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    Induction Cooktops and Ranges Are So Good You May Not Miss Your Gas Appliance

    CR’s testing finds induction offers superior performance, with fewer possible health risks, too.

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    Frigidaire Gallery GCRI3058AF induction range with pot boiling pasta water Photo: Frigidaire

    Gas cooktops and ranges have had a rough couple of years. 

    They have been the de facto choice for chefs and serious home cooks for decades. But the recent flurry of reports on the potential health risks of gas cooktops and ranges, including one based on Consumer Reports’ own testing, has caused some consumers to hit pause when shopping for a replacement range. 

    The trend toward electric and induction ranges and cooktops is already gaining steam as more consumers concerned about climate change seek alternatives to gas, and as the stoves become more affordable. The current concerns over health may further curb the popularity of gas ranges.

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently said it’s researching the health risks associated with gas cooktop and range emissions. It will open a public comment period this spring to request information about potential solutions. 

    While some cities have taken steps to limit the installation of new gas stoves, a national ban on gas ranges is not happening—at least not anytime soon, according to the CPSC. But CR’s testing and reporting find that there are already plenty of reasons for consumers to make the switch from gas, even in the absence of a change in the law. 

    More on Induction Cooktops & Ranges

    “In our testing of ranges, we routinely find electric and induction options that are top scorers,” says Tara Casaregola, who oversees CR’s evaluation of cooktops and ranges. “Induction ranges and cooktops in particular often heat the fastest, simmer steadily, and provide quicker temperature changes when you adjust a burner.”

    The numbers don’t lie: 80 percent of the induction ranges currently in our ratings perform well enough for us to recommend them compared with less than half of the gas ranges we’ve evaluated. And all but one induction range gets our top score for high-heat cooking, while not a single gas range earns that rating. 

    While cost was historically a big barrier to induction, prices have come down considerably, with a handful of high-scoring models in our ratings available for $1,500 or less. To sweeten the deal even more, the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act provides credits of up to $840 to offset the cost of new electric or induction ranges and cooktops, making it a good time to make the switch. 

    That’s not to say there are no reasons to go with gas. The visual feedback provided by a flame growing and shrinking as you adjust a burner is valuable when gauging heat. But in terms of sheer performance, it doesn’t necessarily translate to quicker cooking or better results. 

    Induction ranges and cooktops operate when coils beneath the surface of the smooth glass cooktop induce heat within the pans without the need to warm a burner. The result is faster, more efficient heating, without generating any gas-related emissions in your kitchen. 

    Induction works with any magnetic cookware, including cast iron, enameled Dutch ovens, and most stainless steel. (In our cookware ratings, we note whether each model is induction-compatible.) If you’re curious whether your current cookware will work with induction, grab a magnet: If it sticks to your pan, that pan will work on any induction cooktop or range. 

    The Trouble With Gas Cooktops and Ranges

    News about the CPSC’s plans came on the heels of research that quantified the extent to which gas cooktops and ranges can produce nitrogen oxides as byproducts of combustion.

    Previous research performed by CR in 2022 as well as the Rocky Mountain Institute in 2020 recorded levels of nitrogen oxides that exceeded safe limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency for outdoor exposure, as well as indoor limits set by international health organizations. (CR is now conducting a second round of gas range emission testing and expects to release those findings in the coming months.)

    Those results are concerning because nitrogen oxides are a potentially dangerous collection of compounds associated with respiratory illnesses. A December 2022 peer-reviewed study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, for example, linked gas ranges and cooktops to nearly 13 percent of childhood asthma cases in the U.S.

    Will Gas Cooktops and Ranges Be Banned Soon?

    To date, no states have banned the sale of gas cooktops and ranges. But New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have banned gas cooktops or ranges for use in new construction. (Restaurants, bakeries, and laundromats are exempt under the New York City law, as are residential buildings in which at least half of the units are classified as affordable housing.) Dozens of smaller municipalities, many of them in California, have passed similar bans, though in many cases, the specifics aren’t finalized. On the flip side, 20 states have passed preemptive laws, banning individual towns or cities from passing similar ordinances. 

    While growing concerns about the health risks posed by gas cooktops and ranges has prompted the CPSC to research the issue, the agency emphasizes that no national gas cooktop or range ban is imminent.

    “To be clear, I am not looking to ban gas stoves, and the CPSC has no proceeding to do so,” said Alexander Hoehn-Saric, chair of the CPSC, in a statement. The agency has said that plans to start researching the health risks of gas stoves and gathering public comments later this spring are part of a “lengthy process.” 

    William Wallace, CR’s associate director of safety policy, says it’s appropriate for the agency to be thoughtful in its work as it looks into gas stoves. 

    “People expect household products to be safe, and not to put their family’s health at risk,” he says. “It’s the CPSC’s job to make sure companies meet these expectations—by researching potential hazards, collecting information from the public, identifying solutions, and crafting evidence-based rules for the marketplace. All this takes time.”

    Still, Wallace says the agency should respond quickly when new hazards emerge. “Lead paint used to be legal, but now it’s not because the evidence mounted of its harms—especially to children. We’re learning more about health and safety risks all the time, and it’s vital for the CPSC to take action when warranted,” he adds.

    Making the Switch From Gas to Induction

    To learn more about gas alternatives, start with our cooktop and range buying guides. If you’ve already decided to opt for an induction range, the three models below are worth considering. Each offers stellar performance all-around, including rapid heating and steady simmering. 

    @consumerreports When it comes to our tests, induction ranges are tough to beat. See ratings and reviews at CR.org/ranges. #kitchentok #kitchentiktok #cooktop ♬ original sound - Consumer Reports

    Paul Hope

    Paul Hope is a senior multimedia content creator at Consumer Reports and a trained chef. He covers ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens, as well as grills, drills, outdoor power tools, decking, and wood stains. Before joining CR in 2016, he tested kitchen products at Good Housekeeping and covered tools and remodeling for This Old House magazine. You’ll typically find him in his old fixer-upper, engrossed in a DIY project or trying out a new recipe.