I started using a small electric induction cooktop for my cooking, because we have strangely high electric bills. I will see after a month or so whether the old electric cooktop was "the problem". This little cooktop cost about $150.

But while I'm at it I will say that induction cooking is really nice because it's fast and very well controlled. I'm using a little Wattmeter to see how much juice it's using, and it's pretty low. So far I've cooked three meals in 1.2 kW Hr, which means about $0.14. The older electric cooktop is suppsed to use about twice the electricity, so it would appear that the induction cooktop will pay for itself in about a year.

So people who have to use electricity for cooking might want to consider these things.

So people who have to use electricity for cooking might want to consider these things.

what's it look like? is it kind of like a jet stream oven? would it pass for a microwave / george foreman?

I started using a small electric induction cooktop for my cooking, because we have strangely high electric bills. I will see after a month or so whether the old electric cooktop was "the problem". This little cooktop cost about $150.

But while I'm at it I will say that induction cooking is really nice because it's fast and very well controlled. I'm using a little Wattmeter to see how much juice it's using, and it's pretty low. So far I've cooked three meals in 1.2 kW Hr, which means about $0.14. The older electric cooktop is suppsed to use about twice the electricity, so it would appear that the induction cooktop will pay for itself in about a year.

So people who have to use electricity for cooking might want to consider these things.
I try to do as much of my cooking in the microwave as I can, and if something needs to have a crispiness, I precook it in the microwave, then finish it in the oven.

I don't want to give up the space to get a toaster oven, but that's a great option. It cooks almost identically to a regular oven, but is smaller, so it makes perfect for meatloaf, casseroles, cakes, everything! My mom only ever uses her regular oven for big gatherings like holidays. She saves a lot of energy that way.

I'm not familiar with induction cooking. It sounds pretty complicated.
http://theinductionsite.com/

I'm having trouble imagining your setup. Did you replace the electric cooktop with the induction one, or do you now have two? What kinds of things do you cook on this cooktop? Are there any limitations? Did you already have the required cookware, or did you have to buy new pots and pans?

It sounds like, for roasts, or stews, a slow cooker (crock pot) would probably give comparable energy savings to induction cooking.

I will keep this in mind for the future.

I'm needing a new stove soon, and I've looked at the induction models. I'd like to have one, but they are kind of pricey. Not sure if I'd spend the difference or not since I don't see myself living in this house forever.