Why induction makes sense

Induction cooktops are the most energy efficient option on the market, as well as the safest, healthiest and fastest tech available for cooking. 

If you’re looking to spruce up your kitchen, your current cooktop is at the end of its life, or your gas cooker is the last remaining gas appliance in your home — an induction hob should be something you look at.

Considering a switch? Know your numbers

  • Upfront costs

    Around $2,980 including purchase price and installation.

  • Savings

    An induction cooktop could save the average household $17 per year*
     
    Find out how much your household could save 

  • Efficiency

    Electric cooking uses half as much energy as cooking with gas.**

  • Features

    • Low emissions
    • Low running costs
    • Fast heating
    • Safer

  • Lifespan of tech

    15 years

  • Install

    Should be installed by a professional.

    Get more installation information

Why choose an induction cooktop

The most common electric cooktops on the market are induction cooktops, or ceramic electric resistance cooktops. Both options offer many benefits over gas cooktops — and an induction cooktop has some advantages over ceramic.

  • Safer — Induction cooktops are by far the safest option. Instead of producing heat with an open flame or element, they work using electromagnetic energy — lowering the risk of burns by keeping the surface cool.
  • Easier to clean — The flat surface means spills are easily cleaned, and don’t get baked onto surfaces.
  • Faster — Studies have shown that induction cooktops can boil water 20-40% faster than electric resistance or gas cooktops.***
  • More control — Induction cooktops are highly responsive — and just might make you a better cook. They are the masters of changing temperature quickly, offering gentle heat or rapid boiling when you need it. 
  • More efficient — An induction cook top uses less electricity than a ceramic cooktop, and less than half the energy of gas or LPG, as it only uses electricity to heat the cookware directly, rather than via an element or open flame. Most can switch off automatically when not in use, saving you even more energy.
  • Lower emissions — Induction cooktops are powered by New Zealand’s highly renewable electricity grid, meaning very little carbon dioxide is emitted to power them. They can save around 2,000 kg of emissions over 15 years, when compared to gas or LPG.**

How induction cooktops work

Induction cooktops look similar to ceramic electric resistance cooktops, but work in an entirely different way — heating your pots through electromagnetic energy.

  • Electric resistance cooktops heat your pots and pans ‘indirectly’, using a burner or element to transfer (or conduct) heat energy to the pots and pans on top.
  • Induction cooktops produce an electro-magnetic field that heats up the pot or pan — essentially turning it into an element itself. This method means that you can heat your cookware almost immediately — with water reaching boiling point around 20-40% faster than with gas.***

How much could you save?

30 seconds

Use our calculator to see how much an induction cooktop could save you.

Efficiency matters

Electric cooktops (including induction and traditional ceramic) are typically twice as efficient as gas or LPG options. This means that less energy is needed to achieve the same amount of heat in your pan — which saves money, reduces emissions and helps our national electricity supply go further.

Gas or LPG burners usually have an efficiency of around 30% — so only 30% of the energy is converted into heat.

In comparison, traditional electric cooktops have an efficiency of about 70%-80%. It is far more efficient to heat cookware directly instead of indirectly, so electric induction cooktops have an impressive efficiency of around 80%-90%.**

Common questions

  • Installing an induction cooktop

    Induction cooktops require a higher current than other electric cooktops, so even if you’re replacing an existing electric cooktop you will likely need some electrical work done. Different models have different electrical requirements, so check with an electrician before purchasing a cooktop.

  • Finding a licensed installer

    It’s essential to get your induction cooktop installed by a qualified electrician.

Switch on energy efficiency

Powering your home with efficient appliances could save you thousands in energy costs.

Use our calculator to work out which appliances offer the best long-term savings for your home.

Even if you’re not planning on upgrades any time soon, it can be helpful to think ahead and have an energy plan for your home. 

Read next

View all stories