What appliance do you cook on? And will your next house likely have one?LG Electronics USAThe wildfires devastating lives, livelihoods and properties in Los Angeles are also creating unprecedented levels of smoke and ash across the region. According to the California Air Resources Board, which monitors and regulates the states air quality, communities more than 10 miles away from the Palisades and Eaton blazes are experiencing red levels of hazardous fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air theyre breathing. This same pollutant is generated in our kitchens every time we switch on our gas stoves and cooktops.Health Risks of Gas Cooking AppliancesChildren are at greatest risk due to the fact that their lungs are still developing, as are those with chronic respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, says MeiLan Han, MD, chief of University of Michigan Healths pulmonary and critical care division.Awareness by the scientific community of health risks associated with gas cooking technology is not new, Han says, especially when it comes to her discipline. There is data dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s suggesting gas stoves could impair respiratory health. Thats about a half century since the American Gas Association created its catchy Now youre cooking with gas! ads.This awareness among both the health profession and health-conscious consumers has increased in the last few decades. There is more recent data to suggest indoor air pollution from gas stoves may increase mortality due to cardiovascular disease, Han adds. There was also a 2023 study by the University of California San Diego linking PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide, also released by gas burners, with cognitive impairment, Alzheimers and related dementias.The negative human health impacts of indoor air pollution from gas are pretty compelling, ranging from eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, fatigue, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, cancer, adverse pregnancy outcomes, asthma, visual impairment, reduced cognitive functioning, the inability to perform complex tasks, nausea, loss of consciousness, and even death, says Los Angeles area consultant Jennifer Berthelot-Jelovic, who advises builders and developers on wellness and sustainability for their projects. She has seen a major shift in recent years as builders and homeowners began focusing on the health issues surrounding their homes. Covid accelerated this trend, I can add.MORE FOR YOUIve had gas stoves my entire life and never had a problem is a common response to recent warnings about their health risks. Han notes that there are many factors affecting personal impact, including the stove itself, ventilation and exposure time as well as underlying conditions that all influence how much impact a gas stove will have on the health of any particular individual.Cooking Appliance MarketThe North America cooking range market size was estimated at $10.86 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% from 2024 to 2030, according to Grandview Research. Gas still dominates the category, with 46.09% revenue share in 2023, the firm reports, but the induction segment is projected to grow at the fastest rate of 10.1% CAGRE in the next five years.While U.S. consumer adoption of induction cooking may have been slower than in other markets, LG has seen an increase in the adoption of induction cooking ranges over the past three years, with the industry shipments expected to double over the next two years, says Dean Brindle, head of home appliance product management for LG Electronics USA.Northern New Jersey-based kitchen and bath designer Sharon Sherman is seeing this trend in her practice too, she shares. Although I have known about induction for more than 20 years, it has taken off in the last five or so years. Eight of the last 10 kitchens I designed have had induction appliances. I think that the biggest change is that the clients are asking for induction, rather than me making the introduction to the cooking method.Concerns about the safety of gas stoves have prompted homeowners to seek alternatives, leading to a surge in interest in induction, Grandview adds. Federal incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act and local gas bans have also spurred induction sales, though many local regulations have been overturned by lawsuits.With continued interest in electrification and incentives in some states, we expect to see increased household penetration for induction cooking. Regardless of potential policy changes, consumer benefits will ultimately lead to increased adoption of induction, Brindle predicts.In addition to gas industry pushback against electrification policies of the sustainability movement has been a vocal and viral public square response. Those who love their gas cooking appliances or just dislike government intervention have posted virally on social media that you would never get past their kitchen pass-throughs. Whats regrettably lost in the regulatory and cultural food fights are the many benefits that induction technology can bring to a home, benefits that exceed those of gas cooking methods.Induction BenefitsAt the beginning of 2024, the International WELL Building Institute expanded its WELL standards for commercial spaces to single family homes. Jelovic served on the programs advisory panel. WELL for residential aligns with WELLs Air Quality Monitoring and Indoor Air Quality Testing features. The monitoring assures homeowners that the air theyre breathing is healthy and safe. She sees induction as the superior cooking technology, even beyond its abundant health benefits.Pittsburgh area chef and kitchen consultant Christopher Galarza agrees, reeling off its many advantages: Its faster meaning I can cook nearly twice as much food as gas [at the same time]. Its far more precise than gas, staying to within one degree of whatever temperature I set it to. That makes it easier for him to maintain consistent high standards in the meals he prepares, he says.Its much more energy efficient, he adds, with more than 90% of its heat going directly into the pot or pan, rather than heating up the room. By using induction, rather than gas, Im now able to ensure that my dollar is going further in regard to how much food I can produce, Galarza comments.One of my favorites from the chefs list: Its easier to clean, requiring only hot soapy water and 60 seconds of your time. With gas that isnt the case, he observes, providing a 10-point cleaning checklist for gas burners. This can take upwards of 30 minutes to do it correctly.Last but not least, Galarza comments that induction cooktops keep kitchens cooler. Thats less of an issue for a home chef with four or six burners, but spending less on your electric bill is always welcome. So is not being uncomfortably hot while cooking in the summer months. Sherman points out an additional benefit: The lack of open flame is a plus if children or elder family members are using the kitchen.Brindle cites another benefit: Consumers also benefit from an added safety element, as the cooktop remains cool immediately after use.One final benefit Sherman shares: In many states, large gas cooktops require larger exhaust fans, which need bigger ducting. Once the CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) increases above 400, you must install makeup air, which can be very expensive. I have had to upgrade systems to accommodate the make-up air, she recalls, noting that Induction tops can work with a lower CFM blower. This can lower the cost of a replacement or kitchen remodel.Gas BenefitsGalarza sees the main benefit of gas appliances over induction being their lower price tag. There is an upfront cost to this technology and that needs to be addressed. (He does predict that those costs will come down as more models hit the market. More homes built for electrification will also drop the cost, eliminating the need for boosted ducting and possibly expanded electrical panels.)Electrical grid shutdowns are another concern for buyers, one that may be growing with more natural disasters occurring across the country. Shermans clients want to know: If there is a power outage, how will they cook? That issue is being resolved with most clients installing whole home generators, problem solved, she remarks. (Battery storage for solar systems is another resilience strategy.)Final ThoughtsJust as cars have replaced horse-drawn carriages for most travelers and email has replaced telegraphs for most messaging, the more energy-efficient, faster, healthier and more precise induction cooking appliances are likely to largely replace gas models in coming years. It may not be as fast as sustainability advocates or the medical profession would prefer, but its probably inevitable. As one of my building industry sources once remarked in a trade magazine article I wrote about indoor air quality, No one wants a house that will kill them.Designer Sherman adds this testimonial, I have not had one client who has regretted the move to induction from gas.***Note: All primary sources were interviewed by email in November 2024 through January 2025.