If you are looking for an induction stove, firstly, you must compare it with your existing gas stove. You should check whether it will benefit you in terms of Cost, Operation, Maintenance, and Safety. Comparison of induction stove vs gas stove is a crucial step before you invest more in buying one.
As the cost of petroleum increases day by day, the price of LPG, Petrol, and Diesel is also increasing. The cost of the LPG cylinder is high and fluctuates.
On the other hand, the cost of electricity is almost steady with varying tariffs from Rs 1.2 to 13 depending upon the slab. Whereas, for domestic usage, the unit rate of electricity usually varies from Rs 1.2 to 6. The power consumption by an Induction cooker depends upon the wattage consumed.
The following comparison table of induction vs gas stoves can surely help you consider various options like safety, operation, cost, and energy efficiency before you make any decision to buy.
Induction Stove vs Gas Stove Comparison
| Features | Induction Stove | Gas Stove |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Efficiency | 80-90% | 40-50% |
| Electricity Requirement | Yes | No |
| Working Principle | Electromagnetism | Combustion |
| Safety | High | Moderate |
| Cooking Environment | Does not heat | Heats up faster |
| Weight and Space Requirement | Low | High |
| Comfortability | High | Low |
| Cookware Compatibility | Needs only ferromagnetic flat-bottom cookware | No such limitations |
| Use of Cooling Fan when Cooking | Can be used | Cannot be used |
| Cleaning and Maintenance | Low | High |
| Harmful Gas Emission | Does not emit harmful gases | Produces Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, Nitric Oxide, and Nitrogen-di-Oxide. |
| Capital Cost | Moderate | High |
| Recurring Cost | Low | Moderate |
| Ease of Use | Medium Difficulty | Very Easy |
| Our Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.2/5 |
Benefits of induction cooktops
Limitations of induction cooker
Our Recommendation for Induction Cooktop
Advantages of Gas Stove
Drawbacks of gas stove
There can be many problems while cooking on a gas stove for a long time. Check for various issues and their solutions for stoves and ovens by The Appliance Doctor who deals with them every day.
Our Recommendation for Gas Stove
Induction Stove Vs Gas Stove – Differences & Similarities
1. Working Principle
An induction stove works on the principle of Electromagnetic Induction. In this process, electricity is converted to heat energy that is used for cooking food.
On the other hand, gas stoves work on the principle of combustion. Here the chemical energy from LPG gas is converted to heat energy after burning.
2. Energy Efficiency
This is one of the most important factors when you compare an induction vs a gas stove. As induction stoves work on the principle of Electromagnetic Induction, it does not work without a flat iron base of the pot.
With electromagnetic induction, the magnetic field of the cooktop induces another magnetic field on the iron base of the cookware. Around 80-90% of energy is effective to induce the magnetic field on the pot. Very minimal energy is lost during the process.
Thus, it increases the energy efficiency of the induction stoves.
The gas stoves heat up the cooking pot with flame generated by burning the LPG gas. Around 40-50% of the energy generated is effective to heat the pot for cooking. Therefore, gas stoves are less efficient than induction stoves in terms of Energy Efficiency.
3. Safety for Cooking
Safety is a very crucial factor when determining the better one between an induction stove and a gas stove.
As induction stoves generate no flame during cooking, it provides you with maximum safety. No fire or burning hazard is there during cooking. However, you should not touch the heated surface of the cooktop just after cooking.
Those who have a pacemaker are not advised to use an induction stove as there might be a magnetic interference that could lead to the malfunction of the pacemaker.
During cooking with a gas stove, there could be a chance for burn or catching fire whether there is a misoperation, unsafe handling, or leakage of LPG from the cylinder, gas pipe, or regulator. Moreover, the cooking environment also gets hot when using a gas stove.
Hence, when safety is concerned, an induction cooktop is recommended over the Gas stove. The best auto-Ignition gas stoves do not require light up manually and can help the user to the largest extent.
4. Weight and Space Requirement
A gas stove has multiple components to install and place in your kitchen. Its main components consist of- an LPG cylinder, regulator, gas pipe, and burner/ oven. Overall it is huge to keep in your kitchen in terms of size, space, and weight.
However, on the contrary, an induction stove is a single component with far less size, space, and weight. All you need is a 2 phase electrical plug point near the place where you want to keep the induction stove.
5. Comfort when Cooking
In the long run, comfort is an essential factor when you select between induction stoves and gas stoves.
For an induction stove, you can get the most comfort when using it. Whereas, cooking with gas stoves is less comfortable as there is a heated environment, more chance for burning and catching fire.
6. Cleaning and Maintenance
While you compare gas vs induction stoves, maintenance is crucial to determining ease of handling. More maintenance means more headaches.
