Approaching my first van build, I had no idea how uncommon the induction stove was in the van community. I came across it when researching ways of cooking on the road without needing propane. Having propane is definitely not that big of a deal and is definitely the most popular way of cooking. But I just haven’t been a huge fan of the idea of having propane in the van at all times which is where the induction stove comes in as the next best. After having one in both builds now, I can honestly say I LOVE it and will never use propane!
If you’re considering induction, this is everything you need to know!
PROS
- Makes it feel more like a home stove instead of camping
- Looks really nice and heats food up super quick
- Only heats the pan when turned On so it is not hot to the touch if you have children in the van
- Tells you exactly how much power it's using at all times
CONS
- Uses quite a bit of power compared to propane or butane stove which uses none
- Must use cast iron or magnetic stainless steel pans
- If installed in countertop, can't take it outside like propane stoves
- Overall just more complicated to figure out the electrical setup needed to ensure enough power
How Much Power Does It Take?
Power consumption seems to be the biggest concern around induction but has honestly never been an issue with me. The induction stove that I have is clearly marked degrees- to- watts. So if I’m using 250 degrees, I know that it’s using exactly 700 Watts. I never really cook over 300 degrees which pulls 1000 Watts. I typically cook twice a day for roughly 15-20 minutes each time. The power usually bounces back up shortly after I’m finished cooking and I have never had the batteries completely emptied because of the stove. I have 400 Watts of solar, 1500 Watt inverter, and two 95 amp hour batteries.
If my power does get low because I have cooked several times that day, I have the option to just start the van up because the batteries are hooked up to the vehicle’s alternator. I highly recommend doing this whether you get the induction or not!
Which One Do I Recommend?
The cooktop that I use is the Rosewill Single Burner which is the same one that I have had in both vans. It’s perfectly sized to not take up too much space. I think it looks amazing when installed in the counter and makes it really feel like a home versus using propane. It also just plugs directly into my inverter outlet which is why my electrical setup is directly below it. I honestly am so happy with the decision to go with the induction stove and wouldn’t do it any other way in the future!
Someday I am going to do some RVing and I am less than excited about having a bunch of gas lines bopping around the highways. Your info on induction cookers was one of the most helpful I have seen as it focused specifically on what you ACTUALLY do and how you ACTUALLY use it as opposed to what happens if you turn it on high and leave it on four hours without the engine running. Also, I don’t think induction is ultimately more complicated than what it takes to deal with all the gas architecture, its just new to some. Thank you.
We cook on induction in our van and we absolutely love it, would definitely recommend. It also gives off less moisture than propane so great in the never ending battle to keep moisture out of the van! Only problem is England isn’t the sunniest of places for solar generation to keep the battery topped up… it’s do-able though!
Does it work with very small pots such as a stovetop espresso unit?
Thanks for the recommendation and it does look nice and homey. You can purchase trivets that go on top of it and then you cook with your La Chamba or Vision cookware, or anything else that is non-magnetic, which adds to that homey feel.
And I also absolutely need counter space for my 3quart Instant Pot pressure cooker.
I might as well add the Nutribullet too.