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Original poster

Induction versus gas hobs

75 replies

Gusthetheatrecat · 28/02/2015 16:02

I am planning my new kitchen (aaaaaaaah! Vacillating between excitement and being totally floored by how much thinking is required) and trying to decide what kind of oven and hob to have.

My question is about induction hobs. I have always had a gas hob, and really liked them. But whenever I look at kitchen threads on here, people are always really fulsome about their induction hobs. I also like the idea of being able to use them as workspace whilst not in use.

Do I really want an induction hob though? Should I stick with gas? What are th benefits? Has anyone tried both, and has a preference? Grateful to hear any thoughts...

OP posts:
Thisissomething · 28/02/2015 16:07

I always had gas and loved it and never thought I would change, however I had to have induction in my new kitchen and much prefer it now.

Very quick and easy to control. Only have to wipe over the hob when it's cold, so much easier than gas. It just gets a quick wipe when I wipe the rest of the work surface in the morning.

I often put things on it when it's not being used as well so feel like I have more space. It's just feels like an extension of the work surface which is lovely space wise.

Would highly recommend.

SomewhereIBelong · 28/02/2015 16:11

I have had both...
Induction is responsive and easy to clean. Gas is "hotter" , induction is not so good for stir frying.

cunningplan101 · 28/02/2015 17:14

I now have an induction hob and I miss the gas hob in my old kitchen. When I redo the kitchen, I'm currently planning on going back to a gas hob. But I know I'm in a minority!

It may be just that I'm not used to the induction hob, and haven't learnt how to use it properly. But I find it a pain to only be able to use certain types of pans; it seems to take a long time to heat the pans up so I put it on too high and then things boil over really badly; and I just miss the visual and physical responsiveness of gas.

My choice would be: gas > induction > electric

Pinkje · 28/02/2015 17:26

There's a slight buzz with the induction hob.

I know I can use it as an extension to the work surface but I'm a bit scared I will scratch it so I don't.

Overall i am happy with the look of the hob and in my case looks count for more than function! Such are my cooking skills!

Marmot75 · 28/02/2015 17:29

We dithered too when doing up our kitchen. In the end we stuck with gas as there was already a gas pipe and it seemed a shame to waste it plus a Neff induction was so much more expensive than a Neff gas hob. We are happy with gas. I know my sister loves her induction but we don't miss what we haven't got. You might also want to check if your pans work with induction as some don't and that would be an extra expense.

specialsubject · 28/02/2015 18:22

this came up recently and it is a definite marmite situation.

induction (I think? Some kind of electric, not the old black circles thing) hob hurled satisfyingly out of the door last year, replaced with LPG. Can now cook controllably, stir fry properly and pans don't get wrecked! Much less cleaning needed and easier to clean too.

specialsubject · 28/02/2015 18:22

ok, to be accurate I got £20 for it on ebay. It worked as well as it was supposed to.

sanfairyanne · 28/02/2015 21:19

induction is way way better imo. faster, safer, cleaner, its all good

annedawso · 28/02/2015 21:31

Have changed my mind several times myself, but now decided to stick to gas as worry my adult children will scratch an induction hob.
Have you seen the ultra low profile Smeg hob. It is as flat as an induction hob with only the rings slightly raised. Looks very streamlined.
That is what I will be going with, I think.

Original poster
Gusthetheatrecat · 01/03/2015 06:44

Thanks all. Interesting - no consensus!

OP posts:
selby · 02/03/2015 00:19

You know that you can have both especially if you are redesigning your kitchen. I have a Neff flexinduction hob alongside a Neff gas wok burner because I simply couldn't decide. I use my gas hob loads for stir fries.

Sunchaser30 · 04/03/2015 08:03

Hi, I have induction hob and in the past used gas one, to be honest the worst mistake I ever done, for induction hob you have to use special saucepan that function on induction , it has good points for example if you have a child, you can lock it and also it does not turn on only until the saucepan is on the hob and as soon as you take if of it turns himself of, if you cook a lot I will suggest to go for gas hob, if I will have the possibility I will change mine as well, but considering how much it cost especially been a Miele, will have to wait.

pigsinmud · 04/03/2015 08:42

We've just had an induction hob put in our new kitchen. I love it. I've always been a gas girl and was a bit nervous about the decision, but I made the right choice. A pan of water comes to the boil so fast - it's great.

Yes, I had to get a new set of pans, but my mil nought us them for Christmas. I'm very excited about my set - always had odds and ends up until then!

MetroMonkey · 04/03/2015 08:52

I've got both as I have a four ring has hob but then the previous owners of our house put a small 2 pot induction job in the island of our kitchen. I find has to be far superior. It's much quicker and is easy enough to control for high and low temperatures. The induction rings in comparison seem to be so slow that I hardly ever use them.

VeryPunny · 04/03/2015 08:59

Induction all the wat here. Are people confusing ceramic/other electric hobs with induction? Induction hobs should not be slow or unresponsive - they can boil a pan of water in under a minute!

MetroMonkey · 04/03/2015 09:05

Sorry everyone, I think I'm confused as according to a lot of articles online induction is far quicker than gas! I'm not sure how to delete my previous and misinformed comment? Blush

LowLevelBlinging · 04/03/2015 09:06

Definitely induction. Faster, hotter and capable of much gentler, lower heats than gas.

But also just a wipe over instead of taking off the bloody heavy metal things on the gas hob for cleaning!

Just make sure you get one with proper knobs and not annoying little touch sensitive buttons that get greasy - my MIL curses the design of her induction hob, but not the way it cooks IYSWIM.

sanfairyanne · 04/03/2015 09:20

i love my non existant buttons! way easier to clean
poor op, we all disagree

AugustaGloop · 04/03/2015 09:25

I have an induction. I love it, although I do find it is quicker with some pans than other. It is fast (sometimes too fast) with my traditional style le creuset but takes longer to heat some new pans I got.

pootlebug · 04/03/2015 10:35

We have induction, previously had gas.

If I just did the cooking, and no cleaning up, I'd probably stick with gas. Given I both cook dinner and wipe up afterwards - induction wins. For cooking induction is great for most things - very responsive, high is v hot, low is v low etc. The only thing I miss is heat up the sides of a pan for a stir-fry. You just stir fry in larger flat bottomed pans (like sauté pans) instead.

BasinHaircut · 04/03/2015 11:36

Sorry to hijack but im thinking of induction hob too in the new kitchen. So le creuset still work?

Lilymaid · 04/03/2015 11:41

le creuset still work?
Yes, cast iron works fine on an induction hob. the problem is with aluminium and copper bottomed pans.

pigsinmud · 04/03/2015 11:42

I have 1 Le Creuset pan and it works on my induction hob.

sanfairyanne · 04/03/2015 12:39

le creuset works fine but i always worry about smashing the top as they are so heavy (or i am heavy handed)

BasinHaircut · 04/03/2015 13:28

thanks. I cook most things in my le creuset so id be sticking with gas if I couldn't use it on an induction hob because I loves it.

id need to replace my copper bottomed saucepans but they were only cheapy ones that I bought to 'make do' about 5 years ago so that's no big deal.