Start with the exact product
An induction cooktop needs suitable magnetic cookware. A material label such as stainless steel does not prove compatibility: the construction of the base matters. Aluminum cookware may be induction compatible if its design includes an appropriate magnetic base.
Find the model and size on the manufacturer’s page or instructions. A collection name alone is insufficient. GreenPan Valencia Pro declares induction compatibility, while the Reserve Pro configuration in our catalog does not. Both are sold as ceramic nonstick cookware.
Use a magnet as a screening check
Magnet attraction at the flat base is a useful clue for cookware you already own. It does not guarantee that every induction appliance will detect that pan or that the magnetic area is suitable for the zone you want to use.
Check the cooktop manual for minimum and maximum base sizes, centering, flatness and any special requirements for flexible zones. Measure the relevant base area, not just the upper rim. A large rim may sit over a smaller magnetic disk.
Keep unknown separate from compatible
The finder includes a product in a strict induction match only when the captured exact-product information declares compatibility. Missing information stays unknown. An unknown product may work, but the catalog cannot promise it.
Our fit checker can display the base-to-zone diameter ratio. That number is geometry only; it is not a universal pass threshold. If product and appliance instructions conflict or are incomplete, confirm the exact pairing before purchasing.
Induction-compatible pan not detected: a practical sequence
First confirm that the pan and appliance model are the ones covered by the instructions. Record the display symbol or error code: a flashing pan indicator is not the same as a power or electronics fault. Follow the appliance manual before repeating a test; do not keep boosting an empty pan.
Center the magnetic base on an appropriate cooking zone. If the base is smaller than the zone minimum, try a smaller permitted zone. Measure the effective magnetic portion under the pan rather than the decorative rim. A 13.5-inch wok in our catalog has a listed 5.5-inch cooking surface; a large top does not establish a large contact base.
Once cool, check for rocking, a visibly distorted base or debris preventing stable contact. A broad magnetic response can still coexist with an unsuitable base size or geometry. Do not treat a warped base as a confirmed match. Follow the exact appliance manual and cookware care instructions rather than trying to flatten or modify it.
If a known compatible pan works on that zone but this one does not, revisit this pan’s dimensions and exact declaration. If compatible cookware also fails, use the appliance’s model-specific troubleshooting or service path. A ratio calculator cannot diagnose appliance faults, determine a universal detection minimum or promise even heating.