The History of Induction Cooktops

Induction cooktops were first patented in the early 1900s and introduced at the World’s Fair in 1933. Frigidaire brought an induction cooktop to market in the 1950s and Westinghouse did the same in the 1970s. However, these early models were extremely costly (around $8,300 in today’s dollars) so they did not catch on in the United States. Over time, however, induction cooktops became popular in Europe and Asia, in part because they fit well in the small, efficient kitchens commonly found in both regions. As popularity grew, induction cooktops became more affordable. In recent years, many professional chefs have switched to induction cooktops, in part because the technology is safer, generates less heat, and allows for routine kitchen tasks such as boiling water to be completed in much less time than is possible using traditional gas stoves. Safety, efficiency, and sustainability are also qualities that home cooks value, and consequently, induction cooktops are becoming increasingly popular in American homes today.