Gastronorm Pans and Induction?

[joesan]

The title pretty much says it all - does anyone know if you can use a stainless steel gastronorm pan on an induction cooktop?

[dougal]

It first depends on the particular type of "stainless steel" used on that particular pan.

Test it - If an ordinary magnet (fridge magnet anyone?) will stick to the base, then an induction hob will work with and heat that material.

If it won't stick, then forget it - induction won't work with it.

It'll then help if the pan base is pretty flat - on my domestic hob, anything over perhaps 1/10" clearance had the hob signalling "no pan". (I used this occasionally - lifting the pan slightly to kill the heat)

And, umm, a thicker base to the pan would be bound to help to spread the heat... aren't those things kinda thin?

Hope that helps...

Edited December 5, 2007 by dougal (log)

[HKDave]

If they're 18/8 stainless, nope. If they're (cheaper) 18/0 stainless, yes, bearing in mind Dougal's points about pan size and thickness.

[joesan]

Thanks for your input guys.

It wouldn't be something that I would plan on doing regularly but it could be useful now and again to make a pan sauce etc.

Will look out for some cheap gastronorm pans and try the magnet test.