NuWave induction cooktop VS Electric Hot plate. Compare cost to efficiency. Which is better?

[@karinhart489]

I got a NuWave induction stove for car camping a couple of years ago specifically because it is flexible in setting the wattage it uses: 600w/900w/1300w, and unlike other brands of induction stoves it does NOT surge to 1800w when you first turn it on. I mostly cook at 600w with a setting at medium, or medium-low. PS: Also, you can clean off the induction stovetop & put it away almost immediately you are finished cooking, but with a hot plate you must wait a long time for it to cool off. From time to time the NuWave will go on sale, I got mine on a Black Friday sale for less than $50.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment and info.

[@raybod1775]

$50 was such a deal! My old NuWave passed away after many years of use, great induction stove.

[@kingoftweaks]

Now there is GIONIEN Poratble Indution Cooktop 110V 1200W. You can set the power from 100W to 1200W. When you set it to, say, 200W, it is true 200W, not pulsed 600W. Especially good for camping and RV. It is super thin, less than 1 inch. It is white/silver, not the stupid black. Finally, an induction done right. I ordered one and am waiting for it to arrive.

[@backpackingonline]

@@kingoftweaks Thank you for mentioning that product. The one you have will be ideal for everyday use. I do have NuWave to 525° F for searing a medium rare steak. It does have reduced wattage settings and 5° F adjustment available for most use, and I got it at a very good price. It is so huge I am glad my kitchen table has a shelf to keep it when not in use.

[@Buzzy-bm6bv]

Thank you for the work involved in this video. I am in Asheville, presently on day 16 without electricity or potable water. As this is an off grid channel, I would say that I would not waste the limited electricity I have with my solar generator and solar panels on boiling water on either of these two devices. I need power for electronics and possibly refrigeration. Off grid, I would use a flame (outdoor fire, butane, etc) for boiling water and save all my power for consequential things (unless boiling a cup of water is the most consequential thing you choose to do with your limited power- no judgement here). Just a thought. Thanks again

[@OffGridBasement]

This is just a comparison between two products, not two situations. If my situation was different, then I would look for the most Abundant source of energy to fit my needs. That would be burning wood. Best of luck to you and your family! Take care.

[@Buzzy-bm6bv]

@@OffGridBasement thank you for explaining. Things keep getting better here day by day. Thanks for your good wishes.

[@cfldriven]

I agree with Buzzy-bm6bv, in a real disaster you have to make wise choices how you use limited resources. In Hendersonville we were out of power for 10 days. Our Prius kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnykpqufh7iehMk ran the fridge, nat gas tankless water heater, 2 lamps, charging devices and TV. Although we gave up on the TV. Our old propane camp stove provide quick heat for cooking without taxing what little electrical power we had.

[@nhansgoofyvideos7581]

From my experience, electric kettle is still the best for water boiling, but for other type of cooking, induction imo is much better.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing and for the comment.

[@sleddy01]

of course, because it is covered, but boiling water was a comparison test for these cooktops, not the endgame.

[@Mulberrysmile]

I find that strange. I cooked two cups of rice in four cups of water yesterday on my induction cooktop. I set it to max to start the boil, and it was boiling in maybe two minutes, then of course I turned it down to cook for the required time. It’s a waste of time and energy to do cooking with a heating element. The heat transfer into the device and lost to the atmosphere with an element is significant, which equals wasted electricity. The responsiveness of induction is similar to gas for changing temperatures, too, so induction is the best of both worlds, imho.

[@clarkleakins879]

Please perform the same test: With a similar size cast iron pot Then with a similar size stainless steel (revere ware).

[@marioluna4344]

I like this type of test. I have those two exact cooktops. The nuwave and elite hot plate.

[@OffGridBasement]

That's crazy. I like how small the hot plate is, but it stays HOT for a long time after unplugged!

[@st200ol]

The thermometer shouldn’t really touch the bottom of the pan for accurate measurement, not too important because you stopped the test when the water boiled. Great test, thanks for doing this.

[@charleschapman2428]

You've right but because it was the same for both test it shouldn't matter.

[@OneWildTurkey]

@@charleschapman2428 Induction vs conduction have different rates of energy transfer, so there will be a difference in how quickly the temp changes.

