Induction hobs with decent controls - anybody have one?

[markoaleksandar]

Hello!

I am induction hob shopping and would like some experience on models to buy - or at least models to avoid...

I cook like a distracted toddler; so induction hobs with auto switch off times and are easy to clean are great. Gas it out of the question.

Three things annoy me with standard IKEA hobs:

1. Touch controls. Press on. Press up, up up, down, down, down, oh crap everything it wet the buttons don't respond and now the bloody thing has switched itself off. A knob or knobs would be great; preferably either remote mounted (away from hob surface) or magnet-ing onto the hob surface.

2. Unresponsive controls. Turn down the power. 3 seconds later the hob responds.

3. Lumpy controls. Sometimes pan A on ring A will "simmer" at a lower power; but the same pan A on ring B will "pulse" on and off at a higher power.

Almost none of this is checkable in the stores.

It also needs to go above a dishwasher in this kitchen design .

Anybody experienced something they would reccomend?

This looks very nice other than the £s and not fitting above a dishwasher:
https://www.bora.com/en-int/cooktop-extractor-systems/professional-3-0

This has good old fashioned knobs on but is more than a hob / looks a nightmare to clean etc:
https://www.appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/zci66080ba/zanussi-zci66080ba-cookers-60cm-electric-cooker

(interestingly it also has touch controls; perhaps it's possible to retrofit remote knobs to regular induction cookers with the right knowhow?)

Neff seem to have some - are the controls responsive / do the zones pulse at low power though?
https://www.neff-home.com/uk/products/hobs/highlights

Samsung seem to have some - are the controls responsive / do the zones pulse at low power though?
https://www.samsung.com/uk/cooking-appliances/hobs/

Smeg have the noddy simple knobs but missed the memo on ease of cleaning and timers..
https://www.smeg.com/products/SI364BM

Anything else out there?

I'm joining to see if anyone has any suggestions, currently about to buy one too! Was leaning towards the Neff, but open to other ideas.

We bought the Neff one with the removable spin control following all the recommendations on here and we love it

DD has Bosch. They have some great ones. I have Miele. Does everything quickly!

I know this isn’t what you asked but just checking you know that if any body in your household (or who is likely to use the hob) uses a pacemaker or insulin pump, or anything similar, they can’t be near an induction hob? The magnets can interfere with medical equipment.

Bosch here. Timer and locking button. It's marvellous

Have a Neff and hate it with a passion. Does all the annoying things you mentioned like locking itself. I've also never managed to reset the oven timer after a power outage, the controls are that unresponsive.

We have a Neff and it is great. However, further to Nellymadeofjelly’s post, I now have a pacemaker so can’t use it. The good news, though, is that DH now does all the cooking.

Bosch induction hob here, really pleased with it.

Which neff hob do you have?

We have a Siemens down draft one. Excellent all round. Powerful, easy to use and clever (if you move a pan from one ring to another the setting follows it).

@ooooohnoooooo I second the Siemens one, very easy to clean too

Same. Ours has the down draft ventilator that needs cupboard space underneath it. You just have to watch for the magnetic knob attaching itself to baking trays. Only happened once and spotted it before it went in the oven. Replacements are £££s.

it’s great, even very impatient husband copes with it.

We've had a Neff induction hob for 18 years! It has the magnetic rotor dial (just pick it up to wipe underneath) and its still as responsive now as when it was installed. Would happily buy it again although at this rate it will outlast the kitchen!

We’ve got a neff with the removable magnetic dials. It’s brilliant to use and super responsive!

be warned though that replacement dials cost £50 and 3 times in 5 years someone has put one in the dishwasher/oven stuck to a baking tray 🤣. We normally stick it to our extractor fan when we’re not using it.

I love my Neff hob. Responsive, great rapid boil function, a nice low, even simmer. I like how you can merge zones when you're using really big pans or trays.

Just normal touch controls though (what is this magnetic witchery of which you speak??)

Whatever you do get, don’t get a Zanusi, my one keeps turning the pans off, if you have 3 pans on the go on high, it cannot cope and turns them down.

Another vote for the Neff with removal dial

This is the one we have
www.euronics.co.uk/catalogue/cooking/hobs/electric-hobs/electric-induction-hobs/neff-t59ft50x0-90cm-induction-hob-black/p/NEFT59FT50X0

For what it's worth an update:

I bought the NEFF (T66FTX4L0) for €750 and fitted it.

• It is easy to clean
• The magnetic knob is ace
• Having four zones all behave the same way is excellent vs four randomly sized and responding zones
• The responsiveness is much better than a basic IKEA induction hob though not immediate/stemless at lower power
• The frying sensor feature that sets the pan temperature stable is bloody ace and more than makes up for the response time vs gas (you can just set and forget)l and will never burn a thing again)

Would recommend for those with the motor skills (mess making capacity) and attention span (he says, typing on the phone rather than watching the pan) of a toddler.

Shame the one with a knob and built in auto extractor is €3k. Else it'd be a no brainer.

Humbug.

Glass bottle from a high shelf at Mach 3 right onto the edge of the glass. Heinz 1 : Neff 0.

I guess I'm about to learn how reasonable (or otherwise) their spare parts pricing is...

https://www.neff-home.com/ie/supportdetail/product/T66FTX4L0/01

Part 20005400 allegedly available to replace.

Nooooo........

Might your buildings insurance cover it? I had this once with my very first induction hob and it was covered.

For what it's worth €190 inc VAT delivered for the glass. Very reasonable.

Not worth insuring. Even for a Bora hob the glass is ~€350 inc VAT delivered. Less than the excess even if you did have accidental damage cover.

We’ve had 2 new kitchens in the last 7 years and away to put in another one (due to house moves!).

The last one we installed was Neff - easy to use but visually it’s a bit basic looking. Sister has AEG, which is similar imo.

Elica - stunning, but overly complicated & utterly shite.

I did the much the same with a Siemens one , dropped a bottle of wine on it.

The replacement glass was £200 but very easy to fit.