FoodBanter.com - View Single Post - "Variable heat" electric range available anywhere?

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In rec.food.cooking wrote:
> On Feb 12, 12:06 pm, "Sheldon" > wrote:
> >
> > Electric cook tops do not cycle on and off, only the oven does because
> > it is thermostatically controlled, exactly the same as with gas
> > ovens.

> Of course they cycle on and off, that's how they control the amount of
> heat. What do you think they use, a big resistor?

Yes, of course they do. Sheldon is making up crap because
he doesn't really know how electrical appliances work.

> I don't think you understand your own question... I think what
> > you want is an electric cooktop with a constantly varible control
> > rather than with preset detents as most all incorporate, but such a

More nonsense. Most of the electric cooktops I've encountered had
continuously variable settings, with perhaps a detent for highest and
lowest, but they still cycle the heating element full-on/full-off
with overall heat being controlled by the duty cycle.

> If you really
> > want constant variable control buy an inexpensive electric hot
> > plate... perhaps buy an electric fry pan... or get a gas stove.

> I'm not sure an electric hot plate or electric fry pan behaves any
> different. I think they all apply full current to the heating
> element, and just cycle in on or off for varying duty cycles. What
> he wants could be done with that approach, but requires varying the
> duty cycle on cycles of very short duration.

Exactly right. I think what the OP might want to look at is
an inductive cooktop. Expensive, and I'm not sure how they
achieve their variable heat settings, it may just be a duty cycle
switching type of control also, but they are supposed to have
very steady heat control.

Bill Ranck
Blacksburg, Va.