Induction hob - do I need the bells and whistles?

[jamaisjedors]

We are currently making lots of decisions on a new kitchen and want to get an induction hob.

I've only ever had gas so not sure what I'm looking for, my head is spinning with the zillions of options.

I definitely want one where you can control each ring separately to make it simpler to use.

I'm quite tempted by the smeg option with actual knobs on
https://markselectrical.co.uk/si964nm_smeg-induction-hob?sref=item_colour

But will I miss not having individual timers or any of the other fancy features?

My on/off switch isn't that close to the controls for the cooking area. I've never turned it off by mistake. It has boost for rapid boiling but is instantly controllable . Setting 1 really just keeps food warm. Most pans work with them these days but good pans are an investment. Mine are still perfect and are 13 years old. I don't use Le Cruset cast iron as they are so heavy. They do a brilliant hob to oven range that's non stick and much lighter. Overall get a well reviewed hob. Don't get one on looks or a cheap one.

@TizerorFizz The one I linked to in my 1st post by smeg has knobs, I thought maybe it would be easier to use.

But then if it's harder to clean it'll be a pain.

I hear everyone about gas but there is no access to gas in the kitchen in my new flat... so induction will be the next best (or better?[ thing!

I'm sure from your other thread you don't have pets? I mean your DC aren't even feral 😂

My cats are experts and turn the hob up/down/on/off 🙄 we never leave the pans or kettle on the rings apart from when actually cooking.

😂😂😂

FWIW - if there are no pans on my induction hob, it turns itself off. You have about 5 seconds between turning a ring on and then placing the pan on the ring before it turns off, so it's really quite safe for pets.

I always had a gas hob but after changing to induction would never go back. It never gets hot enough for anything to burn on so cleaning is really easy. Mine is a Neff with the removable control, it's so responsive, easy to control and heats things very quickly.

The only thing I like about my electric cooker is the induction hob. It’s fast, easy to clean and generally just great. No knobs and no fancy timers.
You do need decent pans

@jamaisjedors

I would not buy a Smeg. They aren't the best. Look at Bosch for decent induction hobs. Honestly, few have knobs and a few days of using touch controls you really won't have any issues. Make sure you get 32A and have the electrics in your house to cope . You will need similar for an oven.

Also look for deals. You would be amazed at price differences for the same hob.

If the pan is not flat against the hob, it doesn't work. You need 100% flat bottom to connect therefore newer pans are better but I had an issue with a new Tefal milk pan. My John Lewis own brands are 13 years old and still perfect.

I don't think you need huge numbers of extra features, but safety cut off, variable pan size options, boost for ultra quick boiling and a timer do make sense. I use all of these. My hob is 900 wide which gives more space for positioning handles safely.

I concede that it is easier to clean, but I think it is more difficult to control and heats more slowly than gas. I have an instant boil tap, so fill pans with 99 degree water, and it still takes ages to boil even with only one pan on. I know it's wired properly, but I have also discovered that all induction compatible pans are not created equal, although we have tried two types now.

We are still persevering out of desperation really.

@HappiestSleeping

I just don't know what induction hob you are talking about! Mine has rapid boost. It boils very very quickly. At 1 it's barely heating (lower than any gas) and 9 with boost is rapid. Mine is a Miele. Off is instant. Any spills are easy to wipe away.

Maybe you have used a very cheap 16A one or a 32A one without proper wiring? A good induction is very very responsive and versatile. Also not using fossil fuels.

Or: was it in the house? Have you believed it to be induction but it's not? What's the make and model and is it 32A? Lots of people don't upgrade the electrics. Too much hassle - they tell people it's all wired properly. Not unsafe but stops hob working properly. Does it have a boost function? I too have a boiling tap and from that to boiling on the hob is a very very short time.

Also couldn't disagree more. I would never go back to gas now. Induction is so easy to clean, none of that faffing about taking rings off. It boils water every bit as quickly.

In answer to your question OP I have never used the timers on the rings but it sounds like I should give them a try. I have a Neff induction hob and all the rings can be used independently or the two on the left can be used as a 'domino', so one larger area which is great at accommodating a larger oval Le Creuset. It is touch control rather than rings but it has a built in child lock.

I find induction hobs great, but they are less precise than a gas hob when it comes to control at any temperature. The controls on a gas hob are effectively infinitely variable between on and off, whereas induction 'only' has the 9/10/12/15 settings (depending on brand).