[@charleschapman2428]

@@OneWildTurkey Yes you're correct about the time, that was measured by the stop watch but the thermometer only measured the temperature. Where the thermometer was placed in the pot doesn't matter as long as it was in the same place for both test.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the tip and the comment!

[@thomascronquist1604]

Great experiment between the two. If you are camping in a RV/trailer, and electric is provided, no issue on which one you will pick. If you are boon-docking, I would use camping stoves with propane, canister fuel, or a Trangia for cooking, coffee. Save you power bank for other needs, like a 12 volt cooler, LED lights,charging your iPhone, iPad, etc. I think boon-docking in the modern age, is getting out of control with gadgets. That being said, camping is basic needs, and the for modern accessories use a power bank.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment!

[@noleftturns]

Safety is far more important than savings. ALL induction cooktops/hot plates heat much faster than condition heaters and there is less heating of the air around it and the unit is much less prone to burning people after the pot/pan is removed

[@OffGridBasement]

You're right! That hot plate stays extremely hot well after it's turned off.

[@TonyMorel]

This is the main reason I switched to induction on my boat. Safety first, then work out the battery and solar requirements to reach that. If I can find the storage space then I'm tempted to get a Cob Oven for those summer months for a bit of alfresco cooking

[@sleddy01]

@@OffGridBasement that extra heat after no energy is applied can be useful in cooking. i like your test but it cannot show the complete picture. btw, i actually have that cheap cooker and like it but power consumption is not a big deal for us with shore power.

[@skid4482]

@@OffGridBasement Great for a heater in the winter with a heat powered stove fan.

[@davef.2329]

Most interesting and informative. Hopefully some of the folks in the hurricane damaged zones can/will see this and apply it. Prayers for them and thanks for your test. Just for info: a Commercial Chef .6 cu/ft 600W micro-wave from Amazon will run just fine on a 1000W, or larger CNSWI inverter.

[@OffGridBasement]

That's right. I actually have a video on that. Not as portable, but a very good option!

[@frankmckinley1254]

Have had a New wave for eight years and it's working great.

[@OffGridBasement]

That's great! Thanks for the comment.

[@hpjtv]

I got mine when it first came out… probably at least 12 years old and it still works perfectly.

[@bdmenne]

You really do be thinking and DOING the tests that we all wonder about since the advent of the induction plates. Real cool. Glad I got the New Wave. Love how it cleans up and cooks safely as added bonus.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you! Also, it's cool to the touch compared to the hot plate. The WHOLE hot plate appliance is hot!

[@donannsmith5574]

I use the induction for everyday cooking. The adjustable temp is worth it.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@vladimus9749]

Induction is even more efficient because it puts energy directly into the pot. The regular cook top heats an element, which heats the cook top surface, which heats the pot. When you're done cooking, that leftover heat from the element and the surface dissipates into your room and you then have to run AC to remove.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you for the comment and info.

[@jimfranklin9770]

I've had Nuwave induction burners for over 4 years and they are both well worth the cost. The convenience, speed, less heat production make them a pleasure to use.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing and the comment!

[@waynehobbs5175]

Thanks for the test. Note though that people with a pacemaker for their heart are disallowed from using the induction.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info. I didn't realize that.

[@RonOrud]

I got lucky and found an induction burner at goodwill for $7.99. I like that you can set a temp on it.

[@OffGridBasement]

That is awesome! Thanks for the comment.

[@rickhiggins6521]

I just did a similar test yesterday with my induction stove top. I boiled a quart of water on high power in 5 minutes. I use it for everything.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment and info!

[@Sylvan_dB]

Nice testing! It's good to confirm what I've heard so often. And the ability to select a lower wattage - potentially a critical feature allowing use of a smaller inverter or to share a power source with other loads at the same time or perhaps even just to balance incoming solar to preserve battery for later. Thanks!

[@OffGridBasement]

Those are all very good points. Thanks for the comment.

[@SamCarleton]

Very interesting video, thank you. Another set of tests I would love to see is the total watts hours used by changing the max what’s from the newer cook top. The higher watts might just get the water bolting faster resulting in less energy being used, or… it might just be the same. I would love to see you do a video to find out.

[@OffGridBasement]

Great suggestion! Thanks for the comment.

