Should youbuy an induction cooktopor a gas cooktop in your kitchen?

Induction cooktops cost more than gas cooktops, but many homeowners find them attractive due to their energy efficiency.

Induction cooktops require special cookware.

Kettle on an induction cooktop

Maurice van der Velden / Getty Images

Learn about induction versus gas cooktops in this comprehensive guide.

A gas cooktop heats the pan directly with a flame.

Though they are electric, induction cooktops heat up faster than conventional electric models.

They even heat up as fast or even faster than natural gas cooktops.

They’re also up to three times more energy efficient than gas cooktops.

The glass cooktop surface can scratch, especially with uncoated metal pans.

At higher temperatures, induction cooktops will emit a low buzz or hum.

Yet gas cooktops do emit harmful indoor pollutants: childhood asthma has been linked to indoor gas cooktop usage.

Some communities have begun to enact bans on natural gas appliances.

Efficiency

Induction cooktops are about three times more energy-efficient thangas cooktops.

From an efficiency standpoint, induction cooktops are a clear winner over gas cooktops.

Gas cooktops are uncomplicated and are simple to operate for most users.

If you already have natural gas installed in your kitchen, a gas cooktop may be a good choice.

Up to 70-percent of the energy in gas cooktops is wasted.

Even so, natural gas tends to be cheaper than electricity.

In terms of operational costs, this could offset the great amount of wasted energy with natural gas cooktops.

Get Federal Tax Savings and Other Rebates for Energy Efficiency Home Upgrades.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

2023; 20(1):75.

Half of US states are on pace to prohibit local gas bans.

S&P Global Market Intelligence.

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Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy.

2021-2022 Residential Induction Cooking Tops.