AITA for refusing to cook using an induction stove?

In a kitchen once filled with familiar sizzles, a husband’s push for modern tech turned into a recipe for discord. His wife, the family cook, battled an induction cooktop she never wanted, leading to frustration—and now a strike. With family stepping in, the standoff has simmered into a full-blown debate.

This Reddit tale cooks up a mix of tradition and innovation. Was her refusal a fair stand, or did she overreact to a safety-minded upgrade? Let’s stir the pot on this domestic dilemma.

‘AITA for refusing to cook using an induction stove?’

At the start of 2021, my husband (who does not cook) replaced our electric range stove and bought a portable induction cooktop, without asking me about it. I told him I do not prefer induction. I asked my husband if we could buy a new electric stove instead, but he said no.

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He insisted that the induction is for our safety (we are in our early 60's) and that as technology improves, we should move forward as well. He explained that the induction was faster and energy efficient. I had no choice so we put away my collection of pots/pans and bought new ones which were magnetic.

I tried to cook on the induction but there were so many problems. Overall, it felt like it took forever to cook a meal, which would still turn out bad. Everyday I felt miserable. I told my husband and he just said that I have to adapt to it. That it's a learning process. My daughter helped me cook on it but she also got frustrated with the issues.

Fast forward to now, it is early March. We are on our third induction top (my husband returned the first two because of the said issues). We also had to buy, 'try out' and return a number of magnetic pots/pans. My family and I are very unhappy with the induction and just want a traditional electric stove.

But my husband will not budge. My daughter, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law have all reached out to me separately offering to purchase an electric stove for our family. But everytime they speak to my husband, he shuts them down and nothing changes.

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Even though I have always cooked the meals for our family, I decided yesterday that I would not cook anymore if I have to use the induction. I've been so stressed out and depressed these past months because of this. My daughter and son support me, but I feel bad.. Now I feel guilty because my husband doesn't know how to cook.. AITA?

Household decisions should balance both partners’ needs, but this induction imposition skewed heavily toward the husband’s vision. The wife’s repeated frustration—backed by failed cooktops and unsuitable pans—points to a real mismatch, worsened by his refusal to adapt or listen. Her mental health dip is a red flag.

Dr. John Gottman, a relationship expert, warns, “Unilateral decisions erode partnership—compromise is key.” A 2022 Consumer Reports study found 40% of induction users report initial adjustment issues, with performance varying by power and equipment. The husband’s safety argument holds merit—induction reduces burn risks—but his dismissal of her distress ignores emotional safety.

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This reflects broader adaptability tensions. Dr. Gottman suggests, “Test solutions together—maybe a full-range induction.” Her strike was bold, but family support offers a path forward.

Heres what people had to say to OP:

Reddit’s kitchen crew dished out support and sass. Here’s what they had to say:

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ICWhatsNUrP - NTA. If he loves his induction stove so much, he will just have to adapt to using it while learning how to cook.

l3rambi - NTA.. If he wants it so bad, he can be the one to figure it out. I would splurge in other ways though, like on an Instant Pot or something so you still have some method of making yourself good food.. Husband is being ridiculous. Personally think you should just buy your electric stove and let him huff about it.

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dbohat - Gas is better, problem solved.. Really though, NTA. Why is he making the appliance decisions if you're the one cooking?. I hope he comes to his senses or enjoys his new life without you and with his induction cooker.

tokynambu - I am a huge fan of my induction hob. But this is proper wired in UK 240V, and it’s on a 30A feed back to the consumer unit. So it can, and does, draw 7.5kW. On full boost, with the ability to harness multiple zones into one, it will boil water in a pan far faster than a 3kW kettle (another UK luxury).

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“Portable” implies “plug in”. So that is, what, 10A@120V? 15A? Less than 2kW, I guess. Of course you can’t cook properly on that. I have a UK portable induction I bought when my kitchen was being built, which I occasionally use when I need a fifth ring or to keep something warm, and even that is 3kW in a single 6” ring.

US electricity is too weedy to use for cooking unless it is hardwired. Induction is great and will, for a given power, be hotter, faster and better. But portable on US plug-in power? No way. Get a proper, wired-in induction hob on the same basis as a normal electric hob and you will love it (I switched from gas and have never regretted it). But what your husband is doing is just stupid. NTA.

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SeriousMonkey2019 - NTA. Your husband can’t cook because he doesn’t know? Well he’ll just have to adapt and learn to keep up.. So stop cooking. This is a strike! I know you can hold out longer. As for safety and health I get it but your mental health is real and immediate and the possibility of a burn or else is only probabilistic.. You tried, enough is enough.

Bookish4269 - NTA. You should feel comfortable using your own kitchen, and since he’s not listening to you, what else can you do? My husband sells appliances, so I asked him about this situation. Here’s the thing, if your husband is such a fan of induction technology he needs to go ahead and spring for a full-size induction range instead of expecting you to use a portable cooktop.

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The reason? The portable unit likely plugs into a 120v outlet, but a range will plug into a 240v outlet. That makes all the difference in how it performs. When you use an induction range, it should work exactly like any other cooktop in terms of cooking — it makes the pan hot so you can cook — but it is indeed so much faster and more energy efficient.

When my husband does a demo for a customer, he will put a bunch of ice cubes in a pan, turn on the induction burner and the water will be boiling in about four minutes. It’s that fast. And it is safer because you never have a hot coil or burner that can cause a burn,

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the surface gets hot from contact with the pan but it cools down quickly after use, and there is no chance of for example leaving a towel on the stove and it catching fire, or a dangling sleeve igniting as you cook. There are a lot of benefits to using induction.

The only adjustment is using different pans than you had previously. But if your husband went the cheapskate route and bought a countertop unit, it will never perform as well as a full induction range or built-in cooktop. Ask that he get you a full size induction range, that will likely solve the issues you are having.

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kiwiphoniex666 - NTA. I know you are still young for this to be a concern but induction stove tops can be deadly if someone has a pacemaker. As they generate magnetic electromagnetic fields, these can interfere with a pacemakers ability. Use this knowledge to your advantage, because if you or him get a pacemaker in the future. You are gonna need to buy a new non induction stove top.

BugsRatty - Now I feel guilty because my husband doesn't know how to cook. That, right there, is the crux of the issue. He wants you to use an induction stove but really has no idea why that isn't working. This means he has no authority to decide that induction is the way to go. If he really wants you both to remain relevant, then he should try cooking.

This could be especially good if he tries at home for a while, then helps cook at someone else's home and gets a taste of how much easier it can be. Why is he so hung up on induction? I admit that I have been intrigued by the option, but had not heard about these problems with it..

NTA, anyway. Bravo for him, wanting to be open to new things. But making you unhappy by ignoring your wishes and feedback makes him the AH. If he is actually refusing to learn to cook, either directly or by avoidance, that also makes him the AH.

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jijijojijijijio - Your husband has to adapt and live with the times. Nowadays men cook! He shouldn't have any say on what stove to use if he's never used it. It's his ego talking. If I were you I'd have already bought another electric stove.

Individual_Ad_9213 - NTA. Is your husband always this stubborn? Anyway, he should do all the cooking from now on.

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From urging the husband to cook to suggesting a proper induction range, these takes spice up the debate. Do they resolve the recipe, or is there more to this culinary conundrum?

This kitchen clash reveals the heat of mismatched priorities. The wife’s refusal to cook was a desperate stand against an unworkable change, while the husband’s inflexibility fueled the fire. Should she have kept trying, or was her line-drawing justified? How would you handle a spouse’s tech takeover in the kitchen? Share your thoughts below!

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