[@KensaiProductions]

I found this particularly interesting because I actually own both of these devices. I got the hot plate to begin with when we had to live in a motel room for several months. It did the job, but took forever to boil enough water for everyday things like making pasta, etc. When we bought the fixer upper we live in now, I got rid of the gas appliances and haven't yet installed a new cooktop, but the NuWave has done admirably in the meantime. In hindsight I wish I had bought the bigger one, but hey. Another note I'd like to make is the NuWave doesn't work with every pot. We have a Walmart Mainstay big pot and the NuWave won't heat it.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment. The nuwave will work with pots you can stick a magnet on.

[@roginutah]

Daughter was gifted a Magic Chef (?) water boiler. 1500W. Water boils in under 5 minutes. Amazing item.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info!

[@rd4660]

I'll never give up my diesel fired Webasto cook top. Electricity is too valuable to waste on cooking or heating.

[@OffGridBasement]

Very true. Thanks for the comment

[@brucemccreary769]

Retired, long time off grid EE here. Nice comparison, but the type of resistive hot plate you chose accounts for much the efficiency loss; the heavy cast metal mass of the heat spreader type burner must be heated, and continues heating after you turn off the power. To save energy for cooking, you can get this back by using a timer and allowing the latent heat of burner and pot to continue cooking the food. The cheaper type burner which is just a coil will have less loss. You should also make sure you have a wider pan base than the burner to avoid losses there. A heat reflective metal ring around the burner would also help reflect lost heat back to the pan in both cases. I'd also like to add that the induction cookers create a high frequency magnetic field and radiate high frequency EMI which you can crudely measure with an old design (regenerative tuner only) AM radio, tuning through the AM band between stations. This will radiate from all the house wiring, which you can also detect with the AM radio. Any AM radio which has loud static hiss between stations is likely a simple regenerative tuner design and is suitable. You will also find that your inverter power has substantial EMI even without an induction cooker and should likely be filtered with at the very least, a commercial dual common mode filter which you can find at Digikey, Mouser, and from Aliexpress, rated above your maximum current and voltage. In short, induction cook tops are a bad choice. What is the highest efficiency for off grid water heating? It's the simple, cheap immersion type heater, which has nearly 100% heat transfer direct to the water, zero conversion loss and no pan interface loss and less pan loss. I just heated my morning cup of joe that way. Best Wishes, Bruce

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the great information and the comment!

[@rpgreseller]

Truly efficient for heating water, although most people want to heat food.

[@kilswitch4336]

600w electric skillet and an electric pot, both under $30 is more efficient watt-wise and pack wise, no additional pot or pan needed as they're all-in-one😎. I almost went induction until I tried these electric appliances

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment!

[@SpaceSailor-tu3vl]

The induction heater also requires a particular type of metal pot to be at max efficiency

[@OffGridBasement]

That's true. Thanks for the comment.

[@gimmeabreak-h2h]

has to contain iron. Most pans manufactured today, even aluminum ones, have a steel core in the bottom to make them induction compatible.

[@robertkubrick3738]

If you are worried about the wattage budget, I use a powerful rice cooker. It takes longer but at lower wattage so not a high draw on your system. My induction cooktop is rated at 2200W maxed out. Electric skillet is another option for keeping the draw down.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing and the comment.

[@philc.9280]

I like induction stoves and have used both. The only issue I have that no one addresses is that we often watch the news on TV when eating. The induction stoves have a loud fan that interrupts our show. Then it also has a cool down feature up to 5 minutes after the cooking is done that further interrupts us.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@patientprepper2030]

Time is irrelevant. Put both on high til boil. how much power/watts are used. We all know induction will blow conventional element away

[@settlece]

agree Heating the bit you need hot only, is always a winner

[@OffGridBasement]

You're right. If I set the induction to 1300w it wouldn't have been a contest. Thanks for the comment!

[@wodinsc]

Both power and energy (power x time) are important if powering from a battery storage device. The battery and inverter must be able to supply the Watts demanded by the cooktop but the cooktop that is most efficient will consume less energy (Watt-hours) from the battery so you can get more done with a single charge cycle.

[@dexterne]

It would have been interesting to see the watts used and the time elapsed at 600w and 1300w. Time is completely relevant. The most valuable resource!

