We bought a Morphy Richards Chef Xpress200 Induction cooker about three weeks back. Since I have only one gas cylinder I thought it would help me tide over the 2 to 7 days gap between ordering and receiving the LPG refill.
Unfortunately I have been quite disappointed with it-the induction cooker, not the brand.
The disadvantages are firstly, I need specific type of utensils to use with it-only iron or stainless steel with a flat bottom and a minimum specific diameter. I cannot use my regular Aluminium cooker(wrong material) and my concaved chapati tava(contact surface with surface not enough) wasn’t as effective either. My cooking was therefore limited by the availability of suitable utensils.
Secondly, making voggaraney/tadka is difficult because the oil heats too fast. Also, lowest heat is "keep warm" and the next is 100 degrees and higher.I need more options between the lowest and next.
Thirdly, cooking dal or rice directly is difficult because it tends to froth and boil over very frequently because of the heat which seems to come in waves. I need to be constantly in front of the cooktop to avoid spillage and manage the heat and this is quite frustrating. Fourthly, utensils tend to slide around on the cooking surface even with the slightest movement for eg-if I stir the food.
The positives are-It is neat looking, compact and heats really fast.
It is good probably for someone who doesnt cook much at home and needs it only for basic heating or boiling milk, making tea etc.
Essentially I found it inadequate as a substitute for the LPG even as a stop gap arrangement.(in fact I am back to using a borrowed Kabsons LPG stove). The induction cooker is marginally more useful than a microwave but with more limitations than even the humble electric stove.Not recommended.