How to Know if Cookware Is Induction? | The Magnet Test

Induction ranges heat pans directly through magnetism, so the cookware you use has to be ferromagnetic. The good news is you do not need a fancy gadget to figure out whether your current pots and pans will work. One item from your kitchen — a refrigerator magnet — tells you what you need to know in about five seconds.

Try the Magnet Test on the Pan’s Base

Whirlpool’s official guidance is straightforward: flip the pan over, hold a magnet to the bottom, and if it sticks, the pan is ferromagnetic and can be used on induction. Consumer Reports confirms the same core rule — if the magnet sticks, the pan will work on an induction appliance.

Place the magnet flat against the bottom of the pan. A firm, definite pull means you are good to go. The strength of the stick matters, not just whether it barely holds.

What a Weak Magnet Stick Means

A weak or partial attraction may indicate marginal or uneven compatibility. Some pans have a magnetic ring only in the base, so the magnet will grip in spots but slide off in others. That kind of pan can be hit or miss on an induction cooktop, which needs reliable magnetic contact to generate heat.

Which Materials Work With Induction Cooktops

Induction works with ferromagnetic materials. Cast iron, enameled cast iron, magnetic stainless steel, and carbon steel all make the list. Whirlpool and IKEA both list enameled cast iron as a compatible option, so your favorite Dutch oven is likely fine.

Aluminum, copper, glass, and ceramic do not work unless they have a specially engineered magnetic base bonded to the bottom. Pure copper pans and most glass cookware will simply sit there cold on an induction burner.

• Works: cast iron, enameled cast iron, magnetic stainless steel, carbon steel
• Does not work: aluminum, copper, glass, ceramic (unless given a magnetic base)

Look for the Induction Symbol

Many manufacturers mark induction-compatible cookware with a coiled spring or spiral symbol, according to KitchenAid. You will find this mark on the pan’s bottom or on the retail packaging. It looks like a series of loops or a zig-zag style line, similar to a coil.

This symbol is a helpful manufacturer indicator, but it is not a universal legal standard. The magnet test remains the most reliable check, since it measures the actual property the cooktop needs.

Common Mistakes That Fool Shoppers

Several assumptions cause people to buy the wrong cookware. Knowing these pitfalls keeps your money in your pocket.

Assuming all stainless steel works. It does not. Stainless steel only works if it is magnetic, and some grades lack the magnetic properties induction needs. Magnetism is the deciding factor, not the metal name alone.

Believing weight or price means compatibility. A heavy, premium pan can still be nonmagnetic. Compatibility depends on magnetic response, never on how substantial the pan feels or what it cost.

Confusing the induction symbol with other logos. The coil, loop, spiral, or zig-zag mark is specific to induction compatibility. Do not mistake a manufacturer logo for it.

Expecting partial heat from noncompatible pans. Induction cooktops only heat cookware they detect as magnetic. A noncompatible pan will not heat halfway — it typically produces no heat at all or triggers an error message on the cooktop display.

When you are ready to shop, see our tested picks for cookware on an induction range for a head start on brands that pass these checks.

The pattern is consistent: ferromagnetic materials pass the test, and everything else fails. Pans with a bonded magnetic base — often stainless steel cladding over aluminum — do pass, which is why “induction-ready” cookware sets exist at all. That bonded base is the engineering exception that makes otherwise nonmagnetic materials usable.