Cooks have enjoyed using gas stoves for a long time, but unfortunately gas stoves emit methane gas even when they are shut off — three-quarters of emissions occur when devices are shut off according to a recent study. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas. Emissions from gas stoves across the United States have the same effect in heating the planet as approximately half a million gas-powered cars over a 20-year period.
Converting from gas to an electric stove is a great step towards protecting the climate. In Alameda, 100% of our electricity comes from renewable sources — no coal or gas-fired plants — so converting to electric devices protects the climate.
Electric induction cooktops are all the rage now. How do they work? Induction cooktops generate heat through magnetic energy. An electric current flows through a copper coil underneath the glass or ceramic top, which produces a magnetic field when you turn it on. The electrons in the metal cookware then respond to the magnetic field, causing the molecules in the cookware to vibrate and heat the cookware very quickly. To use an induction cooktop, your cookware must be made from magnetic metal — aluminum and copper pots and pans will not work.
What is it like to cook with an induction stovetop? Greg and Angie Klein invited me to their kitchen to check out their induction stovetop. They purchased their GE Profile induction stovetop and electric oven primarily for climate protection reasons as part of their efforts to convert to all electric appliances. The secondary reason they made the switch was frustration with the lighting mechanism of their gas stove.
Now that they’ve been using induction cooking, they love it! It heats up very quickly. It only took a little under two minutes to heat a quart-size pan of water to a rolling boil. The smooth surface is super easy to clean and can function as additional counter space when not in use. They also enjoy fine-tuning heating control. They pointed out that pots must have a flat bottom. Fortunately, flat-bottom woks are also available for purchase.
Now that they have converted all of their appliances to electric — except for their hot water heater — their gas bill is no more than $10 per month. They also have gone solar, so their electricity bill is only $40 a month in summer despite charging an electric car and using only electric appliances.
Two-burner portable induction stove tops are available — perfect for apartment dwellers who cannot replace their gas stoves. PG&E customers can request a loaner induction cooktop for a two-week trial period, perfect for checking out this environmentally friendly method of cooking. Our next stove will be induction. How about yours?
Joyce Mercado is an author and member of Community Action for a Sustainable Alameda (CASA). Her columns are collected at alamedapost.com/Joyce-Mercado. She can be reached at [email protected].
