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The quick comparison
| Induction | Gas stove (LPG) | |
|---|---|---|
| How it heats | Magnetic field heats the pan itself | Flame heats the pan from below |
| Heat reaching the pan | More of it | Less of it, some goes into the kitchen |
| Works in a power cut | No | Yes |
| Utensils | Magnetic flat base only | Almost any, including round kadhai |
| Phulka and roasting | No open flame | Yes |
| Burners | Usually one per unit | Usually two or more |
| Control | Buttons, set power levels | Instant, by eye |
| Kitchen heat | Less | More |
| Cleaning | Wipe the glass | Burners and pan supports |
| Upfront cost if you already have gas | Cooktop, perhaps new utensils | None |
Which costs less? A worked example
This is a rough example, not a measurement. The numbers depend on your cylinder price and your electricity tariff, and on your pots, your flame and how you cook.
Our sum assumes that one kilogram of LPG gives about 12.8 units of heat, a gas stove passes about half of that to the pot, and induction passes about 85%. On those figures, 1 kg of LPG does about the same cooking as 7.5 units of electricity. A 14.2 kg cylinder then matches about 107 units.
Now multiply 107 by your rate. This example uses ₹8 per unit. Your rate depends on your state and how much you use, so check your bill.
107 units × ₹8 = about ₹856
So at ₹8 per unit, induction comes out cheaper if your cylinder costs more than about ₹856. Here are two made-up cylinder prices, only to show the sum. Use your own price.
| Example cylinder price | Same cooking on induction at ₹8 | Cheaper in this example |
|---|---|---|
| ₹800 | About ₹856 | Gas, by about ₹56 |
| ₹1,000 | About ₹856 | Induction, by about ₹144 |
Two things can change the result. If you get a subsidy on your cylinder, your real price is lower, so use the price you actually pay. And heavy cooking on electricity can push you into a higher slab on your bill, which raises the cost of your later units too.
The two are often close. The real gain from induction may be speed and a cooler kitchen rather than savings.
Cost of one dish
Induction cost is easy to work out. This table assumes full power, and induction switches on and off at lower settings. It uses an example rate of ₹8 per unit, so check your bill for your own rate.
| Power setting | Units in 30 minutes | Cost at ₹8 |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 watts | 0.5 | ₹4 |
| 1600 watts | 0.8 | ₹6.40 |
| 2000 watts | 1 | ₹8 |
How each one fits Indian cooking
Gas handles almost everything. You can puff a phulka on the flame, roast a brinjal, and use a round kadhai. You also judge the heat by eye, which many cooks prefer.
Induction heats oil very quickly, so have your mustard seeds and curry leaves ready for tadka. Dosa works on a flat iron tawa, and pressure cooking works on an induction-base cooker. You can cook rotis on a tawa, but there is no flame to puff a phulka. A round-bottom kadhai rocks and heats poorly.
The utensil cost
Take a fridge magnet to your kitchen before you buy anything. Cast iron and magnetic stainless steel usually work. Plain aluminium, copper, brass, clay and glass do not, unless the base has a magnetic layer. Hard anodised aluminium works only with a steel base layer. Count what you would need to replace, and add that to the price of the cooktop. Also check that each base is flat and sits fully on the glass, because an old warped tawa heats poorly too. If you need several new pots, that one cost can outweigh a long run of small savings on your bill.
Which should you choose?
Choose induction if you want a second burner for a small kitchen, you live in a rented room or a hostel, power cuts are rare where you live, your pots have magnetic bases, and the sum above works in your favour.
Choose gas if you have frequent power cuts, you cook phulkas or use round kadhais often, you cook several dishes at the same time, or you do not want to replace your utensils.
Keep both if you can. Many homes use gas for daily cooking and keep induction for quick jobs, or for the day a cylinder runs out.
An option to look at on Amazon
We have not tested this. It is one example of a 2000 watt cooktop, and the detail comes from the listing title. Check the current price, warranty and reviews on Amazon.
| Product | Type | Listed detail |
|---|---|---|
| Prestige PIC 16.0 Plus | Induction cooktop | 2000 watts |
Before you buy
A 2000 watt cooktop draws about 9 amps, so use a 16 amp wall socket in good condition and avoid thin extension boards. Most home inverters cannot run one, so keep a backup for power cuts. Check for an authorised service centre near you, and read what the warranty says about voltage swings.
The products in this comparison
Prestige PIC 16.0 Plus
Read next
Common questions
Is induction cheaper than a gas stove?
It depends on your rates. In our rough example, a 14.2 kg cylinder matches about 107 units of electricity. At an example rate of ₹8 per unit, that is about ₹856, so compare it with your own cylinder price and bill.
Can I use my old utensils on induction?
Only if the base is magnetic. Hold a fridge magnet to the base. If it sticks firmly, the utensil should work. Plain aluminium will not work.
Should I give up my gas connection for induction?
For most homes, no. Induction stops in a power cut, and most home inverters cannot supply 2000 watts. Gas also suits flame cooking such as puffing a phulka.