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Original poster

Induction hob

51 replies

maldivemoment · 14/07/2021 09:04

Apologies if there are already eleventy billion threads on this topic.
About to move into a ‘doer-upper’ and the entire kitchen will need replaced.
Can some of you wise folk share your thoughts/experiences of induction hob over gas? We’ve only ever had gas. I’m completely clueless about induction!
Pros & cons please.

Huge thanks

OP posts:
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 14/07/2021 09:09

no cons, as we already had stainless steel pots & pans.
but if you need to buy new stuff that could be a con (if you go shopping in person take a small magnet with you, if it sticks to the bottom of the pan or pot it's good for induction hob).

pros:

  • a child's play to clean. no different than cleaning a work top
  • no flames so much less chance for accidents
  • no gas so again reduces risk for accidents
  • heats fast & evenly
  • looks cool🤣
Ozanj · 14/07/2021 09:19

If you get a decent brand they are more efficient and heat up much more quickly compared to gas. But there is a learning curve (you need to relearn how to boil water etc) and you will probably need to spend at least 1.5 -2k

Induction also requires magnetic (eg steel/iron) pans and you do need to spend a fair bit on them - but they last for ages and are apparently healthier for you than aluminium non-stick. I haven’t found them harder to wash personally but some people do find maintenance trickier.

In a large space induction hobs can be more flexible because you can put them anywhere and unlike gas you don’t need an extractor (though it’s recommended to have one). Several of my friends who don’t cook with fat didn’t bother and years later their kitchens are fine.

You can grill / toast / roast / on induction so don’t believe people who say you can’t - I make rotis and toast with all the appropriate dark spots on mine. You just need an appropriate pan - traditional iron skillets work well there.

HouseyHouse21 · 14/07/2021 09:26

Gas is incredibly dangerous and messy compared to induction, I'd never choose to have gas again. And get a magnet to test your current pots, you might not need to replace them at all.

Original poster
maldivemoment · 14/07/2021 09:50

Thanks so far. Much appreciated.

OP posts:
Knittingnanny · 14/07/2021 09:54

I’ve alway had gas but 2 years ago went for touch induction and love it. Would never go back
However, I’ve chipped the corner and edge of the glass a bit so see if you can get one with an edging. Not sure if there is such a thing though

AGreatUsername · 14/07/2021 09:56

I would never go back to gas again. The PP who said it’s a learning curve is right, it took me weeks to master how to use it without burning stuff but it is SO responsive. So safe (pans are hot, but not burn hot, the handles never get hot) and so easy to clean. I have a Neff model with a fast boil and a large pan will boil within a minute or two, it also has a pause function, child lock and flexi zone. The one downfall is it’s not good for heating oil in a tray for toad in the hole, and I find frittata a nightmare because the side of the pan doesn’t heat so it takes AGES.

But having had to go back to gas briefly when we moved I absolutely would never ever choose gas again.

thelegohooverer · 14/07/2021 09:59

I cook regularly on both gas and induction.

I slightly prefer cooking on gas but I vastly prefer cleaning the induction hob, or rather not having to do as much cleaning.

The problem for me with cooking is that my hob controls require me to concentrate a bit harder to select the right hob - it’s just not as intuitive a set up. I’m a slow learner though and a touch dyspraxic. I don’t think most people would struggle as much.

For me, buying new saucepans and being able to get rid of older ones without guilt was a definite pro Wink

ArchbishopOfBanterbury · 14/07/2021 10:04

We had one put in a month ago. I love it, but I'm still getting used to it. It heats up to boiling super quickly, so you need to be on the ball to stop things burning. But it's easy and quick to clean, works really efficiently, and looks so smart.

RandomMess · 14/07/2021 10:11

Love induction, went back to gas in a rental and was so excited only to discover it was awful and couldn't wait to get to our new house with an induction hob again!

Just check your pans are compatible with a magnet. Same when you go shopping just take a magnet with you.

BananaHammock23 · 14/07/2021 11:12

I was tempted by induction until I had a single induction hob while we were doing our kitchen up. I have a huge collection of pans etc and only a couple of them were compatible, so it just didn't make sense for us

HP79 · 14/07/2021 11:36

I moved from gas to induction about 18 months ago and I'd never have anything else now. I had to buy all new pans, but mine were due a replacement anyway so that was fine. As others have said, cleaning the hob is so easy and the hob can heat things up ridiculously quickly. Ours beeps and turns itself off if something boils over. We bought a 5-zone AEG and it cost £600, so I don't necessarily agree that you have to spend £1,500+ but of course the more you spend, the better it probably is. We love ours and I will likely buy the exact same hob whenever we move house.