[@steveadal4735]

So sure r u😮 try wrapping foil has around the element heater to concentrate the heat to the pot❤❤❤❤

[@Subgunman]

Life of the heat source is also a factor. I have seen many induction cooktops fail after anywhere from 2 to five years while the solid top hot plate can last well over 20 years. Now is there anyone or a repair shop that can repair an induction cooker? Average shop fees run a minimum of $50 per hour and a diagnostic fee if you choose not to repair the unit. Also the $50 per hour does not include parts, if they are identifiable and available. Most of the chinesium stuff has unmarked, proprietary or mismarked components that are untraceable. Net result, more e waste for the landfill unless you have access to a recycling center.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@jasonmcintosh2632]

I have a sailboat in the Galveston area. Induction is far superior to gas or a hotplate due to excess heating of the cabin and fire safety. There was an investment in pots and pans, but it has been WELL worth it.

[@OffGridBasement]

Great! Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@jylfarm1964]

What you forget to talk about... Most Induction plate need a "Pure Sine Wave" inverter to work at all. I have a DuxTop and a few others brands... they all need "Pure Sine Wave". I have a Chinese branded Induction plate that lose most of his efficiency when operating with a Generator with high THD. The same is truth for many microwaves. For people that are 100% off-grid, we need to know as we might have a Pure Sine Wave Inverter, but our backup can be a cheaper inverter.

[@OffGridBasement]

Good point. I can create a video showing the results. Thanks.

[@jylfarm1964]

@@OffGridBasement Good. Of note, my DuxTop look like it will work but will never heat anything. No warning and, obviously, the microprocessor seems to work fine.

[@KA9DSL]

I have a NuWave in my van, my wife can't cook without it. Makes great scrambled and Chorizo. (besides boiling water) Prefer my NuWave to my butane stove top cooker. (a good backup when batteries are low) Runs flawlessly on Vans 1500w inverter.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing!

[@fittekowner]

I have a different brand induction cooktop and love it. It is fast efficient and FAR more safe since it will turn off if it is left on and over heats and the cook surface does not get exceptionally hot. For safety alone it is well worth using induction.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment!

[@keithjansen1734]

Good comparison for as far as you took it but most people would use a lid which according to my test made the induction cooktop %25.6 more efficient. I got a neighbor to loan me his 1000 watt cooktop and i have an induction cooktop we both use ours camping. He is buying an induction cooktop on black friday.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment and info.

[@gsftom]

Cut all the stupid warning tags off of your extension cords and appliances as soon as you take them out of the box / bag. Get rid of that crap asap. Great comparison. Thanks for sharing.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@michaelchow5751]

This is like the modern version of all those Hiram Cook videos of him boiling water.

[@nexpro6985]

Put a lid on the pot. You might find it reaches boiling point faster.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the suggestion and the comment.

[@clarkvalcoic1736]

some pans are more magnetic than others, this makes a large difference on how quick the water boils. they make special pans for induction, or use metal pans.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@dddsfsd9523]

Please do testing on instant pot 3qt and water kettle. Also, please test minimum amps needed to run devices

[@Sgreubel]

Interesting test. Thank you. I wonder how an electric coil type burner would do compared to these.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the suggestion and the comment.

[@goodcitizen4587]

Nice test, thanks!

[@OffGridBasement]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for the comment.

[@dexterne]

If you boil 4 cups 3x per day at the US average cost per kw of ~15¢, you save about $6 a year with this nuwave. About 9 years to recoup the $50 price diff. Safety and features may well make it worthwhile, and if battery is constrained, use is higher or power is costlier then the payback shortens.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment and info.

[@wardrobelion]

It depends on what time of year it is because the electric burner will heat surroundings in cooler rooms but would take a long time to cool down in the summer. The induction is much more efficient in my opinion.

[@OffGridBasement]

Good point. Thanks for the comment.

