COUNTY News:

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) launched a new program this week to introduce customers to the concept of cooking by induction—an idea that could have a positive impact on the environment.

DPU’s Induction Cooktop Loaner Program puts portable induction cooktops into the hands of customers who would like to try out using induction as an alternative to gas or electric stoves. An induction cooktop uses electromagnets to produce heat through a high frequency oscillating magnetic field.

Eddy currents produced by this magnetic field encounter resistance in iron-based cookware and that causes heat to be transferred directly to the cookware. Basically, induction technology eliminates the step in which the electric element or gas burner is heated up before any heat is transferred to cookware.

“An induction cooktop is more efficient than traditional stovetop methods,” said DPU Water and Energy Conservation Coordinator Abbey Hayward. “The efficiency of induction is about 90 percent compared to conventional electric cooktops at 75-to-80 percent and gas cooktops at 32-to-40 percent. With induction cooktops, heat is directed into the cookware and food instead of into the air in your kitchen.”

The Induction Cooktop Loaner Program lets DPU customers borrow a cooktop kit for two weeks. It’s an opportunity to test drive induction cooking technology as a consideration in converting from a natural gas stove or upgrading an outdated electric unit. Each kit comes with a portable induction cooktop, an induction-ready piece of cookware (skillet, pot or wok), utensils and a user manual.

Sign up for the Induction Cooktop Loaner Program here.

Questions may be directed to Hayward at 505.663.1779.

Courtesy/LAC