Tell me about induction hobs, please

[lurkingfromhome]

I think I want an induction hob, but researching all the features and functions and reviews etc is making my head spin a bit. Can anyone tell me anything about them? Are there any features that are essential (or any that aren’t worth the bother)? Should I get a hard wired or a plug in type? Are any brands better than others? Please help while the sales are on and I might get a bit of a bargain!

I love my induction hob too. I did have to buy new pans but, as most of my old ones were over 25 years old, I didn't mind that, and the old ones are now being passed on to my children.

The only disadvantage is that it needs electricity (obviously)! One Christmas a few years ago we had a power cut on 23/24 December and I couldn't cook anything for 24 hours. We'd previously had a gas hob so would have been fine.

Those who have induction hobs and use a wok: how? I'm considering an induction hob in my next kitchen but I love my gas wok burner and would really miss it.

(I also rather like my Stellar pans, and they wouldn't work, but DD will take them off my hands and be grateful.)

We have an induction hob and I hate it sorry, ours either is on full boar or nothing, there's no gentle simmer, you get nothing in terms of activity until you get to about number 7-9 which are all full raging boil. I miss the gas hob so much,

Couple of wrong statements tucked away in here
-at max heat induction is usually a lot more powerful than gas
-restaurants actually usually use induction nowadays (if recently fitted). Partly because it makes the kitchen so much less hot.

Induction for the win. Even for “serious cooks”.

We have a wok but it has a plate at the bottom, so is flat not round outsid, only I side. I think that was because it was deemed suitable for electric jobs in addition to gas.

It works well, I get good stir frys done but if your wok has a round bottom outside it won’t work.

The kitchen Guy we used actually said some people do have a separate gas hob, jut one or two flames for woks.

@TitSalinaBumSquash I think there must be something wrong with your hob. Induction hobs are fantastic for being able to maintain a gentle simmer.

I second gas! Absolutely love my gas hob. Hate induction hobs.

Love my induction job. I’ve only had it a few weeks after a kitchen refurb. It’s an AEG, the zones link which is fab.

I also have an induction one and would never ever go back to gas! I have a Blanco one with 6 'zones' and would recommend that if you have the space for it.

Love my induction hob, I've had it for about 8 years now and wouldn't go back to gas. Responsive, quick (can boil a pot of water quicker than the kettle) and so easy to clean with just a quick wipe.

We just have a bosch one with 4 rings, touch controls (for easy clean again!) that go from 1-9 (in .5 increments) 1 is really low, lower than I ever had with gas and you can have a pan 1/2 on the ring and it will heat one side only, it also a really high boost setting. It does everything we need.

Make sure you have good quality pans add it makes a huge difference to the induction (avoid tefal)

I can do stir frys in a high sided frying pan without all the tossing done in a wok, I have never needed a wok (maybe I am missing something they can do!)

@ThatLibraryMiss there is a good chance your stellar pans will work. Good quality steel flat based pans usually do, so don't give away until you've tried them out!! Think it is if a magnet stIcks to them they will work.

Don't drop glass jars on them. Twice

Another induction sceptic/gas fan who has been totally won-over.

Control is fantastic and plenty of power when you need to get a pan really hot. Ours has a ‘keep warm’ function which I’ve used loads over Christmas, and a ‘pause’ button which is occasionally useful if I need to run and answer the door/deal with the kids. I suffer far less with things boiling over than I used to because of the level of control and when they do boil over I can just lift the pan and give the surface a quick wipe.

The ease of cleaning is a major bonus and the flat surface means when not in use it’s almost an extension of the worktop - and even when it is in use I can have the kids plastic bowls right next to a pan of soup ready to serve up and they don’t get hot.

Love my induction hob & lots of pans these days are suitable. Easier to control than gas and very safe.

Love our induction hob! The control/consistency of temperature is great; super easy to clean and extra counter space when not in use. I wouldn't want to deal with the hassle of bottled gas and an electric hob is a huge no (my parents have one and it's awful to cook on).

People with Pacemakers, like me, cannot use them. Something to do with the magnetism involved.

I have a pacemaker. I use an induction hob. I spoke to the HCP at the Device Clinic and she said it was OK. And it is.

We have a tiny kitchen (on a boat). We bought a plug-in, single-zone Tefal one for about £45 so we could try it out. We like it so much we have now bought a two-zone domino one made by Gorenje, to build in. Very much looking forward to using it.

And it means we no longer need (bottled) gas on the boat.

Oh yeah and we haven't had any issue with getting suitable pans. IKEA label really clearly which pans are compatible. Having said that, my first experience with an induction hob was in a house share years ago. I just turned up with all my old/cheap supermarket pans and they all worked fine 🤷

I’ve inherited an induction hob and will be going back to gas when we have a new kitchen.

We’ve had a cheap Belling for 7 years. In immaculate condition still, and would never go back to gas. Simple wipe clean and done.

I always cooked with gas. Moved house, induction hob was going to replace it with gas but had to wait. Bought lovely pans from TK Maxx. After a while I realised how clean it was. It was so fast I did have boil overs until I got the hang of it. I am a convert. The only downside is if there is a power cut we have absolutely nothing now.

We did not have mains gas at the old house so had big gas bottle outside the kitchen window and the gas was piped in.

We bought one when we changed our kitchen. We had previously always had a gas hob. I was not convinced we should get one and it cost a lot of money but I absolutely love it. It is faster than gas, as easily controlled, cold within 30 seconds and so easy to keep sparkly clean. It turns itself off with a timer or if something over boils and there are no buttons, knobs or bits to keep clean.

And we didn't need new pans.

I love my induction I prefer it to gas.
Instantly heats up very sensitive to the controls, there is a power surge button that makes a pan of water boil in 30 seconds and there's a timer on all the hobs so it turns itself off and immediately there's no heat so you don't have to watch the pans.

leanardthelemming, perhaps your HCP should read up on the vast amount of information available on the internet, starting with this Which report which refers to The British Heart Foundation’s advice.

If you always stand at least 60cms away from your hob you should be OK. Let’s hope you have long arms.

They only can use certain pans but they are safer as there's no naked flame and they won't heat up unless there's a pan on the hob.