HP79 · 14/07/2021 11:40

Just to add... induction hobs are incompatible with pacemakers, which is something we had to be aware of because my MIL has a pacemaker. Though I think as long as the person is 1m+ away from the hob when it is on, it should be fine. My mum's friend had to get rid of her induction hob after she had a pacemaker fitted!

Lioncountry · 14/07/2021 11:47

The only negative with an induction hob is if you are someone who likes to swish and shake a pan around when you cook. Every time you lift the pan the hob turns off as the magnetic connection is lost. You get used to it and I think induction is great.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 14/07/2021 11:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Roselilly36 · 14/07/2021 11:54

Just recently had an induction hob installed, really impressed with it, water boils so quickly, much easier to clean than my gas hob. I am a convert.

Ozanj · 14/07/2021 11:54

@HP79

Just to add... induction hobs are incompatible with pacemakers, which is something we had to be aware of because my MIL has a pacemaker. Though I think as long as the person is 1m+ away from the hob when it is on, it should be fine. My mum's friend had to get rid of her induction hob after she had a pacemaker fitted!
They’re fine provided you put the pan onto the hob before you switch on the oven. I have a few friends who make medical technology that relies on pacemaker technology & some of them even wear pacemakers themselves and apparently the danger occurs when you switch on the hob without a magnetic metal on there to absorb the electromagnetic radiation. Apparently induction, as a clean energy, can prevent some heart problems as compared to using wood burners / fossil fuels.
Roselilly36 · 14/07/2021 11:55

My friend has a pacemaker too, she still uses her induction hob, but doesn’t stand over it, arms length away.

Ozanj · 14/07/2021 11:56

@Lioncountry

The only negative with an induction hob is if you are someone who likes to swish and shake a pan around when you cook. Every time you lift the pan the hob turns off as the magnetic connection is lost. You get used to it and I think induction is great.
That’s wear buying a more expensive model helps. I flip, swirl etc and have had no issues with the hob turning off or the pan losing heat while doing it.
ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 14/07/2021 14:12

@Lioncountry

The only negative with an induction hob is if you are someone who likes to swish and shake a pan around when you cook. Every time you lift the pan the hob turns off as the magnetic connection is lost. You get used to it and I think induction is great.
ours will has a tolerance of some seconds before it will switch off.

the number indicator will start flashing if you lift the pot - I usually do that if pasta overboils and I need to wipe off the water.
it's fine for at least 10 secs, but I've not timed it.
we have a Neff one with 5 hob areas

MarianneUnfaithful · 14/07/2021 16:45

I have just inherited an induction job, and hate it.

You can’t tip the pan up to baste a fried egg and continue keeping the heat up, for example.

I am terrified of dropping something on it and cracking it.

I hate pressing the surface all the time. Accidentally touching the ‘on / off’ bit in the middle of cooking, or the ‘lock’ bit.

HmmmmmmInteresting · 14/07/2021 16:49

You don't have to spend 1.5-2k 🤣

Imonaplane · 14/07/2021 17:56

I have a Neff induction hob - it's fabulous! I would never have another gas hob. Also, you don't need to spend a lot of money on pans. All mine are from Ikea and were quite cheap, they work perfectly.

cestunestilo · 14/07/2021 18:15

Cook on it just the same as if it was gas and you won't go too wrong.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 14/07/2021 19:15

@Imonaplane

I have a Neff induction hob - it's fabulous! I would never have another gas hob. Also, you don't need to spend a lot of money on pans. All mine are from Ikea and were quite cheap, they work perfectly.
we have Neff too!

I bought 2 x 7l pots and a smaller one from a charity shop less than £15! 1 big pot didn't have a lid.
all stainless steel.

we did splash out on 2 Fissler pots though because my mum gave us a very generous Christmas cheque in '16.
The bigger one is 13 litres. They are amazing!

Cruddles · 14/07/2021 19:58

Moved into a house 3 weeks ago that has induction hobs and I'm not enjoying it so far, but part of that is getting used to it and also could be our model. Pans seem to be stupidly hot or nothing happening, i can't get any subtlety out of it. Ours have a range of 0-14 but 0-10 doesn't seem to do anything. Also to set the temp we slide our finger along to the heat number, but this is either too sensitive or not sensitive enough, and as a previous poster mentioned you can change the temp without realising, the controls are like a smart phone in terms of having no feel to them. At some point in the next few years we'll be getting a new kitchen, will give us enough time to get experience with induction before deciding what we want