Induction Stove vs Gas Stove: Which is Better in India? 2023 Guide

Using an induction stove is far more economical than using an LPG gas. That being said , you must keep a few things in your mind because little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Electricity in India is charged telescopically and there are other pros & cons of each method of cooking.

Note that, when it comes to India, cheap and convenience are two prime factors to decide what should be used.

• LPG gas is cheaper and more convenient as most of the utensils in India are made for this.
• Induction stove may be cheaper but not all the utensils are usable. But has other conveniences.

But that is not the conclusion yet, let us take deeper look into various cooking options in India. While doing let us also throw in another popular cooking method i.e. electric stoves for our comparisons.

1. Cooking with LPG Gas Stoves in India

A very common occurrence in almost every Indian household, Gas stoves are also the most preferred types of stoves by many professional chefs and normal home-makers alike. This is because Gas stoves offer greater flexibility when it comes to cooking atmosphere. That and the availability of a wider range makes these the best bet. 

Suggested Read: 2 burner gas stoves | 3 burner gas stoves | 4 burner gas stoves 

Firstly, for a gas stove, you will be having a great amount of control over the heat that is to be distributed across your utensils. The ease of adjustment of heat and the cleaning of course along with the fact that these have longevity make Gas stoves preferable. 

But at the same time, please do not ignore that Gas Stoves could be an expensive affair. Their fancy styles and designs do not come cheap and also there is the issue of energy expenditure. Natural gas itself is growing in cost and reducing availability. There are also the risks of gas leaks and explosions (though less likely to happen with the modern-day safety standards)

2. Cooking with Electric Stoves in India

A lot of us do not know this but Electric Stoves have been a thing for more than 120 years. With the simple premise of using electricity to generate heat to cook instead of gas, they have been serving as a brilliant alternative to gas stoves.

Electric cooktops are attractive in an aesthetical fashion. They are very handy and portable as you can take them out, plugin, cook and store it away, an option that is not exactly possible with a gas stove. Also, there are no restrictions or burner guards required for these stoves. Perfectly portable, these stoves make great companions for people living in small areas. 

They do not possess the risk of catching fire or being inflammable. Also, there is the fact that they are super easy to clean and maintain. You can place your pans and other utensils comfortably on their flat surfaces without the concern of them tripping. But they sure lack in the flexibility of heat control. 

They do have heat control buttons but that does not give you as flexibility as a gas stove. There is also the issue of not working during power cuts (for which India is notorious). 

3. Cooking with Induction Cooktop

Out of all the stoves, an Induction cooktop is the fastest and most energy-efficient of all. Did you know that a few induction stoves have the capability of boiling a large bowl of water in under 90 seconds? 

What’s more interesting and fascinating about an induction cooktop is that it does not heat the entire stove. It just heats the utensil that needs to be heated up. This implies that an induction stove is not just energy economical but also contributes towards having kitchens that are free from hot atmospheres and sweating. 

There is also the issue of safety. Induction stoves give you much more safety than that of gas stoves and even electric stoves because of the immense security and automative features that are embedded into the. For instance, there is the automatic shut down feature that will turn off the stove when you lift off the utensil from the stove. 

Similar to the gas stove, you can control the temperature on this stove too. Unlike the heat on a gas stove, you can control the actual temperature the utensil is placed in this stove. Also, these induction stoves come with better aesthetics than regular gas stoves and are easy to clean.

But as we speak of the benefits, we cannot forget the limitations as well. For instance, similar to the electric stoves, these too have the limitation to the shape and size of the pans and pots you would be using. Also, compared to gas stoves, these stoves are expensive. But this can be overlooked when comparing overall energy savings.

Energy efficiency: Gas vs Electric vs Induction

Let us compare all of 3 main cooking methods with respect to energy efficiencies:

An induction stove does not spend energy heating up the entire base or the stove but it only spends its energy to heat up the utensils. Therefore, by comparison, the induction stove is the clear winner.

Cost of Cooking: Gas vs Electric vs Induction

For the sake of comparison, we have consolidated and compared the average pricing range of products available and would only be comparing the energy expenditure of the stoves. 

For the sake of an example, let us consider boiling 10 litres of water which is at an average temperature of 25 degrees. Now the energy required to boil it would be

4.2 x 10000 x 75 = 3150000 Joules.

With that reference, let us compare various types of stoves and how they stand for such energy expenditure. 

Here, the gas cylinder seems to win the game.

But in cased if we consider solar as electricity source then everything becomes very different. In houses with solar panels and alternative forms of energy, you can drastically bring down these costs for even 0 rupees as well. In that case, both the electric and induction stoves win. 

What is Your Energy Source?

Your choice of energy source has a direct impact on your costs of using a stove; be it gas, electric or induction. 

Gas Energy Source : LPG vs PNG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas or LPG based gas stoves are the common norm in Indian households. However, the situation is changing fast and a more affordable gas and natural form of it, the PNG (Piped Natural Gas) is slowly and gradually replacing LPG. Currently available only in a few select cities across India. 

While a single cylinder of LPG costs you about 500 rupees (price fluctuates about 498 or below depending on area of distribution). The equivalent volume of (PNG) Pipelined Natural Gas would cost you somewhere between 375-400 rupees. Thus, your choice of gas can also help you reduce the price of your cooking.

Electric Energy Source: GRID vs Solar

By common sense, solar energy is the most sustainable and cheapest form of consumer end energy available. While GRID based electricity (generated either by coal or otherwise) distributed by corporations may be easy, it will cost your electrical appliances (induction and electric stoves) at a considerable amount.

When it comes to using solar energy, one of the biggest challenges is the initial installation. If you were to be able to invest in installing high quality solar panels, they would not only reduce your energy expenditure of cooking, but also for a whole range of other appliances as well.

The only drawback from a solar energy based cooker is that the lack of availability of sun during monsoons or during winters.this again, can be minimised if you use hybrid grids( solar and grid based power consumption)

FAQs – Induction Stove vs Gas Stove

Over to You

So which is your best way of cooking? As noted above, there are no clear winners. And more than often people use more than one type of cooking methods. Therefore, it’s all a matter of weighing the various advantages against your own personal preferences and priorities.