Does Hard Anodized Work on Induction? Explained | Best Brands

Hard Anodized is a famous material for cookware. It’s durable and resistant to scratches and dents, but does hard anodized work on induction? Worry not, because that’s today’s topic. 

I’ve been using Hard Anodized cookware of different brands for months. Some of the cookware are induction compatible, and others aren’t. It all depends on the base of your hard anodized cookware. 

Below, I’ll explain the reason why the base of the cookware matters. How you can tell whether your cookware is induction compatible or not, along with answering other important questions. Stick around with me till the end, and I’ll make it all clear for you.

Does Hard Anodized Work on Induction? Quick Answer

No, most hard anodized cookware doesn’t work on induction stoves because it’s made of aluminum, which doesn’t respond to the magnetic fields of induction. 

However, some hard anodized cookware has a stainless steel base that does work on induction stoves, allowing you to use it for cooking. So, it depends on whether your hard anodized cookware has the right base to work on an induction stove or not.

What Exactly Is Hard Anodized Cookware?

In simple words, hard anodized cookware is basically made with aluminum. The catch is it’s not like the traditional aluminum cookware because the aluminum has to go through an electrochemical process. 

In the electrochemical process, aluminum undergoes changes that create a thick layer of aluminum oxide on the surface, making it much harder and more durable than normal. This means hard anodized cookware can withstand scratches and dents much better than aluminum cookware. 

How Does An Induction Stove Work?

Now, coming to another important point: How does an induction stove work? It’s crucial because, without this info, you can’t understand whether hard anodized cookware is induction-compatible or not. 

When you turn on the induction cooktop, it generates an electromagnetic field under its ceramic surface. But this magnetic field only works with certain pots and pans. These special pots and pans have bases made of stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel.

If the base of the cookware isn’t made of any of these three materials, the current generated by the electromagnetic field can’t be induced in the cookware. As a result, the cookware won’t heat, nor you’ll be able to cook. 

Is Hard Anodized Induction Compatible?

Since you have an idea about how an induction cooktop works, you can easily understand why most hard anodized cookware isn’t induction-compatible. 

Hard anodized cookware is made of aluminum, and most of them have an aluminum base, which isn’t induction-compatible. Even if you put your hard anodized cookware on an induction hob, it won’t generate heat to cook food. 

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t use hard-anodized cookware on induction at all. The cookware I’m using at home is made of hard-anodized and works perfectly on an induction hob. The reason behind this is the stainless steel disc at the bottom, as shown in the image below. 

Due to the metal disc, the induction hob easily induces the current, which later generates heat for cooking in the pan.  

How to Check If Hard Anodized Cookware Induction-Ready?

There are two different ways to check if your hard anodized cookware induction is ready or not.

Magnet Test:

Place a magnet on the bottom of your hard anodized cookware. If the magnet sticks firmly to the bottom, it is likely induction-ready because it contains enough magnetic material. If the magnet doesn’t stick, it may not be suitable for induction cooking.

Manufacturer’s Label:

Look for any labels or markings on the cookware that indicate its compatibility with induction cooktops. Manufacturers often label their products with “induction-ready” or similar terms to make it clear.

Read the Description:

The easiest way is to read the description of the product before purchasing it. You’ll get all the information about the compatibility of the cookware. 

Check the Cookware Base:

In case you already own a hard anodized cookware and have no idea about its compatibility. Check the bottom of the cookware to see if the base is flat and has stainless steel, cast iron, or carbon steel. Your cookware is induction-compatible if the base is made of any of these three materials. 

3 Best Brands that Offer Induction Compatible Hard Anodized Cookware

Here are a few of the best brands that offer induction-compatible hard anodized cookware. I’m using all of them and am fully satisfied with their performance. 

1. All-Clad 

All-Clad is my favorite brand for hard-anodized cookware. They have a huge variety; you can easily find different cookware sets and also buy pans and pots separately. All of their HA2 (hard-anodized) collections are induction-compatible, non-stick and oven-safe for up to 500F (350F for the glass lids). 

2. KitchenAid

The second brand you should consider for hard-anodized cookware is KitchenAid. It’s a famous brand that offers countless skillets in hard-anodized material, but remember, not all of them have an induction-compatible base. So you have to do a little bit of research about the cookware you’re selecting. 

3. Martha Stewart

The third best option for hard anodized cookware is the Martha Stewart. Various hard anodized products of the brand are on Amazon, in which one cooking consisting of 12 pieces is induction compatible. In terms of variety, you don’t have a lot of choices, but the quality of the set is worth your money. 

Which brand offers the Best Hard Anodized Induction Compatible Cookware?

As I mentioned, I own all of the three brands: All-Clad, KitchenAid, and Martha Stewart. I’ve cooked sets of Martha Stewart and KitchenAid and pans from All-Clad. The performance of all cookware is exceptional; they have a non-stick interior and work perfectly on an induction hob. 

However, a main difference I’ve noticed is that Kitchen Aid is best when it comes to cleaning. The cookware is dishwasher safe, while All-Clad and Martha Stewart recommend hand-washing only. Besides that, All-Clad is a clear winner in terms of offering a variety of hard anodized cookware that is induction-compatible. 

Final Words 

So, if I sum-up will hard anodized work on induction? Most hard anodized cookware doesn’t work on induction stoves because it’s made of aluminum, which doesn’t respond to the stove’s magnets. 

However, some hard anodized cookware has a special stainless steel base that does work on induction stoves. In short, everything depends on your cookware’s base material and whether it will work with induction or not. 

Besides the material base, you should also look for a flat bottom surface because only flat bottom surfaces work on an induction cooktop.  

Related Posts:

• Using Induction Cookware on a Gas Stove
• Does All-Clad work on Induction Cooktop?
• Can you use Ceramic Cookware on Induction Cooktop