So you have either ordered a new induction range and it is coming soon, or you just had one installed and you are looking at it thinking, what am I missing. I am going to show you three indispensable items you need when you first get an induction range.

Induction Plate

9.25inch Stainless Steel Coffee Milk Cookware Simmer Ring Induction Hob Plate Heat Diffuser Medium
  • The heat diffuser is mainly helpful when you cook heat sensitive items such as caramel, rice and oats. Even simmering sauces, since you can keep the temperature at low levels.
  • It also distributes the heat evenly, which in return improves the quality of your cooking and most importantly the taste of the food.
  • The item can also be used as a gas hob trivet stabilizer no matter how small the pan is. In addition the diffuser comes with a handle so you can easily move it without the risk of burning yourself. Besides, you can hang it next to your stove for easy and quick access.
  • The heat diffuser is the perfect gadget which allows you to use all of your pans on any induction surface. Therefore, you dont have to buy expensive induction pans, since you can use your current regular ones, avoiding unnecessary costs.
  • The disc of the heat diffuser consists of three layers. The upper and the bottom layers are stainless steel, whereas the middle is aluminum for excellent heat distribution.

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Even if you purchase new cookware, I guarantee you, you will have a few items that you don’t want to throw away or haven’t replaced and still want to use. Examples would be a nice tea kettle, my stove top mocha pot and an aluminum wok I loved. Because these were not induction compatible, I either had to throw them out, buy new ones or not use them at all.

This is where an induction plate comes into play. An induction plate looks like a piece of stainless steel with a handle. It sits on the induction range and gets warmed up by the magnets. You then put your mocha pot, or kettle on top of it and its acts like a fancy hot plate.

This saved me a lot until I was able to get a new kettle for my French Press coffee. Is it perfect? No, unlike say, an Allclad pan, it may not be as flat and get as god a connection so I find it hard to use for things like stir frying.

Cooktop Cleaning Kit

Affresh W11042470 Cleaning Kit (Cooktop Cleaner, Scraper and Scrub Pads)
  • Affresh cooktop cleaning kit polishes your cooktop to keep it looking like new
  • Cuts through touch cooked-on residues for a streak-free Polished shine
  • Recommended by Whirlpool, KitchenAid and Maytag brands
  • Affresh cooktop cleaning kit includes a non-abrasive cleaner and non-abrasive cleaning pads that are safe for all glass and ceramic cooktops

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

Most people look at their ranges and think it’s a simple glass cook top. but in reality it is a ceramic cook top. This is because it has to deal with a large temperature range as well as pots and pans banging on it all day. Even tempered glass would crack. So appliance manufacturers use ceramic.

Because it is ceramic, normal windex just won’t clean it as well as a special cook top cleaner. What you will see is smudges don’t come off and build up where the pan sits will accumulate over time. Every manufacturer recommends different ones but I say get this one here. It is the same one recommended by the whirlpool brands which means if you have Kitchenaid, Maytag, Whirlpool and even some Kenmore brands, it should work just fine.

Barkeepers Friend

BAR KEEPERS FRIEND Soft Cleanser Liquid (13 OZ) and Non Scratch Scouring Scrubber Kit | Multipurpose, Stainless Steel, Rust, Soft Cleaner with Heavy Duty Non Scratch DishCloth
  • ✓ BEST USA CLEANSING POLISHING: 13oz Bar Keepers Friend Cooktop Cleaner Liquid + Top Rated Non Scratch Heavy Duty Scouring DishCloth for glass stovetop cleaner
  • ✓ NON ABRASIVE and DURABLE NON SCRATCH CLOTHS: Bar Keepers Friend is non abrasive unlike other competitor products. The scrubbing cloths are 100% non scratch and will outlast any sponge and leave your surfaces sparkling clean. Very effective cleaner for glass stove tops.
  • ✓ NON SMELLY CLEANING CLOTHS: The included scrubbing cloths will NOT build up disgusting sponge odors or bacteria. Will NOT fall apart easily like a sponge. Use the cloth as a dishcloth to clean hard water stains and marks from your stainless steel pots and pans.
  • ✓ BKF is MADE IN USA (Indianapolis) ✓ Scourer Cloths MADE IN KOREA (NOT CHINA). Barkeepers friend is Ammonia and silicone free; cleans and polishes. Food-safe formula.

Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.

If you have an induction range, at one point you are going to have stainless steel cookware of some kind. And while some brands have less issues with this, many stainless steel pots and pans will discolor with use. You don’t have to worry a bout it but I know my wife hates seeing it. And we have all used a stainless steel pan and find food that looks like you need a sledge hammer to get rid of.

Barkeepers friend is what you need to have on hand. It some how cleans everything and does it without being super abrasive. Not only your stainless steel, but anything that is rusted so it is not a one trick pony.

These three tools remove the the hassle

Keep these tools around and you will not be frustrated. As much as I love my induction range it does take a little getting used to. And I love my stainless steel cookware (heavy and shiny) but it does cook different than the cheap aluminum pans I had before.