What device uses current carrying coils placed under metal saucepans to induce heat for cooking?

The device that uses current-carrying coils placed under metal saucepans to induce heat for cooking is known as an induction stove. This device operates based on electromagnetic induction, where alternating current flows through coils beneath the cooking surface, generating a magnetic field. This magnetic field induces an electric current in the metal of the cookware placed on top of it, producing heat directly in the cookware itself.

Induction heating is highly efficient as it heats the pot while minimizing heat loss to the surrounding environment. This allows for faster cooking times and more precise temperature control. The cookware must be ferromagnetic (e.g., cast iron or certain stainless steels) for induction heating to work effectively.

While an induction heater does refer to devices that generate heat through induction, in the context of cooking and typical usage, an induction stove is the more specific and correct answer as it directly addresses the application described in the question.

In contrast, a conventional oven relies on heating elements to warm the air inside the oven, while a microwave oven uses electromagnetic waves to agitate water molecules in food, causing heat through friction. Both these methods differ fundamentally from the principle of operation of an induction stove.