The important reasons why bringing an induction stove into your home should be approached with caution as this technology is a source of excessive EMF toxicity as confirmed by scientific study. Even induction stove user manuals warn against standing too close!
Buying a kitchen stove is a rare purchase most people make only a few times in a lifetime. Currently, the trend toward replacing electric cooktops with an induction stove is quite popular. Is this a wise purchase? Let’s take a look …
In our home, we purchased a glass top stove in 1997 when we completely remodeled the (very old) kitchen. At that time, the range we selected boasted the latest and greatest technology which included a glass top cooking surface.
We were upgrading from a tiny 1950’s stove (see hilarious picture below) that while it seemed to fit very well with the orange, 1970s style wallpaper, fake butcher block countertops and canary yellow cabinets (no kidding), it was not something we regretted replacing!
While this new range was awesome (so nice not to have to clean up messes under coil burners anymore!) and has served us well for many years, it recently came time to replace it when problems developed.
Induction, Gas or Electric?
Since we had upgraded to the best technology many years earlier with good results, we thought we should probably do so again. This involved the purchase of an induction stove with all the bells and whistles. The upgrade hopefully would make my many hours spent in the kitchen even more efficient.
Since indoor air-polluting gas stoves were thankfully not an option for our neighborhood, electric was our only choice. We made the rounds to Best Buy, Home Depot, and online to see what was available.
We eventually settled on a stainless steel induction stove. It offered nearly all the latest technology of the (amazing but ridiculously expensive) Viking stoves that celebrity chefs use but with a much more reasonable price tag.
This is the induction stove we originally picked that thankfully, we never bought (we bought this one instead).
I particularly liked the extra-large knobs and oversized glass top that prevented spills from trickling down the crack between the stove and the countertop. It was exactly what I was looking for.
We also decided to get the matching convection oven (that also functions as a toaster) to replace our old microwave oven that I only ever used for storage anyway.
Little Known Dangers of an Induction Stove
Really excited about our upcoming purchase, I posted about it on social media to see if anyone had any further input.
Right away, a couple of comments got my attention.
Jeanette K. said, “My mother’s induction stove was measured by EMF professionals and had extreme readings.”
In addition, Beth H. warned that “The only downfall [with an induction stove] is that you have to use pans that magnets can stick to”.
EMF Risks?
So glad I asked for the input! Neither of these concerns about induction stoves was mentioned by the salespeople I spoke to or the marketing material I had reviewed.
Since I frequently cook with glass, having to only use pans that magnets can stick to would be a serious downside.
It would require purchase of a few pieces of new cookware and bakeware which I really didn’t want or need.
But, it was Jeanette’s comment about the EMF dangers of an induction stove that really gave me pause. EMF overexposure is a huge concern of mine that I’ve written many articles about.
We take great pains in our home to minimize excessive EMF exposure such as turning off wifi at night, using radiation canceling cases and headsets for our cellphones, and EMF shields for our PCs and notebooks.
I also avoid dirty electricity in our home by never using dimmer switches, fluorescent, or LED bulbs.
In addition, we use battery power for our electronics as much as possible. Higher EMF exposure occurs when you use a laptop while it is plugged in, for example.
Induction Technology Emits Strong Magnetic Fields
When I started examining the technology behind an induction stove, I was more than a little shocked and incredibly grateful Jeanette had commented about it to clue me in to do further research. Here’s what I found out:
The technology of an induction stove works by alternating magnetic fields that generate heat in a cooking vessel made of ferrous metals. The benefits of induction cooking as opposed to thermal heating with a traditional stovetop include up to 50% faster and more even cooking of the food and slightly reduced energy usage.
Parents of young children like it because the coil itself underneath the glass stovetop doesn’t actually get hot. This means the cooking surface stays cool and won’t burn little hands or steam up if you spill liquid on it.
While it is extremely controversial whether this type of radiation source is actually dangerous, the data is sufficient enough for me to avoid it.
The latest information I found that should give anyone pause about bringing an induction stove into their home was published by the Journal Bioelectromagnetics in 2012. (1)
The study authors concluded that most induction hobs (rings) exceeded even the high 1998 maximum exposure levels set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) when a person was standing close to the induction stove.
The worst-case scenario was an up to 16-fold increase from these maximum exposure levels!
Safety Tests
So how in the world did induction stoves ever pass the safety tests?
According to Powerwatch, the safety tests assumed that a person’s body is never closer than 1 foot (30 cm) to the front of the induction stove. Standing that far away would be considered “normal usage”.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t cook standing at least a foot away from my stove. My arms definitely aren’t long enough!
In fact, this would be pretty much impossible if you needed to reach the back burners.
Don’t Use a Microwave? You Won’t Want Induction Either
The bottom line is that if you avoid microwaved food and microwaves in general, you will want to pass on the induction stove as it uses similar technology.
I’ve not used a microwave in 25 years (and not missed it for a second, I might add). Why would I start now exposing myself and my family to potentially dangerous, concentrated sources of EMFs with an induction stove which works in a similar fashion?
Of course, induction stove manufacturers insist the technology is safe.
They claim that the radiation hazard dissipates within a few inches to a foot of the appliance. “Normal usage” would not expose a person to a radiation hazard.
Right?
I’ll pass thanks.
Safer Alternatives
Fortunately, the exact same stove I wanted was available in a traditional, thermally based cooktop without an induction feature. This is the case with all the induction ranges I examined in fact!
This is the stainless steel electric stove model we eventually bought. We’ve had it for several years now and continue to love it! As a bonus, it much more easily fit within our budget than the unsafe induction models!
