Is a magnet a reliable test for whether a pan is induction compatible?

2sides2everystory

I recently bought some copper look three ply pans for a friend who has an induction hob.

The packaging had the "Induction Compatible" coil mark.

Yet on the manufacturer's own website FAQ they suggest that a simple test for induction compatibility is to try a magnet on the base of the pan - which I did - and no stick :mad: ...

Before I lose the chance of returning them and making a fool of myself by gifting something unsuitable, are the manufacturers wrong or are they wrong?

2sides2everystory

So back to the technical aspects, are we saying that they may be induction compatible after all, even though the magnet showed no signs of wanting to stick??

It was a fairly strong magnet (one from the bottom of a magnetic sculpture ornament)

They are Beka cookware pans (www.beka-cookware.com). I want to keep them if they are definitely compatible. But are they? The website doesn't actually offer a great deal of info.

A closer inspection of the box confirms the three layers as copper outer, aluminium core and stainless steel 18/10 inner. Still doesn't attract the magnet though and I know Cu and Al don't, and neither does 18/10 stainless, does it? But you'd think that a cookware company of all people would not make the mistake of putting the induction compatible symbol on the box if the saucepan was not so ???

Richie-from-the-Boro

Try it .. .. a quick 'n dirty test - but a rock solid test nevertheless, your ' giftee ' will thank you for your diligence, as ' fwor ' says you're covered, but put your mind at rest with a real~life~test.

John_Gray

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

... as ' fwor ' says ...

He seems to have stopped saying anything in this thread. Was his post pulled?

JasX

2sides2everystory wrote: »

So back to the technical aspects,

or someone has been firing off abuse reports to get said posts by fwor deleted......... who could that have been :silenced:

2sides2everystory

I am not sure why fwor's post disappeared as IIRC, it was a useful reminder about the difference between strong magnets and fridge magnets, about ferrous cores in pans, and about returning the items if misdescribed under my rights in the Sale Of Goods Act. But I made a mistake and deleted and then reposted my second one just before midnight last night so I may have messed up the sequencing in the database (Sorry!)

I wish I could try one of the pans - but I don't have an induction hob and short of knocking on neighbours' doors and asking if they have and can I do an experiment I am stuck

Edit: Well I have called Beka's head office in Belgium and the nice lady who answered the phone was right on it ... she asked me to email a picture of the packaging because it does not seem to be the same as their computer record of the correct packaging. There are six compatibility symbols on the pack and their record seems to show a ceramic compatible symbol in position five where mine shows induction ... more news as I get it!

Richie-from-the-Boro

John_Gray wrote: »

He seems to have stopped saying anything in this thread. Was his post pulled?

Like you I've no idea John, what he said was certainly not contentious or offensive, even in the very mildest sense. Maybe he felt his reference to the ' sale of goods act ' was wrong and pulled his own post.

Richie-from-the-Boro

2sides2everystory wrote: »

I am not sure why fwor's post disappeared as IIRC, it was a useful reminder about the difference between strong magnets and fridge magnets, about ferrous cores in pans, and about returning the items if misdescribed under my rights in the Sale Of Goods Act. But I made a mistake and deleted and then reposted my second one just before midnight last night so I may have messed up the sequencing in the database (Sorry!)

I wish I could try one of the pans - but I don't have an induction hob and short of knocking on neighbours' doors and asking if they have and can I do an experiment I am stuck

Edit: Well I have called Beka's head office in Belgium and the nice lady who answered the phone was right on it ... she asked me to email a picture of the packaging because it does not seem to be the same as their computer record of the correct packaging. There are six compatibility symbols on the pack and their record seems to show a ceramic compatible symbol in position five where mine shows induction ... more news as I get it!

Knocking on any neighbours' door was precisely what I did mean when I said """ your ' giftee ' will thank you for your diligence """

2sides2everystory

Ha! With the neighbours round here I'd need to go armed with a heavier pan than this before I start knocking

Richie-from-the-Boro

2sides2everystory wrote: »

Ha! With the neighbours round here I'd need to go armed with a heavier pan than this before I start knocking

OK, I getcha drift :beer:

2sides2everystory

Well I now have the answer - there's clearly two versions of packaging for these pans - the right one and the wrong one. The manufacturer apologised and will now do a check to see the extent of the problem in their stock trails.

So I think I've answered my own question somewhat (The answer is yes, a magnet is a reliable test for whether a pan is induction compatible )

Epilogue: The manufacturer got to the bottom of this and got back to me very quickly, and I must say that the customer service has been absolutely exceptional. Beka is a very old cookware company and clearly is still the best. Thank you Beka!