Imagine buying a new cooktop to make everyday cooking easier, only to discover that your favourite pressure cooker does not work on it. Or that the kadhai you use for making your family's favourite dish needs to be replaced.

That is the part of choosing an electric cooktop many people overlook.

When comparing an infrared cooktop vs an induction cooktop, most buyers focus on price, heating speed and power consumption. But there is another important question to consider: will your new cooktop work with the utensils you already own?

Both infrared cooktops and induction cooktops offer a convenient way to cook without an open flame. They have sleek surfaces, compact designs and adjustable heat settings. However, they use different heating technologies, which affects everything from cookware compatibility to cooking speed and safety.

So, which one is better for your kitchen? Is an infrared cooktop worth considering over induction, especially for Indian cooking?

Let's understand the differences, practical benefits, limitations and important factors to consider before making a decision.

What Is an Infrared Cooktop?

An infrared cooktop is an electric cooking appliance that uses a heating element beneath a heat-resistant toughened glass surface to generate radiant heat.

When you switch it on, the heating element becomes hot and transfers heat through the cooking surface to the vessel placed on it. The vessel then heats the ingredients inside it.

Unlike induction cooking, this process does not depend on a magnetic connection between the cooktop and the cookware.

This makes an infrared cooktop a practical choice for households that use different types of kitchen utensils.

How Does an Infrared Cooktop Work?

The process is simple:

1. You switch on the cooktop and select the desired heat setting.

2. The heating element beneath the glass surface heats up.

3. Heat passes through the cooking zone to the bottom of the vessel.

4. The vessel heats the food, allowing you to cook your meal.

Since the heating element warms the cooking surface, it remains hot even after you switch the appliance off. Allow it to cool before touching or cleaning it.

What Are the Advantages of an Infrared Cooktop?

1. Greater freedom to use your existing cookware

An infrared cooktop works with many flat-bottomed aluminium, stainless-steel, iron, copper, glass and ceramic vessels, provided they are suitable for radiant electric cooking. This means you may not need to replace your existing utensils just to start using an electric cooktop.

2. Convenient for everyday Indian cooking

From aluminium pressure cookers and steel saucepans to tawas and kadhais, Indian kitchens use different types of utensils. An infrared cooktop accommodates a wider range of these vessels, making it a flexible option for everyday cooking.

3. No open flame

Infrared cooktops operate on electricity and do not require an open flame. This can be useful in compact kitchens, rented homes and situations where an additional electric cooking option is needed. However, the cooking surface becomes very hot, so safe handling is essential.

4. A practical alternative for occasional cooking

If you need an additional cooking appliance for a small kitchen, hostel room or rented accommodation, an infrared cooktop offers an electric cooking option without requiring you to purchase an entirely new set of induction-compatible utensils.

What Is an Induction Cooktop?

An induction cooktop is an electric cooking appliance that uses electromagnetic energy to generate heat directly in compatible cookware.

Unlike an infrared cooktop, it does not need to heat the cooking surface first. Instead, an electromagnetic field creates heat in the base of a suitable vessel, which then cooks the food.

This direct heating method is one of the main reasons induction cooktops are known for their speed and energy efficiency.

How Does an Induction Cooktop Work?

Here is how the process works:

1. You switch on the induction cooktop and select a heat setting.

2. The appliance generates an electromagnetic field.

3. When compatible cookware is placed on the cooking zone, heat is generated in its base.

4. The vessel heats the food while the cooktop surface generally remains cooler than an infrared cooking surface.

Induction cooking requires cookware with a magnetic base. If your existing utensils are not compatible, you may need to invest in new vessels.

What Are the Advantages of an Induction Cooktop?

1. Faster heating

Induction cooktops generally heat compatible cookware faster than infrared cooktops. This is useful when boiling water, heating milk or bringing a pressure cooker up to temperature.

2. Better temperature control

Induction cooktops respond quickly when you change the heat setting, making it easier to switch between high-heat cooking and gentle simmering.

3. Better energy efficiency

Induction heats compatible cookware directly, generally losing less heat to the surroundings than radiant electric cooking. This makes it more energy-efficient for comparable cooking tasks.

4. A comparatively cooler cooking surface

The cooking surface does not generate heat in the same way as an infrared cooktop. However, heat can transfer back from the vessel, so the surface may still become hot during or after cooking.

Should You Choose Infrared or Induction?

Ultimately, both infrared cooktops and induction cooktops offer distinct advantages, and the right choice depends on your cooking preferences, cookware compatibility, and everyday kitchen needs.