How To Use Non Induction Cookware On Induction Cooktop

Justin Micheal

Food Writer & Editor in Chief For KitchenSanity

Justin Micheal is KitchenSanity's founder, food writer and editor in chief. As an expert home cook with over 30 years of daily cooking experience and food handler certifications, he's a pro at experimenting with recipes and a stickler for food safety. He writes informative and detailed guides about cooking basics such as proper food storage, cutting and cooking methods, and choosing the right products to make cooking easier.

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Induction stoves are known for their energy efficiency. They cook food faster with more heat consistency and less heat loss. Even with their benefits, you may be stressed over finding compatible cookware for your induction stove.

Is it possible to turn regular non-induction ready cookware into induction-ready cookware for your cooktop?

With a simple device known as an induction interface disk, or induction heat diffuser, you may not need to purchase new induction cookware. Read on to learn how to use non-induction cookware on an induction cooktop.

Can You Use Regular Pans On Induction Cooktop?

It’s essential to know how induction stoves work before trying to use regular non-magnetic cookware. Unlike gas, electric, and other types of stoves, induction stoves use an electro-magnetic field.

Induction stoves directly send current to magnetic cookware, not the actual stovetop.

Because of this advanced technology, the cookware heats up instantly. So, maybe you’re starting to get the picture in your mind of what might happen if you use everyday pots and pans.

Even though there is a transfer of heat, if the cookware isn’t magnetic, you can expect to be waiting all day for your cookware to heat up.

In essence, you could use non-induction cookware on induction cooktops, but don’t expect to accomplish much of anything compared to cast iron or stainless steel induction cookware.

There’s always a chance that your cookware will indeed work. You could use a magnet to test out your cookware’s compatibility. Place a magnet to the flat bottom of your cookware. If it sticks, chances are it would work well with an induction stove.

SEE ALSO: How To Tell If Cookware Is Induction Ready

How Do I Make My Cookware Induction Compatible?

Fortunately, an induction converter disk makes life a little easier to use non-induction cookware. These discs are made from magnetic materials and can be placed on your stove’s surface.

Because their magnetism attracts heat, your non-induction cookware can then heat up by being placed on top of the disc.

Our Favorite Induction Converter Disk:

This heat converter disk will handle most cookware on an induction stove. It’s important to note that if your cookware has an uneven bottom, it will not heat well with this flat bottom design.

We like the handle design because of its angle, which allows it to peek over most induction cooktops’ lip. However, the plastic handle is not the most comfortable thing to use. You shouldn’t try to move it while it’s hot or when a pot or pan is in use.

Overall, the converter works best with an induction stove as advertised, has excellent reviews, and the price may be worth it compared to buying a completely new cookware set.

Steps To Using An Induction Converter Disk

Using an induction diffuser or interface disk is quite simple. It just takes some patience.

  1. Step 1: Place the disc on the stove eye of your choice. Make sure it covers all, if not most, of the stove eye’s surface area. Instantly, you should hear what usually is a buzzing sound. While you may not feel any heat emanating from the disc on the stove, it is hot, so do not touch it.
  2. Step 2: Place your non-induction cookware directly on top of the disc. It will take some time for the current to transfer from the disc to your cookware, so be prepared to wait a few extra minutes to reach your desired temperature.
  3. Step 3: Cook as usual. You can cover your pot or pan to use even less energy and increase the time it takes to heat your food.
  4. Step 4: If your diffuser comes with a heat-proof handle, carefully remove it from the stovetop when your cooking is complete. Some diffusers do not come with a handle, so wait until it’s cool to remove it. An infrared thermometer may come in handy by helping you determine the temperature of the plate.

Problems With Using Induction Converter Disk

While you will be able to cook using non-induction with a disc, but it’s not without some downsides. A few issues, such as:

  • Heating time for induction cooking
  • Weight on your induction cooktop
  • Possible damage to your induction cooktop

We are hoping that somebody can improve induction discs in the near future.

Damage To Induction Cooktop

Some diffusers do not sit flat and contain support knobs at the bottom. Unfortunately, these do not work well with heavier cookware used on induction, since the pressure from the cookware on these types of diffusers can lead to scratches on the cooktop.

Furthermore, some discs are made of lower quality materials, which may blister, change color, and may cause damage to your stovetop.

Some discs can become so hot that they can damage your stovetop.

For the best cooking experience, try to find a completely flat converter disc that is made from high-quality materials.

Heating Time For Induction Cooking

While cooking with induction compatible cookware is easy and fast, using an induction disc is only the next best thing. This is because the disc isn’t actually attached to your cookware, leaving plenty of air pockets, increasing heating time.

One study found that it takes more than twice as much time for water in regular cookware used with a diffuser to heat up compared to water using induction cookware.

While the induction disc may be quite hot, much of that heat isn’t being transferred to your cookware. Therefore, it goes into the air of your home. Of course, this could be a good thing during the winter months.

Weight On Your Induction Cooktop

Because of the heavy metals that they are made of, diffusers can be quite heavy. This weight can make cooking less fun and more of a duty. What’s worse is the weight putting too much pressure on your induction cooktop. Over time, this can lead to visible damage such as scuffs and scratches.

Some users have even reported error messages on their induction stoves.

What If Your Converter Disk Doesn’t Work On Induction?

Sometimes we experience diffusers that either don’t work at all or have too many downsides to use. If all else fails, you might want to consider purchasing induction cookware. The above negative aspects don’t usually accompany compatible cookware.

Final Thoughts – Converter Disk Is The Answer

You could run out and purchase new cookware for induction, which could get expensive. However, it might be better to convert the cookware you already have for induction cooking.

There’s no doubt that induction cookware is the best cookware to use on induction cooktops. However, for various reasons, we may choose to use an induction converter disc.

A converter disc can save money and prevent the hassle of shopping for new cookware. Furthermore, it’s straightforward to use. However, this quick fix isn’t without its cons. Be sure to weigh your options first.

Written By Justin Micheal

Justin Micheal is KitchenSanity's founder, food writer and editor in chief. As an expert home cook with over 30 years of daily cooking experience and food handler certifications, he's a pro at experimenting with recipes and a stickler for food safety. He writes informative and detailed guides about cooking basics such as proper food storage, cutting and cooking methods, and choosing the right products to make cooking easier.

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