Which hob is best? Gas, Ceramic or Induction?

[tellitlikeitispls]

first world prob I know. Moving into new house and need to choose a hob style.

I'm aware that its very much a personal thing, but I'd like to get an idea of other types.

We've had gas for the last 10 years. I like using gas - I feel its 'controllable' - but I don't like how tricky the whole thing is to clean.

I am now faced with a choice and I don't really know what to pick

I don't cook loads but I use the hob at least once a day for bog standard stuff - pasta/rice, pan cooked chicken, stir fries and simmering bolognese and stuff.

Any opinions?

[BroomstickOfLove]

Induction or gas. Probably induction, but they take a while to get used to. I find it hard to simmer things on my mum's induction hob, but I suspect that if I used it all the time I would be able to work it out.

My job is gas on glass which is prettier and easier to clean than a standard gas hob. I also like being able to use the hob during a power cut.

[crabb]

I’ve changed from gas to induction this year - absolutely no regrets. Just as quick to heat up, can achieve very high heat (for instance I was worried I wouldn’t be able to wok fry without gas - but I’m achieving fantastic results with a cheap IKEA wok). And you can achieve really low heat without the flame going out . Most of my pans were induction suitable already but some work better than others. Overall really pleased with this decision - and of course cleaning is a doddle.

[MongerTruffle]

Induction, always.

[BothersomeCrow]

I have ceramic and very happy - wasn't worth getting gas installed into our kitchen, and induction was a lot more expensive - I don't know how the costs in use compare.

[tellitlikeitispls]

thank you. I don't have to think about the initial cost as I just choose one (they are all included in the package - I do need to check out actual comparative prices but I haven't got the paperwork with me to know the model numbers) I just wanted opinions first.

Am I going to need a whole set of new pans? Ours are manky and ancient anyway so not an issue either really.

[TheFairyCaravan]

We’ve just had an induction fitted and half my pans don’t work on it. It’s taking quite a lot of getting used to too.

[ProfYaffle]

I chose ceramic over induction because of the pan issue. Agree with pp, gas is easier to cook with but ceramic easier to clean. I loved my gas hob but don't think I'd go back know purely because of the cleaning/better aesthetics. Never thought I'd say that!

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn’t want to swap to induction just because of pans! Unless you have expensive fancy ones. But then you could probably eBay them.

We’ve always had gas but I’ve always hated the cleaning.

[TieGrr]

Induction, but you do need to get metal-bottomed pans. It's faster to boil a pot of water on our induction hob than it is to boil our kettle.

[ZacharyQuack]

We just switched from gas to induction and I love it. You can check if your pans will work on induction by using a magnet. If it sticks, the pan will be OK.

[parietal]

induction definitely - fast, easy to clean & just works.

[jensner]

Induction, without a shadow of doubt. You can check your existing pans with a magnet to see if they are compatible!

[CurlyhairedAssassin]

Whoops posted too soon.

We got a new kitchen fitted and switched to Induction. Best. Thing. Ever. I would never ever got back to gas now.

I would say to get a good quality one though. We spent a fair amount on ours (Neff) and the heat is highly controllable. For example on the lowest setting it will simply keep something warm, so not even the chance of a simmer and burning the pan. You can put a roasting pan on and make gravy over two rings to make one big area etc.

A big pan of water boils quicker than a couple of kettle fulls.

Cleaning is a total breeze. It looks neater. Safer. (We once left a gas ring on all night on low without realising as we could hardly see the flame! And it had a habit of just going out on a low setting, I’m just glad it didn’t that night as we probably wouldn’t be here now!)

Haven’t had a power cut in about 13 years so not an issue.

Stir fries are not quite as good as on a gas hob admittedly. We have a special wok but obviously you don’t get the flames licking up the sides.

[haggisaggis]

Just had our kitchen done and went for induction. We have no gas anyway but the improvement between ceramic and induction is amazing! I was fortunate as all our pans except the wok work fine.
It heats up really quickly and so easy to control. (mind you - my ceramic hob at the end only had one ring I could actually adjust so anything would be better than that!)
The induction does beep at me sometimes - if you put something on it that shouldn't be there for instance (or when the cat sits on it). But other than that I think it's great.

[haggisaggis]

Ours is an AEG relatively cheap one (was under £ 300) and I still find I can easily control it.

[ElfrideSwancourt]

I love my induction hob didn't take long to get used to and soooo much better than ceramic - also much safer as it cools down very quickly.
It's basically an electromagnet hence the need for pans with iron in them. We got a set of great pans from Ikea for £55 - you don't have to spend a fortune.
They are much more energy-efficient as it heats the pan not the ring.

[SellFridges]

Induction. We have gas right now as we recently moved and I really miss our induction hob. I will revert when we do the Kitchen.

[Backenette]

Gas. Absolutely hate our induction hob, it’s really difficult to get fine control on it.

[tellitlikeitispls]

thank you everyone.
It will be an AEG one but as said previously I left the paperwork at home so I can't check exactly which till later.
I don't mind getting new pans as ours have had it anyway. Any pan purchase suggestions?
I'm not going to take powercuts into consideration. Whenever we've had one in our current home, I've seriously not thought about the issue of cooking!

[Backenette]

Also if the base of a pan is not absolutely flat you tend to get hotspots and cold spots - the pan rarely seems to heat in its entirely. It’s very difficult to use a wok on. You can’t make decent pancakes and you can’t simmer at low. I detest every induction I’ve used (and ours is a top of the range one it’s not cheap.)

[positivepineapple]

Induction all the way.

We've had all three, electric is rubbish, gas is really good but as you've mentioned - hard to clean and can sometimes ruin the look of a kitchen. Induction is stylish, fast, safer - only downside is special pans. Doesn't work with copper

We have a Neff hob and double oven and it is fab!

[tellitlikeitispls]

I'm definitely swaying now to induction

[purplegreen99]

Sorry to elbow into your post OP, but just making the same decision as we are moving house & kitchen is falling apart in the new house so needs complete refurb. We decided on induction but then I read that some induction hobs are dangerous for people with pacemakers. Now I'm panicking that dh or I will need a pacemaker at some point (no reason to think this but you never know...) Does anyone know if this really is a thing or just a scare story?

[MongerTruffle]

It's true that people who have pacemakers shouldn't stand close to induction hobs, because induction hobs create an electromagnetic field that can interfere with pacemakers. People with pacemakers should stand at least 60 cm away from induction hobs.

[ChristmasIsHere1]

The British Heart Foundation says that you can use induction hobs if you have a pacemaker, as long as you stand 60 cm away from it.