What Makes a Tea Kettle Induction Compatible?
If you’re in the market for a new tea kettle and have an induction cooker at home, remember that induction hobs are not compatible with just any tea kettle. Induction stoves have many advantages but require cooking vessels that are optimized for induction cooktops.
There are two main requirements that need to be met in order to use a tea kettle on an induction stove.
1. The base must be made of magnetic material: Induction-compatible kettles are made of magnetic grade steel, enameled steel, or have a multiple-layered bottom that includes a ferromagnetic layer. Magnetic materials attract the magnet and support the magnetic field that heats the water in the kettle.
Tea kettles made of glass, ceramic, aluminum, or copper will not work with induction cooktops unless they have a layer of magnetic metal on the bottom.
2. Appropriate bottom diameter and shape: The tea kettle should have a bottom that matches the induction cooking zone. A smaller bottom diameter than the surface cooking area results in slower water heating.
The bottom also must be perfectly flat and smooth, so that it rests on the cooking surface without any interruption. Uneven bottom results in slow heating and the kettle can vibrate and make more noise than it normally would.
How to Know if Your Tea Kettle is Induction-Ready
To find out if your tea kettle is optimized for induction cooking, read the product description. Another way is to look for an induction compatibility symbol at the bottom or a note on the packaging. Finally, you can do a magnet test by holding a magnet to the bottom. If the magnet sticks to the bottom, your tea kettle is induction-ready.
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Stainless Steel Tea Kettles
Not all stainless steel kettles are induction compatible. Stainless steel is an alloy consisting of several metals. Some metals, such as nickel if present in high concentrations, can block the magnetic field. So, you may use one of the ways we mentioned above to be sure it will work on an induction stove.
Stainless steel tea kettles are a favorite of many tea lovers due to their attractive modern look that matches most kitchen interiors. Plus, they are durable and compatible with all heat sources.
A potential disadvantage of stainless steel is its poor thermal conductivity. That is why quality tea kettles have a bottom made of a combination of steel and aluminum, where the aluminum core is sandwiched between layers of steel. Such a multi-clad kettle is induction-ready and can save energy and time.
Stainless steel tea kettles are dishwasher safe but also easy to wash by hand. Simply rinsing your kettle after every use is enough to get it ready for another brewing session.
Are Tea Kettles Made of Cast Iron Induction- Compatible?
Most cast iron tea kettles on the market are highly attractive and can add an antique look to your kitchen. Most of those decorative kettles have an enamel lining inside for easy maintenance.
Cast iron kettles, could theoretically work on an induction cooker because iron is a magnetic material. However, there are two reasons why it is not recommended to use cast iron teapots on an induction stove:
1. Cast iron pieces are very heavy and can damage the glass surface if you don’t handle them gently.
2. The bottom of the cast-iron kettle is not smooth enough to fully adhere to the glass surface. Any warping of the bottom causes a magnetic field to drop. There is also an increased possibility of scratching the glass if you move the kettle. If you decide to use a cast-iron kettle on an induction stove, it is necessary to carefully put it onto the glass and avoid any sliding.
Although cast iron doesn’t spread the heat quickly and evenly cast-iron kettles can be a good choice for standard gas or electric cooking surfaces. However, if you want to take good care of your induction cooktop, a cast-iron kettle is not the best choice.
Enamel Tea Kettles
Enamel tea kettles have a carbon steel core with a porcelain or ceramic coating. They are suitable for use on almost all heat sources (not for gas stovetops), including the induction stove. Their smooth bottom fully adheres to the cooking surface of your induction hob.
Enamel tea kettles look very attractive and stylish. They come in a variety of colors, with classic and modern shapes, and are beautifully designed. An enamel kettle will add bright colors to your kitchen ambiance.
Enamel tea kettles are resistant to corrosion and don’t collect mineral deposits. To protect the integrity of the enamel finish, you shouldn’t put them in the dishwasher. Hand washing is recommended and is very simple.
An additional advantage of enamel-coated tea kettles is that the enamel interior is inert and there is no possibility of leaching heavy metals into the boiling water as long as the enamel interior coating is undamaged.
Tea Kettles with Encapsulated Bottom
The induction-compatible tea kettles can be more efficient and energy-saving than ordinary kettles, but tea kettles with encapsulated bases go even beyond that.
The base of these tea kettles is multi-layered. It contains ferromagnetic metal on the exterior side of the bottom, while the interior is made of an inert material, usually stainless steel that won’t leach into hot water or alter flavors. The aluminum or copper core is sandwiched between stainless steel layers to maximize heat conduction and reduce heating time. Magnetic-grade stainless steel ensures compatibility with induction cooktops. A tri-ply bottom also helps to maintain the temperature of water or tea for longer.
