[Closed] Induction hobs - explain all please

All the advantages of a ceramic hob in terms of keeping it clean, with the ability to control heat almost instantly ie nearly as good as gas, certainly good enough for me.

You may need a new set of pans though - many metal pans aren't compatible.

And if you like cooking with a wok, or at very high temperatures, it may not be for you.

Well basically they're crap.

STW in agreement as ever! 🙂

I'm looking at the same thing. Gas is always best but sometimes is difficult to install, but induction seems to be best amongst the electric options. Surface remains cool, so safe for kids, controllability of the heat seems to be pretty precise. My dad's got one and it seems to work fine. Having said all that i'm now going cool on the idea and might change my kitchen design to retain gas.

I fit kitchens and most electric hobs I fit now are induction.
Never had any complaints from customers.
I've had one in my gaff for about 7 years and it's been excellent.
So easy to clean as they don't get really hot and very controllable.
You need magnetic pans.

They are rubbish.

If you have a gas supply nothing beats a gas hob.

I don't have a woman to ask sorry!

My parents have one. Nearly as good as gas. Expensive though and you might need to buy new pans if you don't have steel or copper bases. Very very easy to clean. Down side is that you have a big sheet of glass on the worktop. My Dad has already taken the corner off their hob. Worth checking how well it fits on the worktop.

Gas isn't really an option where I live now. The inlaws bought an induction hob last summer and it has been really good. We will get one when ours needs replacing. I used to prefer gas, but I think the ease of cleaning and control of heat is better than the gas hobs I've used. Also, you can boil water very quickly.

I like the very helpful negative posts:)

We have one and its superb,nearly as good as gas but looks much better in a modern kitchen.It boils water faster than a kettle and wont burn you if you touch it and is easy to clean just wipe it over and its done.

Would not go back to anything else.

Friends have one, I've used it a few times. That the symbols are in a strange language is the only niggle. If I have to replace my ceramic jobbie, it will be with induction.

Thanks - we like the look and the practicallity of the induction. Been using Gas for too long.

Anyone got a flex induction hob like this with the flexible ring thing?

[url= http://www.neff.co.uk/why-neff/get-the-best-from-your-neff/flexinduction.html ]Neff Flexinuction link[/url]

The flex induction thing looks good. It looks like there is an area and you can place a pan or several anywhere on that area and it will work rather than having traditional separate rings.

Mine has 2 rings and a big square that you can put whatever on.
But it is all at the same temp. Some of the newer ones remember the pan and it can be changed individually.

Brilliant! A modern induction hob is as controllable as gas, easier to keep clean.

Only minor thing is that you'd struggle with stir-fries.

Yup ask yourself what would Ken Hom do...
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stuey - Member

Yup ask yourself what would Ken Hom do

He'd install a gas hob, using a portable supply.

Ken would ring up the local take-away and order a 53 with a 24. You can get woks for induction hobs anyway. I think they have a flatter bottom - more like a large frying pan with higher curved sides. My brother is having his kitchen done at the moment and his induction hob has a wok ring.

Next best option to gas in terms of cooking ability. Have been using one for 12 months (I like cooking very much) and have been impressed after years of "dissing" electric. New pans almost certainly required I would imagine (induction pans can be used anywhere btw). The max power setting brings water etc to the boil very quickly and low settings are excellent too for simmer/keeping stiff warm. Not all indication hobs are of equal quality of course.

OK haterz, why are they "rubbish" ?

The modern ones I've used are much much better than gas. Were I going to replace my cooker it's what I'd be getting.

Fantastic kit, no faffy hob stuff to clean like gas. Instant heat, really controllable, looks mint.

Drac's wrong

One advantage over gas which could be important in some situations is that you are not putting the water vapour in to the air from the gas.

I've had a Bosch one for 6 years. I'd not go back to gas. I cook a lot and like the ease of control and the ease of cleaning.

I'd choose induction over gas. The only issue with our hob (Miele) is that the digital controls are really stupid. You can't change the heat on the hob when there's no pan on it, so if you lift a pan off it because it's too hot, you can't reduce the heat until you put it back down again. If you can find one with less stupid controls, then go for it.

Can't comment on flexinduction, but I'm curious about how many independently controllable zones you get. Can you put 5 pans on all at different settings?

I have an aga and miele induction hob.
Both do their jobs fantastically.
The induction easily as good as an aga for summer duties.

As said above quicker than electric kettle to boil (got rid of ours)
Timers are really useful, putting the pasta on and not having to keep checking it is great.
If anything boils over it shuts down.
When milk comes to the boil if you turn off the hob it does not boil over.
When you lift any pan off the hob it stops heating. Then if you pop it on again it will start again.
It only heats the pan, so if your pan was only half on the heating zone the other half would not get hot.
All in all its a very clever way of cooking.

Or you could live in a cave and use gas 😆

Ps. In a nice way 🙂

I would always recommend them now. They are easy to clean. Look great in the kitchen. Cooking times are nearly half of gas.

I've always cooked with gas but recently spent some time in a Michelin starred kitchen (Simpsons in Brum if you know it) and they have just moved to induction. The head chef said he will never use has again, induction is quicker, produces less background heat and is just as adjustable.

Choose induction you won't be sorry

Starting to turn into a no brainer