Induction stoves get hot but not on their entire surface. These cooktops will get hot only where you will put your cookware. The fact that these stoves will get hot only in the hob area where you place your pan or pot, makes them much safer than other stoves.
The surface of the induction cooktop can get hot to the touch due to the heat from the cookware. Since the cookware sits on the cooktop, a small portion of the heat generated gets absorbed by the glass surface of the cooktop making it slightly hot to the touch. But since glass is a bad conductor the heat will dissipate quickly once the pot is removed.
It is important to note that your cooktop will not generate any heat by itself. It only does that when you use it along with the compatible induction cookware. So, unless you turn the induction on and place the cookware on the hob, you will not get any heat. Your induction stove will induce the heat into the cookware. If you put a napkin or a sheet of paper between your pan and the cooktop surface, while the induction is turned on, the paper will not catch on fire or get burned in any way.
When you take the cookware off the stove, the heating circuit stops. But that doesn’t mean that the surface of your induction hob will get cold instantly. It can take a few seconds until the heat disappears entirely.
How induction stoves produce heat
Induction cooktops create heat through a magnetic field and a wire coil. The electrons in the cookware that is made especially for these stoves, create friction, under the electromagnetic stimulation of the stove, generating the heat you need to cook your dishes.
So, the main difference between a gas stove or an electric stove and an induction one is that the induction cooktop will generate heat outside of it while the other stove types are made to generate heat energy inside of them. You can think of induction stoves as using the cookware as a heat source that the stove simply activates once they get in contact with it.
As you turn your induction stove on, the electromagnetic field starts running through the copper coil, which is also known as the heating element of the stove. When you place your induction pan on the hob, this electromagnetic field will put the electrons in the cookware into action. Therefore, the great advantage of this type of stove is that it will not get hot unless you put the induction cookware on it.
What to do if your cooktop is hot
The heat that is transferred on the surface of your cooktop from the cookware you use to prepare your meal is called residual transient heat. This is the heat that will last for a few more seconds on the stovetop.
So, it is recommended not to put your hand on the induction hob as soon as you remove the cookware. Even if you can’t get burned or severely injured since there is no direct flame, you would still take a risk of discomfort due to the residual heat.
Also, when your induction stove is on, and the cookware is on top of the hub, make sure to not put your hand at the bottom of the pot or pan since this area will be particularly hot. This is most important for children and pets so keep an eye on them if they are around you in the kitchen while you are cooking.
You will notice that most induction stoves come with a button that lets you know if the residual transient heat is still active or if it dissipated. So, you will not be left guessing if your stove is hot. When the button or LED is off, you know that it is safe to touch the surface of the cooktop without burning yourself.
When you see the heart button on, you can still use this to your advantage. Residual transient heat is great for keeping your food warm or melting different ingredients at a lower heat than you would use when you would be cooking them.
Make sure to teach your children the meaning of the heat button so they know what to look for before they touch the induction cooktop. Even if they can’t burn themselves, there is still a risk of harm if they touch a hot induction stove, especially for the delicate, young hands.
Final thoughts
Induction cooktops are considered the safest ones on the market, due to the technology they use, and they are ideal for a house with young children and nosy pets. They create a risk-free cooking environment without compromising on the quality of the food, and their maintenance is as minimal as it can get. Keeping your cooktop clean and only using it according to the instructions it came with, are two major maintenance tasks that you have to keep in mind.
A hot cooktop will not be one of your concerns since your stove will not generate any heat without the cookware. Check the residual transient heat button before you touch the stove and make the most out of this extra heat while it is on, so you don’t waste any energy during your cooking.
