to not get an induction hob?

[Heathofhares]

I need to get a new hob. I want gas. Everyone is telling me I need induction, mostly because "it's easy to clean". I have tried cooking on induction a few times on a few different cookers and have hated it every time. I am a keen (and to be truthful - a very good cook). My cooking is pretty instinctive - and I certainly don't want to program a cooker to decide what temperature to cook a steak at! I want a hob for cooking - not for cleaning so...please tell me why IABU...

I really love my induction hob!
Nothing not to like - instant up and down heat, no burnt on stuff if anything boils over - as the actual hob doesn't get that hot - and it turns itself off.
I think it does depend a lot if you get a decent one - the cheaper ones are not as good due to reasons I can't remember but to do with wattage I think.
I will never want to go back to gas or any other hob now!

What on earth are you all talking about with “programming” your induction hob? With mine you just select a power setting, as you do with electric hobs. It’s great, has nice low settings so that you don’t need water baths for melting chocolate, making sauces or slow-cooking porridge, but it’s also got high enough settings for chargrilled meat. Plus it’s easy to clean, runs off electricity and far safer than having gas run into the house.

I'm going to be a total buzz kill and say, if you spend any amount of time in the kitchen, then get induction. I think a recent survey revealed that people are increasingly worried about air pollution? I looked it up a while back but I believe air pollution indoors with a gas hob is something like 5 times as bad as living next to a busy road. All the things we like are bad for us Also if you spend a bit more on one then they're actually really good. I love to cook - it's easy to do a great steak in the induction hob using a good cast iron pan. The temperature is so responsive to change (not unlike gas).

@lightlypoached
Can you say the exact model please.

Can anyone who loves their induction hob tell me which one they got? I am looking to upgrade from electric

• or roughly what they spent and which brand

Our induction hob is really good

I don't understand these references to programming induction hobs

I don't often post on MN but always have to contribute to a thread about induction hobs 😊. As with other posters, have no idea about programming - just on/off with a heat range of 1-9.
We've used induction for about 12 years and would NEVER use anything else. Our current one is a Neff and it's been a dream to use - easy to clean, efficient and safe. What's not to like?

I was reluctant to switch from gas to induction but I'm glad I did. I especially like the timer function and use it a lot - I can pop a pan of pasta on and walk away. So easy to clean too. If you haven't had one before, I guess you would need a bit of time to get used to it but once you do, I think you'd be pleased with it.

I've not yet encountered an induction hob that doesn't make a horrible high pitched buzzing sound when in use. We thought about induction when we fitted our kitchen but at that time inductions were a lot more expensive and prone to breaking. Having experienced induction hobs in various places since I'm glad we stuck with gas.

I dont like mine, and find it a pain to use. But I dont think I could do gas to be honest, just because of the environment thing.

Had gas. Got induction. Moved and was looking forward to having gas again - utterly loathed it and am happily back with an induction job again.

thanks for all your thoughts. For those who have induction what eould you say is the minimum price point for a decent one?

Also what pans do you have. I got my stellar stainless steel pans for my 18th birthday ( 25 plus years, I love them and still going strong...) I am loathe to replace them but they aren’t induction compatible...

and yes ... I do occasionally chargrill an aubergine...

For the environmental concerns I am following the developments of hydrogen gas with interest (household boilers use far more gas than hobs...)

Had gas for years and loved cooking with it but hated cleaning it. We got an induction hob 2 years ago and wouldn't go back. Find it faster than gas and just as responsive. Also so easy to clean! By the amount of negative comments on here I can only conclude that some brands/models are far superior to others. It's also important to have decent pans. Cheap, warped pans won't work well...

Was staying with MIL ( for 6 mths while renovating house) who had an induction hob, hated it for a week then really got to understand its capabilities and adapted my cooking to suit. We changed our minds from gas and fitted one too. Really like the easy clean and sleek worktop.
Not sure what everyone is saying about programming, ours you just adjust the heat and cook, exactly as anybother type of hob.

May I ask about induction hobs?
(I think the place I’m buying has an induction hob thing because the top is flat and shiny)

1. How can I tell if it is definitely an induction hob?
2. Do I need special pots and pans that’ll work on an induction hob?
3. Would the oven be an induction one (or is it just the hob)?
4. What are the advantages of an induction hob?
5. What are the disadvantages of an induction hob?

Thank you in anticipation.

I might be convinced about induction, but what is the price difference for the cheap ones that are average and the expensive ones that are the best? What’s expensive? £500? 1k? Thanks!

As far as I ca remember, good quality stainless steel pans are fine. You can check - if a magnet sticks to the bottom, they will work on the hob. Some pans work better than others.
Price depends on how many "rings" you want. Some have 4, some 6 etc. I chose one with 4 - and made sure the fastest/larger ring was at the front as I knew I would use it more. Mine is AEG, cost about £350 I think 4 years ago. Still looks brand new and it is so fast! The better ones do not plug in - they have to be wired in. Honestly, I love my hob (which is amazing considering I hate cooking!)

The thing to get right are your frying pans. The heat can cause them to warp and then they’re useless.

I ended up with a cast iron Le Creuset.

My pots aren’t anything special.

Definitely, a good set of pans is essential. We have had these Judge ones for about 12 years and they are far superior to the free ones you "may" get with your hob

https://www.oldrids.co.uk/judge-vista-5-piece-saucepan-set/p40850?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvbj82Ies8QIVl-F3Ch30wAhVEAQYCCABEgL-mDD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Judge is a good brand name for cookware.

@grizzlygrump

I think it's very difficult to justify buying a gas hob from an environmental POV. Induction is annoying as hell, at first, I agree, but it is so much more energy efficient, and it is one of the few changes we can make to not piss over the world for our children.

Came on to say this And mine def does not need programming works pretty much like any hob

I’ve used to cook on gas, for the last 12 years I’ve used an induction hob and wouldn’t turn back. It’s very responsive, lots of heat settings and easier to control than gas. Of course, being easy to clean is an advantage too but I would still choose induction over gas (or any other electric hob) any time. If I was to redo my kitchen again I would have to replace my induction hob with another one.

Would not go back to gas now I have my induction.

Don't get one if you or anyone in the house has a pacemaker. They can deactivate peacemakers if you get too close. And not safe for children to cook on.

Gas here and love it.

Good friend, also a great cook got an induction hob about a year ago, still traumatised and still giving out about it!