While cooking uses relatively little energy in your home, gas stoves are a large source of indoor air pollution. Recently published studies link gas stoves to asthma (especially in children) and lung disease. 

Electric vs induction cooktops

There are two options on the market that won’t burn fossil fuels when you cook: electric and induction cooktops.

Electric cooktops have been around for decades. They work by heating a coil that then heats your cookware. 

Induction cooktops, on the other hand, transfer energy directly to cookware through a magnetic field. They heat up very fast and give you precise control. Also, because the cooking surface itself doesn’t get hot, there is no risk of burns. They’re also a lot easier to clean because of their smooth surface.

Installing in your home

If you already have a 220V outlet in your kitchen, all you’ll need to do is plug in your new appliance. 

If not, then depending on the capacity and remaining space of your electrical panel, you may need to have an electrician add or reconfigure circuits on your panel and add a 220V outlet for the stove to plug into (learn more).

Testing out induction

If you’re not sure whether you’re ready to go all-in on induction, you can get a portable induction cooktop for $50 – $150 and test it out. See Wirecutter’s review of best portable induction cooktops.