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Original poster

If you’ve switched from gas to induction hob...

123 replies

MyCatHatesOtherCats · 18/02/2021 07:12

...would you recommend it? Or do you hate it and want to switch back?

Designing a kitchen and got to start thinking about hobs - I always thought I wanted gas but definitely prefer the look of induction. But don’t want to be swayed by looks over functionality!

OP posts:
LunarCatAndDaffodils · 19/02/2021 01:29

Induction is easier to clean

Gas is better for cooking

Depends which matters to you more.

We moved to somewhere with ceramic which is not as fast/versatile as either gas or induction for cooking, but does have a more intuitive feel like gas, and browns better. And it’s as easy to clean as induction.

gleegeek · 19/02/2021 01:46

Induction is easy to clean but i miss my gas hob! It beeps annoyingly, turns itself off if anything splashes on it, regularly doesn't respond to my finger to turn it on/off, borrows power for other pans so a pan of pasta suddenly stops boiling...so annoying!

Astella22 · 19/02/2021 02:14

I sold a house where I had installed an amazing gas cooker, loved cooking on it. The new house had an induction hob which I fully believe panned to replace but I’m now a complete convert. Love induction and wouldn’t ever consider going back to gas.

SimonJT · 19/02/2021 07:10

@PresentingPercy

I cook a lot. What can you not do on an induction hob that you can do on gas? Just nothing comes to mind. My stir frys are just as good. I have modern Le Crueset hob to oven pans. I cannot think of anything a decent induction hob doesn’t do. Immediate control of “heat”, extremely quick heating up and lots of features like boost heat, timer and various pan size zones. My hob is 90 wide and is more than a good looking bit of kit. It’s a fantastic appliance.
You can’t use a wok, you also can’t get oil to a high enough temperature to deep fry, can’t char things like aubergibe, you can’t make phulka or chapathi.

You also can’t use them if you have a pacemaker, insulin pump, you also shouldn’t put tech near them that is compatible with wireless charging.

notacooldad · 19/02/2021 08:28

*notacooldad

What can you not do on an induction hob that you can do on gas?
Char the skin on peppers and tomatoes

You can. It’s the first thing I did (with green chillis) when I tested out an induction hob at my mil’s. It was a lot faster than gas
I've never done that.
How do you do it? Its the one thing I've missed about an induction.

FurierTransform · 19/02/2021 08:40

I love induction & would never go back.

You can easily char stuff - an empty pan left on the max power setting gets just as smokey & hot as it does over a gas hob.

FurierTransform · 19/02/2021 08:44

Like everything, there are a couple of niche things that gas is better for - a large wok being the obvious one, but if that's important to you then just get a separate wok burner.

For 99.9% of cooking, induction is easier to clean, more efficient, more controllable, faster & safer.

PresentingPercy · 19/02/2021 09:08

Round bottomed pans are useless on standard gas hobs too. I can certainly get oil hot! I think some people are using cheap hobs with low power supply.

Regarding power to induction hobs: they need the correct power supply or they are under powered so only 2 zones work efficiently. The best hobs need sufficient power to work all zones effectively and must be hard wired. Miele hobs are safe for people with pacemakers. There’s a lot of outdated info being posted. Straight sided pans are best but my stir frys are still ace!

Never buy a cheap induction hob and I certainly endorse looking at Which for suggestions.

Ginfordinner · 19/02/2021 09:23

How would you check your power supply to know that it is sufficient to have all four rings on at once?

Imonaplane · 19/02/2021 09:32

I have a Neff induction hob - it's beyond fabulous. I am a very keen home cook and there is nothing that my hob can't do. It's controllable, powerful, heats oil for deep frying, allows me to stir fry, doesn't smell, looks great and is a doddle to clean as nothing burns on to it. I would never go back to gas.

hedgehogger1 · 19/02/2021 09:57

Love everything about my induction hob. Very reactive, just need to learn which setting to use for each thing.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 19/02/2021 10:17

@Flaunch

I’ve managed to scratch mine with a cast iron pot but you can’t really see it and it still works fine. You’re not supposed to use cast iron on the so it’s my own fault. I don’t think it’s be possible to scratch them with decent saucepans.
You can absolutely use cast iron on induction. It's one of the best things to use. Just don't scrape the pot along and be careful not to drop it.

I think some PP must have duff hobs. Ours needed a particular power supply and it is brilliant. I have a cook's blowtorch for the biennial event of charring an aubergine.

Kottbullar · 19/02/2021 10:30

What can you not do on an induction hob that you can do on gas?
I've thought of another thing, cook in a power cut.

jeez2020 · 19/02/2021 11:05

I have just bought a Bosch one, the one with the long zone on one side, it hasn't been installed yet.
Can anyone tell me a good mid price range of pans to buy, le crueset are a bit expensive!
Also, is it the same cleaning wise as a ceramic hob?

sunflowerstory · 19/02/2021 11:12

I put in a mixed gas an induction hob - 4 induction rings and then 1 gas burner (we use a wok super frequently so this was a must-have for us). I would never go back to full gas.

Extendmeupbuttercup · 19/02/2021 11:13

I couldn’t quite tear myself from gas so ended up with a nice 4-ring induction with the hobs diagonally placed so lots of room for big pans, and a 2-ring gas hob next to it. I used the gas for cooking hoppers and chapatis and for one of my woks.

JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson · 19/02/2021 11:23

@jeez2020 IKEA 365 pans are excellent.

PresentingPercy · 19/02/2021 13:48

I have John Lewis pans. Still perfect after 11 years. I have Le Crueset frying pans. Again - they last!

@Ginfordinner
You have to ensure your supply to the hob is compatible. My DD had to have hers uprated. Her AEG hob is 32A. Some are 13A. If you run a 32A off 13A it doesn’t work properly. The plug in 13A ones are not as good as the 32A ones.

PresentingPercy · 19/02/2021 13:49

We don’t have gas so induction is a no brainer.

jeez2020 · 19/02/2021 13:58

Thank you @JohnMiddleNameRedactedSwanson
Just had a look and they look great with fantastic reviews

borntobequiet · 19/02/2021 14:06

I love my induction hob. It works fine and was the cheapest one I looked at. I prefer it to gas for all the reasons other people have given.
Had to Google “Neff removable knob” though.

Chumleymouse · 19/02/2021 14:13

I don’t cook, I hate cooking and I’ve never cooked but we have an induction if that’s any help 🤷🏼‍♀️

Ismellphantoms · 19/02/2021 14:22

I had a Neff induction hob at my old house. Loved it. Moved to a new house with a gas hob and lasted a week with it. I had a new Neff hob put it. It's very reactive and hasn't scratched in six years. Don't buy a cheap hob is my advice.

NoraNorth · 19/02/2021 21:25

@PresentingPercy why do you say Miele induction hob is fine with a pacemaker, haven't found anything with a quick Google and surely all have strong magnetics. Tia

PeterPomegranate · 19/02/2021 22:09

No good for Indian bread according to my friend. You need a flame.