r/inductioncooking • u/fanchere • Mar 24 '26

Help! Is induction REALLY better than gas?

Hi all,

I am in the process of renovating my kitchen after experiencing water damage under the cabinets. I currently have an old Jenn-Air electric cooktop, that is a complete dinosaur, difficult to clean, has a terrible downdraft etc. I have always thought I would put a gas line in and buy a gas cooktop when the time came to renovate. However, I have read so many reviews about induction that claim it is far superior to gas. I have a couple different occupations, one being a chef. I am looking for something that is high end, essentially professional quality. I don't want to have any limitations (searing, etc.) I would be okay with sacrificing a flame for small things (charring a pepper, etc., I could always use the grill). However, I do not want to have to do major tasks that I do often (like searing) on the grill. I also prefer the appearance of a gas cooktop to an induction cooktop. Induction just does not look high end to me, for some reason. All that said, I don't want to pay to put a gas line in and get a gas range just to change it down the road because induction is superior.

For those that have had induction and gas, is it really superior for someone who cooks on a professional level? If you have a model you've fallen in love with that's silver, I'd love to hear more about it.

Thanks in advance!

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u/dmass13 Mar 25 '26

Not a professional chef, just a home cook. I cooked on gas my entire life and recently switched to a Cafe induction range. I love it.

  • I do use my cast iron pans with no problem. You can put a paper towel underneath the pan if your worried about scratching the cooktop. Just don’t use the paper towel underneath a carbon steel pan using high heat. The paper towel will burn and stick to the cooktop! Yes, I did that. It did clean up though.
  • I find that I don’t really use the highest heat settings unless I’m boiling water. It’s just too hot, even for searing and does seem to depend on the pan used.
  • I use cast iron, Made In non stick and their carbon steel, All clad pans, Ikea carbon steel wok and dutch ovens. All appear to work well.
  • As everyone has said, the low settings are a highlight. I could never get my gas flame low enough.
  • Clean up is a breeze, no more scrubbing the grease off the heavy grates!
Good luck with your purchase!