Halachic issues with Induction Stovetops

Is there any problem cooking on an induction stove and then placing the pot of food on a hotplate for shabbos- in other words is induction cooking considered cooking halachically? Are there other halachic considerations I should know about before buying an induction stove?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Induction cooking is essentially a way of cooking without heat (Microwave cooking is a similar idea but beyond the scope of this write up). Instead of heat there is an electro-magnetic energy that flows through the coil of the stove top.

If one were to touch the stove top one would feel nothing. However, when placing an iron skillet on the stove top and the electro-magnetic field of energy transfers heat directly into the pan. If one were to lift the skillet of the stove top the magnetic “circuit” would be broken and heat would cease being generated.

Some of the halachic ramification of this form of cooking include:

1. A spill onto the ceramic stovetop surface would have the status of “irui kli rishon” – a spill from a hot pot. This actually emerges as a leniency which could allow the koshering of the area around the cooking coils in certain circumstances. In a regular stove, where the entire stove top surface is hot, spills would have a status of “Kli Rishon” making kashering the area more intense.

2. The coils themselves could not be koshered for Pesach.

3. There would be no way to use the induction stove top on Shabbat or Yom Tov because could can only begin once the pot is placed on the cooking (magnetic) surface. Doing so (causing cooking to start and stop) is forbidden on both Shabbat and Yom Tov. However, one could leave the pot on the stove (as long as the food is fully cooked) from before Shabbat and have it go off with a timer, one could then remove the pot from the stove.

4. There is, however, a new halachically approved mechanism called the "induction cooktop adapter" which is a magnetic metal surface which is placed on the stovetop which will cause the stove to be activated and hot the entire Yom Tov.

5. There is no issue whatsoever interchanging the cooking areas for meat or dairy, as long as the stove is clean and dry.

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