Comic Strips

that's called coil whine, some older folks might recognize it as "the crt sound". Coil whine is simple to prevent if the manufacturer gives a shit, but then that eats into profit margins and megacorpos hate that. You can get induction cooktops that don't coil whine, they just cost more.

Coil whines are unfortunately common on low end induction stoves, but medium to high end stoves usually don't have them.

Coil whines usually comes from microvibrations due to the current going through the coils, but depending on the build quality it can be almost imperceptible.

I have a couple mobile induction burner that I got from a yardsale a decade ago and there is no whine. I remember my parents brand new induction stove sounded like turning on a crt. I guess if you are buying new you get what you pay for. I can give you the model of the burners I have if you want.

Just got an induction stove. Sound level depends on the power setting and the pot/pan, and maybe even on the stove manufacturer.

I’ve never heard a “squeal”, but there is a faint “buzz-click” as the power cycles in the coils. If you need high power the buzz is slightly louder and steady, if low power it’s fainter but you get the “click” of the relays as it cycles. Some cookware seems to make the buzz a little louder.

Overall IMO it’s not loud, and the sounds of cooking pretty much drown it out - boiling, searing, whatever.

I’ve cooked with all three (gas, electric, induction) and while a good gas stove is still my favorite, induction IMO is really the best of both worlds. I absolutely would not go back to standard electric after using induction.

I'm very sensitive to high frequency coil whine from electronics, but I've never heard a stove do that. I don't know when you heard one make coil whine, or how cheap it was, but I can tell you I've never owned a stove with coil whine. I don't even buy the most expensive ones (just midrange). Definitely give them another go.

I've used many and with cheap ones it's super audible, but even the quite high end ones sound exactly like an old CRT monitor. It's absolutely maddening to cook on.

There's a high pitched squeal? I guess they did because I've never heard that.

it really bothered me as a kid, but then I got old and my hearing went to shit and now it doesn't bother me - give it a few decades and revisit 😅