We’re in process of switching from gas to induction. The issue for us is that we’re in a cold climate (Boston ‘burb), house is very well sealed — and now that natural gas is mostly coming from Pennsylvania via fracking WTH knows what other gasses are also coming out of the hobs?

Community-wide elimination of natural gas also means fewer pipeline leaks — and not only is methane a greenhouse gas gas but it’s many times stronger than CO2. Here in Massachusetts, gas providers only fix leaks when they are large enough to be a hazard. They get to charge us consumers for ‘minor’ leaks. We’re working on legislation to stop that.

That said, rather than an induction hotplate, consider a gas camping stove, as it will continue to work during a blackout. You can sit it right on top of the electric range in your apartment.

Look for a setup with separate bottle — and regulator at the bottle. A 20lb ‘picnic’ bottle will last for months of cooking. Be sure to buy bottles with gauges (these are connected to floats, as vaporization pressure stays the same as you get low. The hose between tank and stove is only holding 15-20lbs pressure (much lower than the air hose at a gas station) so quite safe.

I am suggesting more than a single bottle so you can get the second one filled when the first one shows ‘low’.