Induction Cooktop Loan Program
East Bay Induction Lending Program
Starting February 6th, you can apply for an induction cooking kit with our East Bay Partnership Sites. Acterra is partnering with 6 sites across the East Bay to lend out Induction Cooktops to residents for 14 days.
See what you think of this safer, more efficient technology, reducing your fossil fuel use and avoiding air pollution in the home!
The Induction Lending Kit includes a portable induction cooktop, a compatible pan, cooktop operating instructions, recipes and carrying bag.
Apply Here
East Bay Partnership Sites to Pick Up the Kits
Find the nearest location to pick up your induction cooking kit. Access the full list of addresses here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answering Your Most Common Questions:
A Comprehensive FAQ Guide
Questions:
1) What are the benefits of cooking with induction?
2) Will the induction cooktop trip my circuit breaker?
3) Can I use wok with an induction cooktop?
4) How can I tell if the induction cooktop is “hot”?
5) If I accidentally leave the induction cooktop running, how can I be sure that it won’t burn my house down?
6) There is a buzzing, humming, and/or high-pitched noise coming from the cooktop. Is something wrong?
7) Is it dangerous to wear a ring while using an induction cooktop?
Apply Here
1) What are the benefits of cooking with induction?
Precise temperature control
Go from a rolling boil to a simmer in seconds. Heat transfer stops immediately when you turn the burner off which means less chance of overcooking.
Easy to clean
Induction cooktops rarely get very hot so food doesn’t burn onto them, making them easy to clean!
Safer way to cook, especially around kids and pets
The heat element is never exposed, preventing fire hazards and the risk of burns. Also, it won’t turn on without a pan and features lockable controls.
Energy efficient
Since only the metal of the pan heats up, all the energy goes directly into the cookware. Whereas with electric or gas stovetops, some of the energy spills over, heating the air and the surrounding stove area.
Planet friendly
Induction is the most energy-efficient cooking technology currently on the market. Around 90% of induction heat reaches your food; far exceeding traditional gas or electric resistance heating.
2) Will the induction cooktop trip my circuit breaker?
It is possible that using the induction cooktop will trip your circuit breaker if you use multiple high-power appliances (e.g. microwave and the induction hob) together at the same time.
3) Can I use wok with an induction cooktop?
Yes, as long as the magnet sticks to the wok. Round-surface induction hobs are generally used for round-bottomed woks. Flat bottomed woks can be used with flat-surface induction hobs.
4) How can I tell if the induction cooktop is “hot”?
When you’re cooking on an induction cooktop, only the pot or pan gets hot. If the cookware is not on the induction burner, the surface will not heat up. Most induction cooktops have a notification light to indicate that the surface is still hot from the residual heat of the cookware.
5) If I accidentally leave the induction cooktop running, how can I be sure that it won’t burn my house down?
Without an induction-compatible cookware over the cooktop, there will be no heat. Most induction cooktops include a safety feature that automatically turns the burner off after a predetermined amount of time.
6) There is a buzzing, humming, and/or high-pitched noise coming from the cooktop. Is something wrong?
Noise can be due to a variety of reasons: the cooling fans that keep the induction cooktop from overheating; the cookware’s shape, material composition, and quality that may interfere with the induction cooktop’s functions; and/or it could be the result of electricity flowing through the equipment’s components (often called coil whine). Most of the time, the induction cooktop is safe to use despite these noises. The sound will often go away when you turn down the heat, or add food to the pan.
7) Is it dangerous to wear a ring while using an induction cooktop?
When there is a cookware over the induction cooktop, the magnetic field won’t extend far enough to interact with the ring and generate heat.
When you’re lending:
Induction cooking tips:
1. Induction stoves heat up quickly. Preheating your pan is not necessary, and you don’t need to wait as long to heat up the pot or pan.
2. You can overcook food because induction cooks fast.
3. When you lift the pan off the cooktop, the power turns off.
4. Magnetic cookware is needed for induction to work. Place a magnet on the bottom of our pan. The stronger the magnet sticks to the bottom of the pan, the better the cookware will work with induction.
NuWave PIC Gold Induction Cooktop (PDF)
NuWave Mosaic Precision Induction Wok (PDF)
Installation:
The Switch is On is a collaborative campaign that supports home electrification by providing tools, resources, rebates, resources, and more. Download a copy of “Benefits of Electrification (PDF),” a home electrification fact sheet.
Rebates, Financing & Free Technical Assistance. BayREN (Bay Area Regional Energy Network) helps residents and property owners improve the health, comfort and energy efficiency of their buildings. Visit BayREN.org to access rebates for electric appliances, financing options, and for free unbiased advice on home electrification upgrades.
Other questions? Email induction@acterra.org or call (510) 401-1362
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