Agree that the 13 amp ones are nowhere near as good - have one (Samsung) in my 'holiday' home and I couldn't boil the kettle, cook rice and stir-fry some prawns at the same time on Monday. Or rather, I couldn't get three rings to operate at max or near max power - it reduced one to 4 (out of 9). The Miele one at home (32 amp) copes fine.

Best of all though, they are easy to clean and switch themselves off :)

Gas to induction convert here. My advice is if you can get the controls to run up one side. The bottom of your shirt (ok fat stomach) can turn them off mid cook otherwise which I find both annoying and a little unkind.

Things I think you should consider, power, get one that is hard wired in on a 32 amp, no shitty plug in as it won't be powerful enough.

Secondly, your pans, @HappiestSleeping it might be your pan. As Tizer says if I put boiling water (Quooker) into my pan and boost it it boils almost immediately but I recently bought a new pan and now it takes a few minutes to do the same thing. I have had my induction for 11 years. Different pans react differently so I have to ensure I choose the right pan ie if I am leaving something to cook on simmer for an hour I choose a less conductive pan.

Thirdly, the size of the rings. If the pan overlaps the "ring" as defined by an actual ring on the surface then the outside edges of the pan just don't heat up, it is relying on the pan to conduct the heat to the edges rather than the heating element underneath. So a frying pan will have bubble in the middle but not the outside edges.

Mine has 4 zones not rings and I can combine 2 zones to make one half of the hob an entire zone which is good for larger saute or shallow casserole. It detects the pan and just heats underneath that. 11 years ago mine was £850 and worth every single penny. It was a Di Dietrich one and still looks relatively new. It has a few very minor surface scratches which considering the age I am fine with.

If any water spills over you just lift the pan, wipe the hob and base of the pan and put it back on. The children can lift off a pot with oven gloves with no fear of a gas flame on another ring catching the oven gloves, you can child lock it, the flame won't go out if you have a window open etc. It is a fantastic hob. Love it.

We must have the same shirt 😁.

Occasionally a splash from my rapidly boiling water will activate my control. Annoying if it shuts off my timer, but the other benefits of induction far outweigh the minor inconveniences for me.

Don't know the name, but a friend has an induction hob with a built in extractor fan in the centre. It's a round thing that she takes out every week to wash in dishwasher. No noise and no big hood to be cleaned. Works really well.
Extractors that can be pulled up from back of hob, I think my friends is so much easier to clean and looks better.
JL has them, you need to ask. They are more expensive because they are a two in one appliance.

I am talking about my induction hob. It's an AEG if I recall correctly, I'm not home to look. Definitely not a cheap one, definitely 32 amp and wired correctly. It's just crap. I was hoping to have the experience you describe, but alas. I think the pots make a difference though and am just about to read the other comment on that subject.

We have tried two different make of pan and it hasn't made a massive difference. We have Le Creuset, and two other brands and it hasn't made a great deal of difference.

I am already using the correct size ring for the pan so that isn't a factor.

We found that if water spills, it turns itself off. Lifting the pan causes it to also turn itself off (frustrating if you are cooking a stir fry).

We will be back to gas soon though, so cooking ability will be restored. We have given it a fair shot (3 years) so can't sat we haven't tried.

@HappiestSleeping some hobs are just really low quality but I thought I'd mention the pans just in case. I would have been disappointed if I had that second pan first and thought this hob is shit. If yo u lift the pan off mine it stays on for about 30 seconds flashing to let you know it isn't detecting the pan anymore. Enjoy your return to gas.

It is possible that the hob is rubbish despite it being a decent brand and expensive. It is also possible that we still have not found the best pots. What make do you use? We are stuck with it for the moment as I need to run a gas pipe.

We had a 60cm Miele induction hob for the last 5 years and just replaced it for an 80cm Neff induction hob. I love both brands and for the price you're paying, you I'll get a bigger size as it is much spacious when you are using more than one large pan. But if you're single or maybe just cook for yourself then the 60cm hob is fine.
My current one 80cm one:

https://www.soundstore.ie/neff-induction-80cm-hob-with-bevelled-front-edge-t58fd20x0.html?gadsource=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwgJyyBhCGARIsAK8LVLO5ORsqTZa3GwSqsz6TvhDOTLPKd7EIMlywNHJSyPfmyrPQQGYjAWsaAp90EALwwcB

@HappiestSleeping
We have John Lewis own brand. They have been excellent. You need a certain weight and don't buy cheap. They are stainless steel. I have Le Crueset frying pan and hob to ovenware but not cast iron. It's their non stick range. Green Pan is good too.