Besides making sustainable changes in our food choices, what we cook with also matters. Switching from traditional gas cooking method to electric or induction cooker can help improve energy efficiency and safety while reducing the carbon footprint of your kitchen. Here, Planet Ark's Head of Culture and Organisation, Claire Bell, shares her beginner’s journey to help you make the switch.
Induction and electric cooking is about three times more efficient than cooking with gas, emitting fewer emissions and lowering energy bills per meal cooked. This is because electric appliances (especially induction cooktops) convert energy more efficiently into heat than gas stoves, minimising energy waste and promoting environmental health.
For most households, transitioning from gas to electricity for heating, hot water and cooking can lead to great savings. In Melbourne, for instance, households switching to electricity could save up to $13,900 over 10 years. Similar savings can be expected in most parts of Australia except Western Australia, where gas prices are relatively low due to regional market differences.
Beyond financial savings, there are significant health benefits to moving away from gas. Studies have linked gas cooking to childhood asthma for example, making electric options a healthier choice for families.
Getting started
Here is what you will need to kickstart your electric cooking:
Induction plate: You can start with a single induction hob that plugs in and sits on your kitchen counter. We recommend buying second-hand rather than brand new to save some money. Claire purchased one that originally cost $119 for just $50 on Facebook Marketplace, and online marketplaces or local charity shops are good options to get them second-hand.
If you’re looking to go all-out, a four-plate hot induction cooktop option would work well as it can sit on your gas stove without taking up counter space. This can be easily moved with you to a new home, making it renter-friendly.
Cookware: Induction plates require specific cookware that have a magnetic base (ferrous metals like iron or steel) to work effectively with the cooktop. Many cast iron and stainless steel pans work, so if you already own one then you may not need to buy a whole new set of pots and pans. Use a magnet to check if they are compatible - if it sticks to the bottom, your pan is compatible with induction.
Many already have an electric frying pan, an air fryer or an electric oven to complement the induction hot plate. But if you don’t, it may be worth looking into one of those to fully electrify your cooking set up and enjoy the flexibility of cooking alongside other appliances as opposed to using just gas.
To recycle any old (and toxic non-stick) cookware pieces you no longer use, check out the TEFAL recycling program and this list of MYER stores accepting drop-offs.
Results
Through testing, Claire found the new set up to work very effectively, finding:
Induction plates plates heat up instantly and are very efficient
They are easy to clean and can be stored away when not in use
You can still use other electric appliances like air fryers and ovens alongside your induction plate
Having multiple cooking methods allows flexibility in meal preparation
Induction cooktops remain cool to the touch, reducing the risk of burns
No open flames mean a safer kitchen environment
While there are no significant drawbacks, Claire said occasional power outages may affect your induction cooktop (though rare). Keeping a gas stove as a backup can be useful, but it shouldn't deter you from making the switch. It might take some time, money and effort to set up, but once you've put it together, it should sail smoothly from there.
If you’re thinking whether to electrify your kitchen set up and move away from gas, starting with a simple induction hot plate lets you test the waters before committing to the full switch for the rest of your set up.