Keep Cooking During Power Outages | Impulse Labs Induction Cooktop

Posted by: Rate It Green Team

The demand for induction cooktops continues to rise as more people discover the health, precision, and safety benefits of cooking with energy efficient induction cooktops over fossil fuels and less efficient electric equipment. A recent breakthrough by Impulse Labs is poised to elevate this technology even further – especially when it comes to resilience.  Check out this interview with Green Builder Matt Hoots and Marissa Horwitz from Impulse Labs at KBIS 2025 where Marissa was having a ton of fun showcasing her company’s impressive cooktop and technology.

Why is induction cooking important?
 

Health and environmental impacts are top reasons it's important to consider induction cooktops, and other electric equipment, including water heaters and dryers, in addition to vehicles.  Gas used in cooking releases particulates and chemicals into the air at levels considered unsafe by the EPA and World Health Organization (WHO).  The amounts are higher where ventilation is not sufficient. These pollutants contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular irritations and conditions even with short term exposure, and long term can contribute to or cause asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other conditions.  Recent studies have linked gas cooking to higher childhood asthma rates.   

The environmental impacts of fossil fuel combustion are also significant. On-site combustion in homes and other buildings contributes to pollution and climate-impacting emissions. As researchers at Rocky Mountain Insitutute have pointed out, we should also think of our homes in a sense, at the "end of a pipeline" and system that produces toxic chemicals and leaks throughout, even as this system also provides critical energy.  The nitrous oxides produced by this combustion are the same pollutants produced as a part of vehicle and power plant exhaust, and they also contribute to smog.  The EPA reports that residential buildings generate 13% of US greenhouse gas emissions on site, but this is an understatement that does not consider construction and transportation. Total emissions including offsite generation are typically reported between 27% to 29%, and 40%, including construction.    

Marissa reminds us that home appliances are not replaced that often, on average every 8 to 25 years depnding on the type of equipment, so it's important to make healthier and more long term sustainable choices when these opportunities arise when buildng or renovating, or when purchasing new equipment due to failure or changing needs.  It's wise to have a plan for replacing major equipment and when possible to replace the equipment before failure, so that you are not searching for important appliances in an emergency situation when you may not have the time to make optimal choices, or the equipment and service might be more expensive in a rush.  Switching away from fossil fuels to electric powered equipment is called electrification and along with increasing energy efficency and lowering consumption and emissions is part of decarbonization, an overall reduction or elimination of carbom emissions. 

How is the Impulse Labs Induction Cooktop different?
 

Top novel aspects of the Impule Labs induction cooktop include ease of installation, also known as it's plug and play ability, and back up power.  This cooktop "plugs in" to regular 120 volt outlets and therefore does not require an electrical upgrade or renovation.  As mentioned, appliances and major home equipment are not replaced very often, and speed for replacement is often a priority, especially if equipment is replaced due to failure.  This mean means there might not be time to upgrade an electrical panel or otherwise renovate, to say nothing about the funds. 

The integrated back-up battery power is also really a breakthrough. Instead of relying on a whole house battery, the cooktop basically recharges itself over time, and can conservatively cook three meals once a power outage has occured.  Marissa and Impulse Labs lead us to consider the idea of a home full of electric appliances that keep working during power outages and one day can perhaps distribute power as and if needed throughout a building. 

The Rate it Green team is truly impressed with the Impulse Labs induction cooktop, currently available online with about a 12-week lead time.  Key features and benefits include:   

• Speed and Power: Where most induction cooktops can boil water in an impressive 3-4 minutes, the Impulse Lab’s cooktop generates a rolling boil in less than 40 seconds.  The cooktop has a 10 kW output, more powerful than typical 4 kW induction cooktops, which are already impressive.  

• Precision: The Impulse Labs cooktop maintains a set temperature within 1 degree, and it will add power to keep the desired temperature if ingredients are added or the pan shifts.  Precise temperatures can be set, for as long as needed, to cook without burning.  

• Resilience: The Impulse Labs cooktop has an integrated 3 kWh battery, which allows the oven to function during power outages. The battery can cook 3 meals, estimated conservatively, as it holds enough energy to power a typical refrigerator for a day.

• Plug and Play: This cooktop needs only 8-12 amps, in comparison to a typical 30-60 amps.  It can be hardwired in, or just plug this induction cooktop in without upgrading an electrical panel - a perfect solution for retrofits. 

• Safe: Like other induction cooktops, the burn risk from cooking with this cooktop is much lower, as only the pan is heated and not the cooktop.  The surface remains warm from the hot pot’s surface contact only, and this cools rapidly. The stove also has LED rings that indicate temperature.  Ventilation needs are also reduced with induction cooking, as there’s no combustion as with gas cooking and also because precise temperature controls means cooks can stay below the smoke point, though Matt and Marissa strongly affirm that ventilation is still always ideal due to the particulates and emissions that result from cooking. 

• Bold, Modern Design: The Impulse Labs cooktop has a sleek modern look to envy,  inducing fun hockey puck-like handles that detach for cleaning.  Cooktop or record player? Maybe that can be a future feature! Either way, the look is a plus. 

• Easy to Clean: Did we mention the removable dials? 

Impulse Labs is Partnering with brands like Thor to bring this first product to market.  We’re excited to see more!  Imagine taking combustion out of the home for health and reducing energy bills and emissions.  Imagine appliances playing a significant role in enabling a smoother energy transition to a cleaner, healthier, and more affrodable future.  

The Impulse Labs cooktop technology really seems to offer an approachable path to resilience, while still promising looks, performance, and health.  The initial units are for early adapters it seems, but prices will lower as more brands adopt this technology.  That said, the cost of a renovation to install another stove might easily be a far greater investment, to say nothing about a generator to keep the power going.