Induction cooking is fast, efficient and now there's a model under $100.

The Fagor Countertop Induction Burner doesn’t have a very glamorous name. It’s called Item # 670040610! But the technology behind this device is amazing. Induction cooking heats only the food and the pan - not the cooking surface! There are no open flames or heating elements, so the glass induction surface remains cool to the touch. So cool in fact, you could place an ice next to the cooking food, and it wouldn’t melt! An induction cooktop has a series of copper coils under the glass surface. They generate a powerful magnetic energy current when the cooktop is turned on. This high-frequency electromagnetic field induces a heating reaction in iron and steel based vessels. This way, the heat that will cook your food is actually created in the pot: in other words, the pot itself becomes the heat source, not the cooktop! This eco-friendly cooktop can be used wherever an outlet is available. There are 10 power settings, a built-in count down digital timer, and even a child lock out. Another nice feature is that the stove won’t turn on until a proper pan is in place on the burner. You do need pans that have a magnetic surface, but any pan you have now that a magnetic will stick to, will work. Perfect for tabletop cooking, for use as an extra cooking area.  Its lightweight construction and portable size is also well suited for college dorm, boat & RV’s. Induction cooking has been around for a long time but for some reason it just doesn’t seem to catch on and go mainstream. Price used to be part of the reason, but this new Fagor Induction Burner can be found on the web for just about $100.           

http://www.cookware.com/Fagor-670040610-fgr1101.html