Frankly speaking, I had no intention to buy an induction base for my kitchen some 2 years back. I always prefer the maximum use of minimum things(as an example, I am still using the lead pencil from my 9th grade.rest you can understand)! But the LPG supply in my area is controlled by some weirdoes; I am completely at their mercy when I need one. That’s why I decided to get an induction base to spare myself from ordering food and eating from cartons!.
Where did I get this product:
I generally buy my electronic goods from Croma outlets as they provide good discounts. This time also it was not an exception, it was Diwali season and we bought this product within a range of Rs.2800 after discount. Obviously they didn’t give any additional cookware with it. I had to buy a separate Prestige cooker and a set of frying pans and Kadai as a start-up kit from Big bazaar, which came at a discounted rate again. So overall it was a win-win situation for me.
Experience with the Base and options available:
First day of using the base was quite confusing. I plugged it to a 16amp socket and it beeped merrily. Oh, good sign, at least the whole thing is not going to blow up( that happened for my microwave a couple of times). I had to go through the manual which gave me a fair idea of what to do. It can be operated manually, I find that quite convenient as adjusting the temperature is in my hand. There are several other options like “Roti/Dosa”, this helps you to make crispy Dosas and roti within minutes. I think the “pressure cook” option is also very good for making items like rajma, chana and lentils as they never get overcooked. “Stir fry” option is suitable for preparing snacks like aloo-tikki, stir fried veggies, etc. “Keep warm” action is especially for slow cooking, it is similar to minimum temperature of gas oven. For frying omelettes and Malabar parathas, once the oil is sprinkled, rest you have to do is the choosing of Keep warm action. There are other options like “Gravy”, “Slow cook”, “Boil”, but I don’t use those much. If one gets confused with so many options, the best is to go manual.
Cookware to use:
I always use Prestige cookware for this induction base, but it also works for flat-bottomed stainless steel vessels and iron cookware. Use of a wooden spatula is always advised for non-stick cookware, but use of steel spoon never caused electric shock, unlike my previous induction oven. Use of aluminium and copper-bottom vessels is not advised for this base.
What it can cook?And How much time does it take?
Well, everything you can think of cooking. I am using it regularly to cook all the meals I have. To toast 4 slices of bread it takes approx. 3 min, for 2 scrambled eggs max. 2-3 minutes(160 degree). For 2 cups of tea, it’s again 3 minutes. It’s the least time consuming. The maximum temperature you can get from it is 2100 degree, but I think 160 degree is my comfort zone! For Indian style tadka, 1 minute is more than enough to season all spices in oil in 100 degree. For making rice for 2, maximum 8-10 minutes is enough, in pressure cooker. The best part of this induction base is, you don’t have to wait for your vessel to warm up. Keep a dry vessel on the base and directly switch it on before pouring food content or oil. Spillage is also very less, unlike the gas ovens. If in any case the food starts getting burnt or the base is overheated, it shuts down itself immediately, with an error message.
Precautions to be taken while using this product:
Oh, don’t take me wrong, I don’t want to scare you! It’s very simple to handle this stuff.The base should not be operated empty; it retains the heat from previous cooking. If you need to remove the pan immediately after cooking, place some water inside the circular panel in a flat bottomed stainless steel bowl. That way you can avoid the charring of the glass top and get some warm water as additional bonus for your wit! As the base catches the heat very fast, it’s wise to arrange all necessary items for cooking before getting started. Cleaning of the base is also very easy, but always do it after 1 hr of cooking when the base is in room temperature. I use Cif cleaning liquid and normal water with a wet sponge. It’s better to avoid dishwasher bars and scotch bright as those can scratch the glass panel. The most important thing is, always place the cookware inside the mentioned circles to avoid burns and inappropriate heating. If used carefully, this product can be a great time saver. The electric consumption is also within the limit if you use it effectively(less than AC/Heater usage).
So, you can try this induction base this Diwali, for making some mouth-watering recipes, as I am doing. Happy Thoughtful cooking!