[@GeekfromYorkshire]

Fascinating and good job getting a well controlled like-for-like. The energy source you use is context specific, yours would be if you have solar energy, or recharged off a generator. I use alcohol for cooking as it's low-tech, less can fail, for cooking and an Anker Solix to power my electronic devices. Work on assumption of 100ml of alcohol per person per day so say 2 people for 5 days = 1 Liter fuel. Your example of 4 cups water ~ 1 liter water would use 40ml of alcohol and boil in about the same 10 mintes, so your Allpowers losing 168Wh places your Allpowers R1500 1152Wh as comparable to 275ml of alcohol fuel, or 4 AllPowers R1500 recharges = ~ 1 liter of alcohol fuel. Induction is more efficient as the heat is generated nearer the water. Induction works by generating a rapidly alternating current in the "hot plate" which induces a similar alternating current inside the pan's metal you used, meaning the heat was forming within the base of the pan nearer the water. The hot plate was using a regular resistance metal inside the hot plate, it would get hot, then conduct that heat to the outside of the pan which would conduct to the inside of the pan - meaning more total metal was being heated and take time to conduct through. So it's no surprise the induction won on efficiency as it was a boil test, short test, from cold. However the hot plate would begin to win on slower cooking, lower temperature, simmering, as the whole setup would be more in equilibrium more of the time. Your boil test had for the hot plate a "ring heats, heat goes to hot plate, to outside of pan, to inside of pan" so there's a naturally slower start than induction. Try this test: cover the pot, and keep it at some temperature, say 120F, like a slow cooking scenario. They should work out closer to nearly identical and possibly induction becomes less efficient as induction loses energy into the air and surroundings you cannot detect, while a hot plate is just losing it upwards due to convection caused by conduction.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you for the great information and the comment. I appreciate it!

[@hpjtv]

Induction will be more efficient therefore using less energy overall. The hot plate has to heat the pot over an element so there’s a minor gap and some loss. If you look with an infrared camera, you will see some heat escaping from the sides. The induction heats the pot directly with the surface touching the water and it is concentrated inside the pot. Removing the pot, the hot plate surface will be much hotter than the induction cooktop surface.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@landonrc51]

dont forget about the instantpot! can be used to saute but the real win is that with the pressure cooker your steam energy gets trapped and makes a much more efficient way to cook with electric off grid

[@OffGridBasement]

Didn't think about that! The instaPot does turn off and on depending on the cooking temp, correct? Thanks for the comment!

[@stuartstuart866]

Forget the electric stoves ……… You have a Shopsmith! I bought mine second hand in the mid 80’s, I still have it, and use it on a regular basis.

[@OffGridBasement]

This shop Smith is going to be in my basement until I die and still work just fine!

[@bluenetmarketing]

Great video! Thanks.

[@OffGridBasement]

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment!

[@kennethwilson8633]

Nice real world testing thanks.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[@daleb5967]

I use a bread pan for off grid with the induction. Way faster and more efficient.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the tip.

[@billbradley2480]

Yrs ago I bought a induction cooktop. I checked it for EMF then promptly returned it because it was putting out wayyyy too much EMF. I purchased a electric cooktop instead.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@briantrout7051]

I have a stainless steel percolator that I use pretty much every day. It will not work with an induction burner. Using a hob would likely knock the efficiency back down near standard hotplate numbers. Sure wish there were a good percolator out there that worked well with induction.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for sharing and the comment.

[@MoralHazard-g1e]

Next, compare an Instapot in slow cook vs pressure cook modes for power efficiency.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the suggestion and the comment.

[@danielnicholls6868]

now against a micro wave👍👍or a electric kettle

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@rigidchop]

@@OffGridBasement I agree with the electric kettle

[@PUTDEVICE]

there is another alternative. diesel cooktop/stove if it doesn't matter that it takes a little longer. like Walla's stove 85 DT and with a lid, it works as a heater. I think there are 2-3 more brands but I can't remember what they are called right now.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@buixote]

It would be interesting to test the surface temps of the two appliances after the water is boiled. It's my understanding that induction cookers only get as hot as the plate that's sitting on them...

[@need100k]

You would be correct.

[@OffGridBasement]

I should've looked at it through a thermal camera. Maybe I'll do a short. Thanks for the comment.

[@Kosmonooit]

Induction cookings sets I have seen use special pots and pans with a copper base

[@OffGridBasement]

As long as you can stick a magnet to the bottom it will work.

