Induction Stove Cookware Compatibility Checker
The official answer is "do the magnet test" - which works fine until you're standing in a kitchenware aisle without a magnet. Pick your cookware's material below and get an instant answer instead. Nothing uploaded.
Result
Why
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How Induction Heating and Cookware Work
The Magnetic Coupling Requirement
Induction cooktops generate a magnetic field below the surface. When you place a ferrous (iron-based) metal pan on the field, the changing field induces electrical current in the pan's base, which generates heat. Non-magnetic materials like copper, aluminum, or glass cannot support this induced current and will not heat at all, no matter how expensive or thick the cookware is.
Stainless Steel Confusion
Stainless steel comes in many alloys. Some are strongly magnetic (300 series with high iron), some are weakly magnetic, and some are non-magnetic (high-nickel 200 series). When manufacturers mark cookware 'induction-ready', they mean the base layer is ferrous (iron-containing), even if the exterior is non-magnetic stainless. The magnet test settles any doubt instantly.
FAQ
Why does my stainless steel pan not work on induction?
Stainless steel can be weakly magnetic or non-magnetic depending on the alloy and manufacturing process. 18/8 and 18/10 are common non-induction grades. Pans marked 'induction-ready' or with a magnetic clad bottom will work. Always use the magnet test to be sure.
Can I make an aluminum or copper pan work on induction?
No, not by itself. Aluminum and copper are not magnetic, and induction only works with magnetic cookware. However, you can use an induction adapter - a thin magnetic steel disc that sits between the pan and the cooktop surface, allowing non-induction cookware to be used (with reduced heating efficiency).
What does 'magnetic base' or 'induction-ready' mean?
It means the pan has ferrous (iron-containing) metal in its base layer, usually a clad or sandwiched layer of stainless steel bonded to a magnetic steel interior. This ferrous layer is what couples with the induction field and generates heat. Check the label or do the magnet test.