If you have an electric hob and you like it, talk to me

[fauxflowers]

Considering changing my hob in a few weeks when I get my kitchen revamped. Currently have a gas hob. I am not willing to pay for an induction hob and then have to buy new pans, it's not worth it to me for the amount I use it. My parents have had a standard electric hob for years and they like it, but I've not heard anyone else whilst reading online say this. If I don't get electric I will stick with my gas and maybe see if I can replace the ?top round things that the pan goes on.

So if you have a standard electric hob, do you like it? I couldn't get worked up about the fact it might take a few extra second to heat up, that's not an issue, just wanting some opinions. Thanks

I can't tell much difference between halogen and ceramic when cooking on it
But halogen and induction are TOTALLY different methods

an induction hob switches off if you remove the pan
a halogen does not

We have an electric hob and there is some jiggery pokery to ensure that it cooks well (might have to remove a pan from the heat for a minute or so to allow it to cool down effectively when reducing heat for example.)

Yes it's slower to heat up but we don't really notice it now.

DH cooks tea every night and is pretty fussy when it comes to kitchen equipment but he's adapted with no issues. We used gas before and it all got so disgustingly dirty we knew that we wanted a change!

I cook my porridge on the hob every morning and it's definitely easier to control than in the microwave. If you really can't afford to stretch to induction then it's a decent option.

I’ve had gas, electric and induction. Gas is by far the best for cooking. Induction is second best. Electric a distant third. I really hate it. It’s not responsive, it’s slow and eventually the ceramic gets stained.

Only drawback of gas is the affect on indoor air quality.

We have an electric hob and there is some jiggery pokery to ensure that it cooks well (might have to remove a pan from the heat for a minute or so to allow it to cool down effectively when reducing heat for example.)
Which is why induction is the best
you turn it down and its down IMMEDIATELY
same with heating up

Induction IS NOT Electric
its magnetic induction

and as fitting gas to houses will be banned within the next 5 years
getused to induction now

My Neff induction hob came with a fee set of saucepans so you might not need to buy any if you go down that route. I’d never go back to gas now and I’d sooner cook on a camp fire than use an electric hob. Induction cooking, and cleaning up afterwards, is incredible.

an induction hob switches off if you remove the pan
a halogen does not

Yes, true. I guess if you're prone to leaving rings on then an induction job will be a lot safer.

I still don't notice any difference when I'm cooking, though - both halogen and induction are responsive and easy to wipe up any spills (and I just turn rings off when I'm done).

My main requirement for a hob are decent controls that don't involve several presses on annoying beepy touch buttons every time you want to change temperature, that become more insensitive over time until you're jabbing at them in rage at least once a day (my old hob).

My cat burnt his paw counter surfing on a halogen hob so we went for induction here, it doesn’t get hot enough to burn you.

But halogen and induction are TOTALLY different methods

Totally different technologies, but not totally different user experiences. The experience of cooking on them is very, very similar, to the point of not being hugely noticeable, unlike either compared to regular ceramic electric rings, or either versus gas.

Don't get me wrong - I like inductions hobs, and much prefer them to gas. Some people get a bit weirdly evangelical about them, though.

I didn't like induction TBH when we had one briefly. I could never get the hang of the heat settings and the instructions were absolutely useless. DH was in love, though!

OP if you look on the bottom of your pans they should have symbols on to show what they're suitable for if they're recently bought. A loop the loop one means it's suitable for induction.

@Fluffycloudland77

My cat burnt his paw counter surfing on a halogen hob so we went for induction here, it doesn’t get hot enough to burn you.

Poor kitteh

You still need to be careful with induction hobs, however. The hot pan heats the glass underneath quite a lot and it can get hot enough to burn. Those demo videos you used to see of someone lifting a boiling pan from an induction hob and then putting their hand on the hob surface? It's only possible if the pan has been on that ring for just a few seconds. The actual induction ring that took a few mins to bring the pan of water to the boil will be bloody hot on the glass - don't touch it!

When we moved house we went from gas to electric. Took me a while to get used to it. I find it harder to control as there are set levels you can have it at 1,2,3 etc whereas with gas you can have any level of heat from nothing up to full blast!
A few times we have accidentally left it on and burnt whatever was on top (chopping board etc) however we have a small kitchen and so at times have to use the hob space as dinner prep space.
Positives are that it is easier to clean.

Induction is the way forward! I would never change back now. Quick, responsive, safe and easy to clean. And my pans were all budget ones. No need to spend a fortune.

I have induction now. I like it better than standard electric, but it’s not as powerful as gas. Nothing beats gas when you want to quickly sear meet.

For your pans, you must have a magnet on the fridge? If it sticks it's fine. I still have one in my handbag from when we went shopping, I had bought induction specified on the description but it didn't work so took the magnet to the shops with me. Staff must have thought I was mad.

I wouldn't say I like our traditional electric hob. It's slow to heat up, even slower to cool down, and makes cooking a right pain in the behind. But I've used a gas hob that was even worse, impossible to get a simmer even the lowest heat was boiling everything. And at least the electric isn't a faff to clean.

@ListeningQuietly

We have an electric hob and there is some jiggery pokery to ensure that it cooks well (might have to remove a pan from the heat for a minute or so to allow it to cool down effectively when reducing heat for example.) Which is why induction is the best you turn it down and its down IMMEDIATELY same with heating up

Induction IS NOT Electric
its magnetic induction

and as fitting gas to houses will be banned within the next 5 years
getused to induction now

Yes but the OP stated she didn't want to pay for induction

Had a gas range, moved to short term rented and it has electric and I absolutely hate it.

Give me gas every time!

Jimmy
I know that the OP said the up front cost of induction did not appeal
BUT
the running costs are lower
and in a few years time when gas is being cut off from domestic homes having been taxed to oblivion
my induction hob will still be running

If you are revamping the kitchen anyway, get an induction hob and pans that'll work with it. If you get a bog standard electric hob instead of gas you'll regret it as they are slow, old-fashioned and not as energy efficient as induction or indeed gas. It will be a false economy. Plus induction is an awful lot easier to clean and safer too. You can sell your nearly new pans on Facebook and recoup some of the money, plus pans suitable for induction needn't cost a lot.

I asked this question of sorts the other day and not one bastard replied to me

We have a ceramic all electric freestanding oven and I wanted to compare between dual dual and induction. We weighed everything up and decided to go back to a gas hob, he likes to cook a lot and missed the responsiveness of gas.

I find induction just as responsive as gas and don't recognise the pp's comment about searing meat on induction at all.