[@markbajek2541]

Probably the only benefit of using a traditional coil or puck style hot plate would be being able to heat up the area it's cooking in as some of the heat from the burner is lost to the air and if it's a coil burner you could light a cigarette off the glowing hot coil.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@MacBailey]

Big question. Does that pot have a steel bottom that a magnet will stick to? Inductive must have a magnetic steel bottom to work efficiently. It 'induces' an internal current magnetically into the pot which is how it heats up the pot. Stainless steel and Aluminum do not work very well as compared to standard steel or 'cast iron'. This could really affect your test on the inductive cooktop, but not so much on the older resistive cooktop. If a magnet will stick to the bottom of the pan is should work is an easy test.

[@OffGridBasement]

Yes. The bottom of the pot is steel. It's definitely not cast iron though.

[@AskIveSolar]

Cool video boss. I first learned about that nuwave from Katys Camp Kitchen. I wanna get one from the FB marketplace

[@OffGridBasement]

You should definitely check one out. Good piece of equipment. Thanks for the comment!

[@patrickdk77]

I wonder how that hard anodized pot cooks on that induction plate vs a stainless steel pot. I feel like my stainless stell heats much quicker and normally always use it, unless I cannot get a stainless steel pan in the shape I need.

[@OffGridBasement]

I honestly never thought about it. Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@Idontcare-g1n]

I'm trying to find a small cheap heater but the one I bought is 500 watts 4.2 watts says it's starting at 50 amps on controller then inverter shuts off . I'm not getting a ground light error just an overload error. Right now I have a 400 watt parallel wire system working on 200 watts waiting on connector other 2 panels . I have the rover 40 amp , renogy 1000 watt inverter with a grounding pole earth ground and 2 12v lifepo4 100ah batteries ran in parallel. The controller set on li and 12v . Any idea of what the problem could be. Or a suggestion on small heater for green house

[@OffGridBasement]

Your inverter is not 1000w. Maybe 500w with 1000w surge. That makes more sense why it would overload.

[@texasrepubliccofarm]

Great test. Have you considered testing an Air Fryer? I have looked at the draw and it's pretty high so I have not used it in my off-grid property, BUT, I wonder if there are any energy efficient ones out there.

[@OffGridBasement]

I believe all air fryers are 1500w or more due to the amount of heat that needs to be generated. I'll start looking around. Thanks for the comment and suggestion.

[@thatalaskaguy1118]

If you are in cold environment the heat is not lost. If you are in aircondition room then the lost heat is a problem.

[@OffGridBasement]

Good point. Thanks for the comment.

[@rigidchop]

Been wondering how much more efficient these are.

[@OffGridBasement]

Hope this video helped. Thanks for the comment!

[@james10739]

I bought a nuwave from goodwill for cheaper but i don't know about efficiency but you can limit the power which is huge if you have other things going and an inverter that isn't massive

[@OffGridBasement]

Good point! I do like the fact that you can use this @ 600w. Thanks for the comment!

[@marusholilac]

This is a good place to say that there is no such thing as an Energy Star microwave oven, as they are very inefficient. Most people would boil a quart of water in their microwave, but a 1000W microwave probably draws 1600W. The pricey inverter microwaves have the one advantage that they may make it possible to run at a lower selected Wattage, thus being able to run off a small power station, but they are still the worst electric technology for efficiency. The Watt is a unit of heat, not of energy, but we like to use it to measure electric consumption since there is a direct relationship. However, a Watt is a Watt, whether it comes from your TV or your range, so I imagine the improved efficiency of the cooktop is due to its more focused direction of energy. I wonder how hot the pots themselves were at the end of the tests.

[@OffGridBasement]

Great point about the microwave. I honestly just cared about the timing of the water. I didn't give much thought about the surrounding environment. I need to do a more thorough job next time. Thanks for the comment.

[@marusholilac]

I wasn't criticizing your methodology. I just have no experience with induction cooking and was trying to understand why it is so efficient.

[@dsmith9572]

Does the iron content of the pot matter?

[@OffGridBasement]

I've heard the more the better. I've never had a problem with my cheap magnetic pots.

[@colinfitzgerald4332]

When using an electric heating coil cook top at reduced temperature, say half heat, the electric draw is around 75 percent. When the element is not at full power, the electric resistance is much less. This is why portable heaters will draw nearly twice the rated wattage on initial startup. The surge is not good when using a power station. An induction cooktop doesn’t do this and will use less power in proportion to the heat output.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment and info.

