heated any food spillover from the pot is not heated. The spillover would have otherwise made it more difficult to clean.
Due to the glass-ceramic top of the cooktops, it is important to clean induction cooktops more regularly for the best results.
It is important to note that different parts of induction cooktops have different cleaning methods, and regular normal cleaning vs. heavy cleaning of induction cooktops differs.
You should also be able to identify the best cleaning materials and detergents depending on the surface and area you intend to clean.
If you are cleaning the glass-ceramic surface, you should consider using a soft cloth together with glass-ceramic cooktops creams to clean the surface.
Most of these creams are locally available in many retail and online stores. As you clean the glass-ceramic surface, please note that glass surfaces are prone to scratches and abrasions and therefore the material used for cleaning should be soft.
If possible, avoid using cleaning materials having ammonia or bleach. Steer away from those in powder form as well as any cleaning agent which is not designed for glass surfaces.
After wiping using the cooktop cream, then use a soft dry towel to wipe the cream off the induction cooktop for a sparkling, shiny and clean surface top.
If the cooktop has some stainless steel components, you should consider using a stainless steel cleaner with a non-abrasive cloth, then using these to wipe these parts dry.
Using stainless steel material for these parts is important as it prevents scratching and abrasion.
Non-abrasive cleaning is necessary with induction cookers. One can use warm soapy water which comes in handy when cleaning the stainless steel surfaces.
Watermarks also stain induction cooktops. For a sparkling cooktop, it is essential to get rid of the hard watermarks and spots on the cooker.
If you are in a location where hard water is used, it often contains minerals that may settle and stick onto the induction cooktop surfaces.
To remove this, you could use white vinegar with a clean soft cloth while applying a suitable cooktop cleaner cream to get the best results which is a shiny surface.
When you want to do a more thorough clean-up of the induction cooktop, you should first allow the induction cooktop to cool before proceeding with any cleaning methods.
For this, you will need materials such as paper towels, soft clean cloths, undiluted white vinegar, a damp sponge, a suitable ceramic glass cooktop cleaner, cleaning pads, as well as cooktop scrapers.
When the cooktop has cooled, add some white vinegar onto a suitable soft cloth while rubbing it onto hard water spots and marks stained on the induction cooktop.
Add some cooktop cleaner cream on areas with hardened residues, while using a scraper to remove the thickened residue layers.
Afterward, you can clean the cooktop surface with a suitable cleaner with a paper towel, while drying off the excess with a dry cloth.
Regular cleaning is much easier and takes less time as compared to heavy thorough cleaning.
It is important to wait until your induction cooktop cools down while using a damp sponge/piece of cloth to wipe away any spillages or baked foods.
Using a suitable cooktop cream cleaner, pour this over your induction cooktop while rubbing gently with a suitable paper towel until the top stays clean.
Thereafter, use a clean and dry cloth to wipe off the cleaning material from the surface of the induction cooktop.
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How to Clean Burnt Induction Cooktop.
Cleaning a burnt induction cooktop is considerably harder than that of a conventional one, due to the hardened residues and baked spillovers of food.
The first consideration in cleaning a burnt induction cooktop is to prevent scratches and abrasions. All this should be done while maintaining the efficiency of the cooker.
For this, you will need some baking soda, clean soft cloths, a razor blade or scrapping blade, some mild soapy water, lemon juice, some spoons as well as a suitable cleaning agent.
Before cleaning, you should ensure the induction cooktop is cool enough before doing anything. Using a hot cooktop is not only dangerous for you; it can also damage your cooktop.
If the burnt residue is too thick, you should start by scraping away these parts using a spoon or a razor blade. If you find it too difficult, then staining these parts with some olive oil for a few minutes will help loosen and lubricate the residue.
- Once the majority of the residue is gone, mix baking soda with some water in a small dish into a smooth consistent paste.
- Spread this paste over the residues then leave it for some time to spread and dry.
- Alternatively, you can also pour some lemon water over the toughened stains as this could help release the tougher stains.
- Gently scrub these areas with some soft clean cloths, while avoiding abrasive materials which could damage ceramic glass surfaces.
- Keep doing this until all the burnt residue material is removed.
- When all the burnt food is gone, clean the surface normally using warm soap and water or a good cleaning material.
How to Clean Burnt Plastic from a Glass Top Stove.
Cleaning a glass cooktop is considerably sensitive compared to other parts of the induction cooktop. There is a great risk of scratches and abrasions, which can reduce the functionality and efficiency of the induction cooktop.
In as much as many people may consider this damage irreversible, there are still some methods you can use to remove melted and burnt plastic from the induction cooktop.
For this, you will need to have spoons or a knife, olive oil, acetone nail polish remover, baking soda, soft clean cloths, mild soapy water, and razor blades.
Just like for any other method, you should allow the induction cooktop to cool first before doing any process to it.
Trying to clean a hot cooktop can certainly get you burned. When the plastic has cooled, you can try to remove as much of it as possible while using the spoon to scrape away pieces of plastic that you can. It is important to take care not to scratch glass surface tops while doing this.
Spray the thickened plastic with olive oil, while scrapping gently using a razor blade to peel the plastic off. If possible, maintain the razor blade in a flat position as much as possible while gently shoving it into the plastic.
Keep repeating this process to remove as much plastic as possible and for the remainder, add some nail polish remover to get rid of the last layers of plastic.
Using soft cloths apply acetone nail removers onto the remaining plastic, to maintain the moistness of the surface area while scrubbing.
When all of this is done and the plastic is removed, clean the cooktop area with some mild soapy water to remove any leftover cleaning fluids from the surface cooktop. Doing this will have your induction cooktop clean, sparkling, and seemingly brand new!
Using the right methods, as well as good quality cleaning materials will ensure that the induction cooktop remains clean with minimal effort.
As you clean, make sure to avoid excessive pressure especially when cleaning the glass surfaces. A good induction cooktop is the best for long cooking hours, and therefore keeping them clean will offer you superb experience in the kitchen.