A gas stove is high maintenance prone. Whereas, induction stoves are less maintenance intensive as it has fewer components to maintain.
7. The capital Cost
A gas stove, there are a lot more components when compared to induction stoves. The total cost is significantly higher for a gas stove. But, for an Induction, the price is considerably less.
If the price is concerned, you should go for an induction stove. A good induction stove will cost you between Rs 1500-3000. Whereas, a gas stove with 2 burners will cost you Rs 2000-4000.
8. Recurring Costs for Induction and Gas Stoves
To calculate the recurring cost, let us assume boiling 10 L of water from 25°C to 100°C on an induction cooktop and a gas stove separately.
We know that, Absorbed Energy= Mass x Specific Heat x Change in temperature.
Where,
Mass of 10 L water = 10 Kg
Specific heat of water= 4.18 J/g°C
Change in temperature= 75°C
Therefore, the energy needed to heat water from 25°C to 100°C= (10 x 4.18 x 75) kJ or 3135 kJ.
Whichever source you use (induction or gas stove), it must generate 3135 kJ of energy to heat 10 L water to 100°C.
Induction Stoves
The cost of electricity depends on the slab and the corresponding unit rate. To understand in detail, let us consider that we need to heat up 10 L of water.
For an induction stove, if it runs for 1 hour with the 2000-watt power setting, it will consume approximately 2 kWh of electricity. Considering a medium range of slab with a unit rate of Rs 5/ KWh, it will cost you around Rs 10.
Calculation
Let us assume to use 2000 watts of power on the induction cooktop to boil 10 L of water.
But considering 90% efficiency, effective power= is 1800 watts or 1.8 kW
Approx. time is taken to boil water= 3135/(1.8*60) or 29 minutes.
Electricity consumed= (2*29)/60 = 0.96 kWh or units
If the electricity cost in your area is Rs 5/unit, then,
Cost of boiling 10 L water on induction cooktop= 4.8 INR
Gas Stoves
On the other hand, an LPG cylinder will cost you around Rs 600 if you have a subsidy. If you don’t have a subsidy, it might cost you around Rs 800. You can check the latest price of the LPG cylinder in your city HERE.
Calculation
The calorific value of LPG is around 46 MJ/Kg.
Ideal mass of LPG to be used to boil 10 L water= 3135/46000 = 0.068 Kg
Considering the efficiency of the gas stove to be around 50%, the actual LPG consumption is 0.136 Kg
The price of a 14.2 Kg cylinder varies for different states.
Assuming an average LPG price of Rs 600 (subsidized) and Rs 800 (non-subsidized), we find that,
Cost of boiling 10 L water on the gas stoves (approx.)
- subsidized consumers= 5.74 INR
- non-subsidized consumers= 7.66 INR
NOTE: The calculation is valid on the assumed standard parameters.
Conclusion: Induction vs gas cost
The recurring cost for cooking with an induction cooktop is much lower than cooking with a gas stove. Thus, we can conclude that induction cooking is cheaper than using a gas cylinder. The following table is based on the boiling of 10 L of Water from 25°C to 100°C.
| Parameter | Induction Cooktop | Gas Stove |
|---|---|---|
| Theoretical Energy Consumption | 3744 kJ | 3128 kJ |
| Actual Energy Consumption | 4120 kJ | 6258 kJ |
| Power and Fuel Consumption | 0.96 units of electricity | 0.136 Kg LPG |
| Cost | 4.8 INR | 5.74 INR (subsidized) 7.66 INR (non-subsidized) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Induction cooking is much better than gas cooking in terms of recurring cost, safety, maintenance, space requirement, cooking environment, and ease of maintenance. An induction cooktop is a better alternative than gas stoves today, with fluctuation in LPG price.
Yes, an induction cooktop is cheaper than a gas stove when your concern is both the capital and recurring costs. With a unit rate of Rs 5, you can save Rs 1.92 to boil 10 L water when using an induction cooktop.
Induction cooking is safe for health as there is no naked flame. But if you have a pacemaker, you should not use it as the electromagnetic field might cause a negative effect.
You should use a flat bottom pot made of iron or steel (ferromagnetic) to cook efficiently with an induction cooktop.
Which One Should You Prefer – An Induction or Gas Stove?
From the above calculation and comparison of gas stoves vs induction stoves, it is clear that if your electricity unit rate is around Rs 5/ KWh, induction stoves are very economical compared to gas stoves. However, it might cost you equal to or more than a gas stove for the higher slab.
Considering the above points wisely, you may find that an induction stove is better than a gas stove and electric stove in terms of Energy Efficiency, Safety, Space Requirements, Comfort, Maintenance, and Cost.
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Last update on 2024-07-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API