[@OneWildTurkey]

How long before the efficiency of the induction cooktop offsets its initial cost?

[@OffGridBasement]

Depends on how often you use it.

[@kencramer1697]

I have three of the Nuwave cooktops and I absolutely hate them. I got mine to use while renovating the kitchen. I will admit that they do the job, I just can't stand them. I went to using my butane burners and left the Nuwave on the shelf. To be fair, I hate cooking on electric ranges as well. I learned how to cook on gas, I trained in a commercial kitchen on gas and I am very much a creature of habit and I like how gas cooks. Not that my preferences matter on an energy efficiency test for off grid cooking.

[@OffGridBasement]

Gas really is the best for precise cooking. Thanks for the comment.

[@patrickbodine1300]

I have 2 of the Nuwave , and never use them. I have used them, but, only as a backup. Propane for me. The Nuwave "might" be useful in a pinch

[@davidfrancis8899]

Why would you boil water without a lid.

[@AdrepKeith]

Yeah but you have to deduct the cost of the special pots and pans you paid for the nuwave cook top. You can't boil with your old pots and pans.you can use iron but not aluminum with the nuwave.

[@Paladin7845]

Only partially correct. There are a LOT of clad / multiply pans on the market that work with Induction tops. If a magnet sticks to the bottom they will work. Also look for the wavy line symbol meaning they are compatible. And they are NOT more expensive unless you're buying high end cook ware. The box stores like Walmart have sets of induction cookware.

[@OffGridBasement]

Paladin is correct. The pots and pans have come way down in price. You can find them at any big box store now.

[@danburch9989]

Just remember if you decide on an induction hot plate, your cookware must be magnetic. Aluminum, some stainless steel, glassware and some ceramic cookware won't work unless they are clad in a ferromagnetic material. If a magnet sticks to the cookware, it will work with an induction hot plate. Induction, I think, is the way to go.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the information and the comment!

[@daleb5967]

Most people that use a kettle, dont use all the water. A better approach is a thermos sized kettle.

[@joesrvhome]

I like my induction cooktop because it heats the pan and not the air around...once you take off the pan, it only takes a few seconds to disipate the heat from the surface...electric cookers are hot and stay hot during and long after....heating up the space you cook in.

[@OffGridBasement]

Very true. Thanks for the comment.

[@shelley131]

Great job!

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks!

[@richardrowland7044]

The induction cooker is going to cook more efficient using cast iron skillet or a stainless steel Skillet with a copper clad outside

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@IonaDunn]

I vote for using the far more simpler basic electric hot plate. Seems not to eat up far more electricity than needed. Especially important when you're using a smaller sized solar power bank.

[@IonaDunn]

P.S. My own set up are tiny 5 inch in diameter "Mini" ones vs. the seemingly more standard sized ones presented in this video.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@Card_addiction]

How much electricity would a butane stove use?

[@WilliamMurphy-b6v]

You don't get to ask that question. But it is a great one.

[@OffGridBasement]

I believe that would be right around zero wh!

[@raymondclark1785]

The issue I had with butane is it freezes so it's useless on winter camping trips 😢

[@ghunt9146]

​@raymondclark1785 that's why we use propane in the UK.

[@WilliamMurphy-b6v]

@OffGridBasement Probably a good guess.

[@desertdog2282]

I figured it would have been a bigger difference. 😮

[@OffGridBasement]

I thought the same thing. I figured 35-40%

[@c-ccoates503]

Not a good comparison. You should have gotten the same watts on the cookers and a induction pan. Cast-iron works great.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the tip and comment.

[@ic4miles]

why did you use 900w setting rather than 1300 watts?

[@OffGridBasement]

I wanted to keep it close to the 1000w of the hot plate.

[@cmcg1190]

what material is the pan made from?

[@OffGridBasement]

Aluminum with a stainless steel bottom.

[@danielteegarden8982]

Not Every Medal Pot / Pan Works On Conduction Heating Plates !

[@sfrozman]

Yes, even some pots that are labeled as induction compatible will work but are much less efficient. Based on looks, the pot in the video seems to be one of those less efficient versions. Generally the more iron in the pot/pan the better. Those which look aluminum but have a layer of steel sandwiched into the base are less efficient.

