Struggling with my induction hob

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Am I being stupid or do induction hobs reeeeeaaally take some time getting used to? We have a new one, and have only ever had gas hobs before so the transition is panicking me.

It's a Beko one - nothing fancy. But can't figure out why it takes ages to heat something up. We've put some cold, leftover chilli in a pan to heat and it's doing nothing. Does it not accept cold food? It also took me half an hour to boil a 1 small pan of water and can't figure out why.

We are using the correct diameter pan for each ring. All our pans are magnetic, and it flashes anyway if it's not the right pan.

DH is bemoaning that 'gas is so visible, sorry is it to control, so easy to simmer things on' and is fantasising already about ripping out the new hob 😒

Any top tips welcome. Please tell me I will grow to love it eventually!

Go and buy one new pan that is specifically suitable for induction hobs

If that works ok it's your pans if not it's the hob

Sounds like it's your pans from what you are describing

Phone AO and tell them you want it replaced immediately or a refund.
It's not working properly so legally they have to replace or refund. Don't get into a discussion about an engineer coming to fix it.
Replacement or a refund.

That doesn't sound right at all. Ours boils a big pan of water for pasta in a couple of mins. I would never go back to gas but I can understand you regretting your decision if your hob is not working as it should.

That said, we spent a fair amount on our neff hob as I'd seen a few comments about the temperamental nature of cheaper ones.

You do have to get used to the right number for what you're doing but that doesn't take long to learn. But a straight boil of some water on the hottest setting should be VERY quick.

Ceramic pan sounds wrong. The base of the pan should be magnetic. Test it out with a fridge magnet or something. If the magnet won't stick, it's the wrong type of pan.

I had to give all my pans away. Replaced them with mid-price Ikea ones which are great.

Thought I'd hate my induction hob, but I love it.

LTB. I'm planning to. Hate the bastard thing.

Its shouldn't buzz at all, my induction hob heats things in a flash. Much faster than any hob I've ever used and I cook a lot. It sounds broken to be honest.

You're not misunderstanding the settings? Mine goes straight to the hottest setting and then needs turning down. I can't imagine it taking half an hour to boil water, it's way way faster than my old gas hob.

We tested ours against the kettle when we first got it and on full power, it won by miles.

I suspect the ceramic pan may be the issue but ours shouts at you if there is no pan / the pan isn't ferous.

Cold food makes not one jot of difference - how would the job know???

Sounds faulty to me - or you aren't turning it up enough to start with.

Zucker, if you don't mind me asking, why should it not buzz? Used ours for the first time this evening and it worked fine but I was surprised by the buzzing sound.

Something's not right.

Our induction hob is really quick to heat anything. Like someone else who tested theirs, we did too and it's faster than the kettle by miles.

My dh fancies himself as a chef - and he wouldn't have anything else.

I have a Nordmende induction hob & it took me ages to get used to it. Like others have said, I found the quality of pans to be key. Ikea actually do a range of induction pots/pans & I have found them really good. Like yours, my hob will pulse at higher settings and it's definitely not quiet. However, it boils water & heats things up in jig time ..... def check out IKEAs range ....the added bonus of induction is that the surface stays nice & black & shiny .... which I love

I really think it sounds as though it's the pans you're using. The buzzing is because the magnet is trying to maintain contact (I think). I have stainless steel pans I've had for donkeys years. They were expensive and have heavy bases, but they work fine.

Oh right, so that low, quietish buzz at regular intervals isn't normal? I assumed that was just the magnetic induction working? Is everyone else's hob silent?

Ours only buzzes when it's trying to connect. I hate the fucker, am going to replace it as soon as I can. Our Greenpan ceramic ones don't work on induction hobs so it may be that?

And I agree with your DH - they are the enemy of people who actually love to cook!

Your GreenPan won't work!! Says in the selling blurb "suitable for all hobs EXCEPT INDUCTION"

www.hartsofstur.com/acatalog/GreenPan-Egg-Expert-12.5cm-Round-Frypan-Silicone-Handle-CW001359_002.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgOLH5YOI1AIVSrvtCh0JoACuEAQYASABEgLt0_D_BwE

Same story with Ikea I think:

Something like this from Ikea is made of stainless steel and aluminium. website says "stainless steel, aluminium, copper, glass or hard anodised will not work unless they have an induction plate built into the base".

I have the low quietish buzz at regualar internals (I have a bosch) I think that happens when the pan is on too low at the start. As mentioned already, I always start it high and then bring the temp down. I do find it dosent really heat things gently.

Have you tried to heat water at the highest setting? I have never had problems heating anything from the fridge. I have had one for 9 years and love it.

This is why I'm not getting induction; all our pans are Le Creuset stoneware - my collection is my pride and joy! Obviously they don't work with induction either but I love cooking with them on gas, and frankly they're worth a stack more than the hob anyway.

epoxy, I've used the Ikea 365 pans for years on my induction hob, they work fine. The link you've given says they are suitable for use on induction.

Ah. no worries, I didn't spot that.

There are 2 types of pan bases suitable for induction. One type has a completely flat base and the other type have lots of small circular bobbles on the base.

The latter type can be useless as instead of the whole base making contact, it's only the bobbles that makes contact so they take ages to heat up.

I tried a small frying pan and it's useless. A larger non stick pan from Sainsbury's is much better but i have to put it on a smaller induction zone than the bottom of the pan (it's good for making scrambled eggs).

So make sure you try an induction suitable flat bottomed pan.

I love our new induction hob. It's so much faster, more controllable and cleaner than the gas hob we got rid of.

Agree with wowfudge. I don't know how anyone can compare them unfavourably to gas.
Take the advice about the pans: smooth-based and magnetic.
Ceramic certainly won't work.