NuWave Induction Cooktop - Product Review

Our former RV fifth wheel toy hauler was equipped with an awesome propane stove and oven. However, I wanted another cooking alternative when our RV was hooked up to electricity so we didn’t waste our propane. And then I found this; an induction cooktop to use inside my RV kitchen and outside for another reason.

Portable RV Induction Cooktop - Always On Liberty

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We’ll talk about that other reason later in this blog. But first, let’s learn about how an Induction Cooktop works.

What Is Induction Cooking?

From the Induction Site:

Cooking is the application of heat to food. Indoor cooking is almost entirely done in an oven or on a cooking surface. Cooktops may be part of a range/oven combination or independent built-in units. They are commonly considered to be broadly divided into gas or electric types.

There are several very different methods of electric heating. Such methods include coil elements, halogen heaters, or induction.

As stated earlier, cooking is the application of heating food. Food being prepared in the home is cooked in a cooking vessel such as a pot or pan on a rangetop. Thus, the job of the cooker is, not to heat the food, but to heat the cooking vessel. It’s the cooking vessel that actually heats and cooks the food. That allows a more gradual or uniform application of heat to the food by proper design of the cooking vessel.

How Induction Cooking Works:

1. The element’s electronics power a coil that produces a high-frequency electromagnetic field.
2. That field penetrates the metal of the ferrous (magnetic-material) cooking vessel and sets up a circulating electric current, which generates heat.
3. The heat generated in the cooking vessel transfers to the vessel’s contents.
4. Nothing outside the vessel is affected by the field as soon as the vessel is removed from the element, or the element turned off, heat generation stops.

There is though, one point about induction. With current technology, induction cookers require that all your countertop cooking vessels be of a ferrous metal (one, such as iron, that will readily sustain a magnetic field). Materials like aluminum, copper, and pyrex are not usable on an induction cooking appliance. All that means is that you need iron, steel or pots and pans that are magnetized or what is commonly referred to as induction safe.

So, now that we have the scientific data, let’s get on with our NuWave Induction Cooktop for RVs Product Review.

Onto our NuWave Induction Cooktop Product Review

Let’s just start by saying I’m absolutely thrilled to have found this Induction Cooktop for RVs! They have been my cooking savior. As stated earlier in this blog, during the cold months, it allows us to save our propane for heating our RV.

Added to that, the induction cooktop’s portability allows me to take them outside to cook odiferous, greasy and messy foods; making clean up a whole heck of a lot easier. In fact, I will batch-cook a few pounds of bacon outside using my induction cooktop and then, store it all in the freezer for later. I’ll also do this with other cuts of meat or ground beef (we call it batch-cooking).

Now, of course, if you pay dearly for your metered electricity or are boondocking with limited electric usage, you are not going to be able to use them unless you have a decent size generator or bigger battery bank and energy management system!

As with any new appliance, we read the manufacturer’s instructions first before operating. And like I mentioned before, we could use even my Lodge cast iron dutch oven and pan. We also purchased a set of induction safe cookware for RVs. The NuWave Induction Cooktop did come with a small fry pan specifically made for the induction cooktop but to be quite honest, I didn’t like the copper (or faux copper) coating inside the pan. So, I ditched the pan.

I found the induction cooktop is super easy to use with its’ push-button panel. The burner heats evenly and thoroughly. And, when removing a pot or pan, the heat instantly disappears.

Oh, and I absolutely love its’ portability. In addition to taking it outside to cook our messy dishes, they are also great to take to pot lucks. We can simply plug it in to heat or reheat as well as keep a pot’s contents warm.

In fact, we love it so much that we bought another. By having two, I could cook sausage gravy in one and our eggs on the other. Additionally, I bought two carrying/storage cases to protect them during transit as well as portability.

But, I must digress in letting you know there is a negative (but just one). It’s a little on the heavy side. So, I had to make certain I stored them in a lower drawer than a high cabinet.

All in all though, I really love these induction cooktops. I love the versatility and freedom it gives me of how and where I cook.

Induction Cooktop for R - Always On Liberty

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