[@OffGridBasement]

That's true. If you can stick a magnet on the pot, it will work on Induction.

[@BeeBeorn]

Cast iron is my go to. Works on induction, propane and fire. And of course hotplates, oh and engine blocks..Cover the most senarios.

[@gimmeabreak-h2h]

While efficiency is nice, the real reason to use induction is safety. When people ask about our induction stove, I demonstrate by boiling water with the "burner" on it's highest setting....with a paper towel between the burner and the pot! Nothing ever gets to combustion temps, since the magnetic induction is generating heat in the pan, which won't go above 212F until all the water is gone. They're also much easier to clean because anything that bubbles over out of the pot doesn't burn on the cooktop like it does on a glass top conventional electric burner. We'll never have anything else.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment!

[@NatureZone101]

Something for people to keep in mind is the induction cooker has to use specific type of pots/pans and the electric can use anything. So if you find yourself in a situation and don't have those pans or forgot to bring them then that cook top won't work at all. Cool demo - would be interesting to see if putting the top on to boil would make any difference.

[@aboutdawntoday]

I use induction and butane but it has never taken more than 5 minutes to boil water in my kettle. So I agree that a lid would make a difference.

[@charleshill7184]

Ferrous, or magnetic-capable pots. That is, steel or cast iron -- not aluminum.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thank you for the info and the comment.

[@daleb5967]

I got similar units for 35ish.

[@OffGridBasement]

Great price! Thanks for the comment

[@RolandGustafsson]

I love my NuWave induction cooktop for accurate cooking power, even better than our propane gas stove. Hot plates seem quite wasteful since the heat goes in all directions. Why not test both at their max rating to see total power used in each case. No reason to dial down the NuWave to 900 which at the very least slows it down. I find my NuWave at 1300 watts is faster than my propane kitchen stove boiling 2 cups of water.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the suggestion and the comment.

[@daleb5967]

Put a meter on the cords...you will see.

[@kennethalmond8922]

Good one!

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks!

[@AB-vc7ox]

You can boil a full 2 quart teapot at 375 in about 12 minutes depending on how cold your water is to start with. Nuwave sucks for cooking anything but boiling clear water because it can’t maintain a steady temp and scorch/burn unless you are constantly fiddling with the poor excuse for temp control because the sensor measures who knows what and it will alternate between overheating and cooling off. When you first start it up it will overheat your pot or fry pan because it can’t sense the temp of your pot/pan so you have to start on 100 degrees to first warm up the pan and surface of the unit. The area it heats varies because it uses different wattages for different temp ranges, which you won’t know til you read the documentation. . Things you find out if you use an infrared thermometer. Don’t believe what you see in the cooking demos it is highly unlikely they got that perfect looking result on the first try. At only 1500watts forget about doing things like stir fry with frozen veggies except in small quantities. Big waste of money, think about it 1500 watts is a hair blow dryer…

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@tikoy1955]

UnWave is the way to go.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@jimmy_Ross]

sweet video thanks for sharing i srill cant believe your in 2 differnt comercials so thats cool anyways god bless brother and i hope your doing well

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks! I still feel weird about the commercials, but it helps get the word out!

[@copisetic1104]

I use multi fuel stoves, battery technology should used elsewhere they are too inefficient. I gallon of fuel can cook meals for weeks.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.

[@Tom-sg4iv]

Well, let's hope the induction top lasts a lifetime. You have to boil a lot of water to make up for the price difference.

[@OffGridBasement]

Good point. Thanks for the comment.

[@hpjtv]

Mine is over 12 years old and works perfectly.

[@raymondclark1785]

1st question you need to ask yourself, Does anyone in your group have a medical implant? Pacemakers can't be near those magnets in induction cooktops 😢

[@OffGridBasement]

Didn't think about that. Thanks for the comment.

[@charleschapman2428]

$17 dollars vs $110 dollars, that's a pretty big strech.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the comment.

[@brianfoltz-p9y]

Do the same test at 1300

[@antontsau]

Iron hotplate is hopeless obsolete. At least to use ceramic (halogen) stove for $60 (AUD$100) without huge iron thermal inertia. Also it is not very relevant at all as portable induction stoves cost the same $60.

[@OffGridBasement]

Thanks for the info and the comment.