Sometimes the latest and greatest isn’t always the best or even the safest.
References
(1) Exposure of the human body to professional and domestic induction cooktops compared to the basic restrictions
(2) Powerwatch: In Your Home. EMF Cooking Safety
(3) Induction stove user manual
More Information
Are Pressure Cookers Safe (and do they form MSG in food?)
Clay Pots for Safe Cooking
10 Tips for Using Stainless Steel Cookware Safely
Fitbit Health Concerns (particularly while you sleep!)
Are AMR Devices Safer than Smart Meters?
Heavy Metal Toxicity Raises Risk of EMF Sensitivity
Reducing Exposure to Dirty Electricity
The Health Hazards of Wireless Baby Monitors
Harvard MD Speaks Out about the Health Dangers of Smart Meters
Protect Yourself from a Smart Meter
First of all, this very high electromagnetic frenzy spoils the food at the molecular level and then depolarizes food and water. In a nutshell steal certain atoms of food. Or you forgot or you do not know that everything is polarized. The thing is simple if you have two elements one ferrous and one nonferrous and apply a magnet it will pull the magnetic elements. so it is with alms and water. Like the air conditioners, they break the air, and then they’ve done that, and air ionizers have appeared. The stupidity of stupidity to ruin what nature is and then to rebuild with something synthetic !!! Everyone thinks of time and money efficiency. But no one thinks of harmony with everything that exists around us. If there is no harmony with everything that is around us, there is no regression. Maybe I’m not right here but following the traces of magnetism you will discover by yourself the truth 🙂
Microwave is more energy efficient as It does not heat up fast. I tested it out on making cookies first. I like it that it has a button for broil, bake, warm. There’s a button for temp and another button for the timer. The temp automatically shuts off when the timer is off so nothing burns.
This is so helpful as I need a new cook top. So glass top is fine, just not induction. Correct? Is there any health difference between electric coil tops and electric glass tops? What kind of cookware is best to use with a glass top? Stainless steel seems to be the most recommended. I was thinking of buying stainless steel but also a vita clay pot (especially for cooking acidic food as I love tomatoes). In 26 years of marriage, we have never invested in good cookware, so now is the time. I greatly appreciate any recommendations you can offer as I am hoping to spend money wisely without regrets (especially regrets that it is not healthful). I am new to being health conscious. Thank you very much!
Glass tops are fine. It’s the type of heating element that you need to aware of. Old fashioned electric ranges are best if gas is not an option. Good quality stainless steel is fine … just use safe clay, enamel, enameled cast iron (not plain cast iron) or glass for acidic foods.
Hi Sarah,
Thanks so much for the article and research. We are about to move into a house that has an induction oven, so I am concerned. However, when I went to PowerWatch to read what it said about induction ovens, it also warns against regular electric cookers. Now I’m confused as to how we are supposed to cook safely in our kitchens (gas is not an option where we’re moving).
Here is some of what it says, “If you are concerned about electric, magnetic and radiofrequency fields from the appliances in
your home, you can measure them with an ELF meter, or RF meter available from EMFields.
The standard electric cooker, which has an oven, grill and top plates, gives off high magnetic
fields when it is operating. These can be as high as several microtesla close to. Half a metre away
the fields can still be as high as 0.2µT. Pregnant women should keep their distance, as the highest
field levels can be in the area of the growing child. Prepare uncooked food in advance and keep
away, as far as possible, while it is cooking.
Children’s normal playing area should be at least 1.5 metres away from the front of the cooker,
whilst the cooker, especially the oven, is on.” Article here powerwatch.org.uk/library/downloads/in-your-home-5-cooking-2018-12.pdf
Can you please clarify for me?
Regular electric ovens (non-induction) do have an electric field. Any plugged in device (such as an alarm clock or a lamp) would be the same when it is turned on. This is why many EMF sources recommend unplugging these items at night if they are in your bedroom.
An induction stove would add additional risk on top of the electrical current issues. Children should not play in the kitchen, that is a good practice anyway.
Can you tell me if a NU Wave oven, using conventional, convection and infrared heat is ok? I won’t use microwave..don’t want any more EMF or myself or the food destroyed..what about infrared heating? It’s used in saunas?
Yes, those are fine. I use a convection oven myself instead of a microwave.
Where is your research on induction cook tops. I have checked Powerwatch and found no articles on induction cook tops. You need to back up your comments with current reliable research. Spreading fear is not wise.
The health warnings are in the owner’s manual of induction cooktops themselves!
Not a very scientifically supported article. That’s fine.. she’s passionate about it, so no problem. However.. you do NOT need to get new bake ware if you get an induction range. The oven is a standard electric oven… not induction. Just an FYI>
This article discusses the stovetop of an induction range 🙂 Read again!
Thank you Sarah for the information. I currently have a wolf gas stove and for many years the “gas” has bothered me. The fan is loud but I’ve had to use it every time I turn the stove on. So time to get an electric stove and yes induction came up everywhere as the best. The EMF’s caught my attention too because I do have a sensitive system and I am very conscious of things in my home. You helped me make the decision – NO induction for me. Thanks again….
People relax…just because someone was indoctrinated at an institution, doesn’t mean she’s right. Nothing to about, folks…cook away and enjoy!
Sticking your head in the sand doesn’t make the problem go away 🙂
Can infrared cooker cause any danger?
A traditional oven cooks with infrared which is totally safe and fine. The warming heat from the sun is infrared!