Can a tajine be used on induction, and how do you use it?

A cast-iron tajine can be used directly on an induction hob without any extra equipment. For earthenware it depends on the tajine itself: of the six earthenware tajines in our range, three are made for induction. An earthenware tajine that doesn't work on your hob can still be used with an adapter, or you can put it in the oven.

Can a tajine be used on induction, and how do you use it?

Which tajine can be used on induction?

An induction hob heats iron but not fired clay: whether a pan heats up depends on the metal in the base. Earthenware therefore only works on induction if the maker has made the tajine for induction.

These tajines in our range work on induction:

Earthenware: the Emile Henry Tajine Delight Zwart ø 27,5 cm and the Emile Henry Tajine Delight Zwart ø 33,5 cm. From the same Delight line by Emile Henry comes the Emile Henry Tajine Delight Grand Cru ø 33,5 cm.
Cast iron with enamel: the Alva Tajine Nori ø 28 cm.
Cast iron without a non-stick coating: the Cosy & Trendy Tajine Inductie ø 25 cm.

The other three earthenware tajines in our range do not work on induction. These are the Emile Henry Tajine Grand Cru ø 27 cm, the Emile Henry Tajine Grand Cru ø 32 cm and the Cosy & Trendy Tajine Nora ø 31 cm. The word "Delight" in the name indicates at Emile Henry a tajine made for induction. "Grand Cru" doesn't indicate that, since those words also appear in the name of a Delight that does work on induction.

For a tajine from our range, the Induction icon under "Heat source" on its product page gives a definitive answer: a check mark means it works. For a tajine you already have or receive as a gift, start with the material. Cast iron works, and whether an earthenware tajine is made for induction you can read in its manual or on the packaging. If you're buying one as a gift or for your own hob, choose from the tajines that work on induction.

What if you want earthenware or already have it, but cook on induction?

A tajine is mainly about the experience of a dish from another cuisine, and the traditional tajine is made of earthenware. On induction you have these options, first for those who are still choosing and then for those who already have a tajine:

A Delight tajine, for those still choosing or looking for a gift and wanting earthenware: these are our earthenware tajines that work on induction. They're at the higher end of our price range, and according to their product pages they are dishwasher safe.

Emile Henry Tajine Delight Zwart ø 27,5 cm

Emile Henry Tajine Delight Zwart ø 33,5 cm

A cast-iron tajine, for those looking for one that can be used on any heat source, including the barbecue. Keep the weight in mind: the Alva Nori weighs 5.71 kilograms and the Cosy & Trendy Inductie 3.33 kilograms, and both require hand washing.
An adapter, for those who want to keep their own earthenware tajine: a metal plate that heats up on the cooking zone and thus warms the tajine placed on it. Your tajine may take longer to heat up and heat is lost, though that's less of a problem for gentle simmering than for high-heat searing.
The oven, for those who have an earthenware tajine and don't want an adapter: using a tajine in the oven is possible with any tajine from our range. Whether your own tajine is oven-safe, check the manual.

If you choose an adapter, watch the bottom of your tajine. It should sit flat on the adapter and must not extend more than 2 cm beyond it anywhere.

What if you want earthenware or already have it, but cook on induction?

Do you need to soak a tajine before first use?

Soaking is associated with earthenware, and even then not every tajine needs it. What to do before first use with a new tajine differs by material, and you should follow your tajine's manual.

Here's the summary per type of tajine:

An earthenware tajine without glaze on the inside, which looks dull, is usually soaked in water first. You'll find recommendations ranging from half an hour to a full day, and how long it should soak is stated in its manual.
An Emile Henry tajine: our tip for the Grand Cru ø 27 cm is to use it the first time with a little oil and spices on low heat. According to its product page, the Delight Grand Cru should be warmed up extra gently the first few times.
A cast-iron tajine, such as the Alva Nori with enamel or the Cosy & Trendy Inductie without non-stick coating, does not need to be soaked beforehand. Remove the labels, wash it with warm water and a little dish soap and dry it thoroughly.

Do you need to soak a tajine before first use?

How do you use a tajine on induction, gas, electric or charcoal?

The conical lid catches the steam and lets the moisture run back into the dish, so your food doesn't dry out even when cooked gently for a long time. That's, in short how a tajine works.

You can prevent cracks and other damage on any heat source by following these habits:

A cold tajine should be given low heat or a low setting first, and only more heat once it is completely warmed up. Earthenware can crack if heat is applied too quickly, and we recommend the same order for cast iron.
Keep a hot tajine away from cold water until it has cooled down, because a sudden temperature change can cause earthenware to crack.
An empty earthenware tajine should not be placed on the heat: only put it on the stove when there's liquid or food inside.

How do you use a tajine on induction, gas, electric or charcoal?

Which setting and which cooking zone do you choose for a tajine on induction?

The product page for the Delight ø 27.5 cm recommends starting on a low to medium-high setting and warns against too high a setting when warming up. We give the same advice for the other tajines that work on induction, including the two cast-iron ones. If it starts bubbling under the lid, turn the setting down and let the dish continue to simmer.

When choosing the cooking zone, consider the bottom of your tajine. For the Delight ø 27.5 cm, that is 26 cm wide according to the specifications, and a zone of roughly that size fits. Sliding it across the glass can cause scratches, so move your tajine by lifting it slightly.

How do you place a tajine on a gas stove?

Gas is no problem for all our tajines, those of earthenware and those of cast iron. For the Nora and the Grand Cru ø 27 cm the product pages recommend a flame tamer. That's a metal plate on the burner that spreads the flame over the whole bottom so the fire doesn't hit the earthenware in one spot. For another earthenware tajine, including one you already have, check the manual to see if a flame tamer is needed.

Can you use a tajine on a ceramic or electric hob?

An electric hob, a halogen hob and a ceramic hob are suitable for the two cast-iron tajines and the five from Emile Henry. On their product pages Electric, Halogen and Ceramic all have check marks. A ceramic hob is an electric hob under glass, with zones that glow red, and therefore not an induction hob. On that glass you should also lift the tajine when you move it.

Which setting and which cooking zone do you choose for a tajine on induction?

Which tajine is allowed on charcoal or the barbecue?

The Nora, the Alva Nori and the Cosy & Trendy Inductie are allowed on the barbecue, as their product pages show a check mark for BBQ. A charcoal barbecue is also suitable for these three. For BBQ the two black Delight tajines and the Grand Cru ø 27 cm get a cross instead. The description of the black Delight tajines also states that direct fire on charcoal is not possible.

Is a tajine dishwasher-safe, and how do you wash it by hand?

When cooled down, the six earthenware tajines in our range are dishwasher-safe according to their product pages; the two cast-iron ones are not. For the Delight ø 27.5 cm it does state that hand washing will make it last longer.

You wash each material slightly differently by hand:

Wash earthenware in warm soapy water with a soft sponge, and do not leave the tajine standing in water while washing. Put it away only when it's completely dry, otherwise it can develop mold.
Enamelled cast iron, such as the Alva Nori, should be soaked for about 20 minutes in warm water with some dish soap for stuck-on residues. Do not use scouring agents or hard or metal scouring pads, and after drying store the tajine dry.
Cast iron without a non-stick coating, such as the Cosy & Trendy Inductie, should be dried immediately after washing according to its product page. If the inside is bare cast iron, finish the washing by briefly drying it on the warm hob: that's part of what bare cast iron needs after each wash.

How long a tajine needs to cook depends on the dish. To start with, try our recipe for a tajine with chicken, bell pepper and potato.