A laboratory experiment was performed to investigate
the interaction between container material and energy source. The energy sources used include: conventional electric coil, gas flame, induction, solid element, and electric resistance coil under glass-ceramic. The container
materials investigated include: thin gauge aluminum,
heavy gauge aluminum, glass—ceramic, thin gauge
porcelain—on-steel, and heavy gauge stainless steel with
thick aluminum heat core. Crepes were prepared to determine
the browning pattern for each cooking system (combination
of energy source and container material). Water
was used as a test medium for both speed of heating and
retained heat tests. Duncan Multiple Range Tests were
performed to determine significant differences between
systems, and a General Linear Models Procedure was used to
assess the contribution made by each variable on variances
between systems.
When speed of heating, and retained heat are desired,
the important variable was the cooktop. The induction,
gas flame, and conventional electric coil boiled water more quickly, and the solid element and the electric
resistance coil under glass-ceramic retained the most
heat. When even browning is desired, the choice of cookware
is important. Heavy gauge aluminum and heavy gauge
stainless steel with a thick aluminum heat core produced
the most even browning. Systems that performed all tests
well include the conventional electric coil paired with
heavy gauge aluminum or heavy gauge stainless steel with
thick aluminum heat core cookware.
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