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Original poster

Induction Hob … yes or no? And worktop advice.

83 replies

Kitchendilemas · 25/05/2025 18:45

Hi
Can anybody who currently has an induction hob give me some advice/tips/recommendations?
I’m looking to replace a very old kitchen, with a gas hob. I’m moving the hob location and planning to upgrade to an induction hob. I’m not sure which one to buy? Regular or one with built in extraction? Which brand? Any great features I should look out for?
Some friends have advised to keep gas, as the induction hobs are temperamental and don’t work well?
I am confused and need to decide soon.
i am also thinking of 20mm Quartz, is this better/ worse than 30mm?

OP posts:
okydokethen · 25/05/2025 22:48

Yes go for it

DrCoconut · 25/05/2025 22:51

I've been to a couple of holiday places with induction hobs and I didn't really get on with them. They seem very clunky and awkward to use.

Dbank · 26/05/2025 00:42

Siemens Induction hob 5+ years has been excellent.

Features I like :
Separate times on each ring, (i.e. Potatoes 10 minutes, sprouts 45, etc)
Boost mode on every ring
Very easy to clean.

I dropped a bottle and broke the glass but was able to replace it for <£200

UnPetitCochon · 26/05/2025 00:52

i Had one a few years ago in a place I rented. It was okay but the pans were really heavy. Also wasn’t great for stir fry’s in a wok. And strangely my pancakes weren’t quite the same as they are with a gas hob (I like crispy edges and the edges didn’t really go crispy while still having non crispy middles!)

Newmeagain · 26/05/2025 00:59

I don’t agree that you would have to replace all your pots - it really depends on what you already have. I only had one old one that I had to get rid off - all my other pots and pans were fine.

Kdyjrd44 · 26/05/2025 05:19

DrCoconut · 25/05/2025 22:51

I've been to a couple of holiday places with induction hobs and I didn't really get on with them. They seem very clunky and awkward to use.

They probably weren’t decent ones.I do think getting a good one that isn’t plug and play is key.

Kdyjrd44 · 26/05/2025 05:21

Newmeagain · 26/05/2025 00:59

I don’t agree that you would have to replace all your pots - it really depends on what you already have. I only had one old one that I had to get rid off - all my other pots and pans were fine.

Yes you don’t. Every single one of mine were ok but I still switched as they were filthy thanks to years of gas.

Ikea are all induction friendly and if you want a great cast iron pot the pro cook one is fab. Perfect size with no scratchy bottom.

Netaporter · 26/05/2025 05:53

@Kitchendilemas before you install.. check no one living at your house has a pacemaker as they shouldn’t use an induction hob. Your pans should have a marking on the bottom to see if they can be used on an induction hob. I love mine. I have 2 fitted side by side to replicate the number of rings on a range cooker. Mine are Siemens installed 12years ago and are still going strong.

HappiestSleeping · 26/05/2025 06:00

I'm going to go against the grain here. We put an induction hob in when we did our kitchen a couple of years ago and we hate it. Can't wait to get it taken out and go back to gas. We've tried different pans but to no avail.

It's an AEG if memory serves. Hard wired.

iwantabreakfastpantry · 26/05/2025 07:32

We have dual fuel hob with single gas ring and 4 induction. It seems great but have no experience of other inductions - boils water super fast etc. Can toast things, use wok etc on the gas and have a source of fuel in a power cut (otherwise we are fully reliant on electricity!).

LoafofSellotape · 26/05/2025 07:38

DrCoconut · 25/05/2025 22:51

I've been to a couple of holiday places with induction hobs and I didn't really get on with them. They seem very clunky and awkward to use.

Likely to be cheaper models.

Worth paying more for induction. We have a Bosch which is amazing, 18 years old and fantastic but my mum's much cheaper IKEA one wasn't nice to use.

Gas seems so slow if I use of now. Once you use a power boost you'll never go back.

Thingamebobwotsit · 26/05/2025 07:41

Another vote for induction @Kitchendilemas and I was like you, reluctant to switch from gas.

My top tip is go for a good brand and do your research. We have AEG but Neff were on my list too. Whatever you do, buy the more expensive hobs. Don't skimp. The cheap ones have less flex on power settings in my experience, and simmering can be a bit tricky. Also go for one with say 1-10+ power setting versus a 1-5/6 power setting for the hob... this gives you as much control cooking something as gas does which is great for things like stir fry, or slow cooked meat.

You can get silicon sheets from Lakeland to go over them when cooking to prevent scratches.

But they are so easy and low maintenance.

cherrytree12345 · 26/05/2025 08:12

We had a Neff induction hob put into our previous home, it was brilliant. We moved and had a new kitchen- the lady in the kitchen showroom persuaded us to have a Caple one instead, she said they were all made in the same place. Big mistake, it went wrong once under warranty and then again with a different problem outside warranty. Just felt like a cheap ‘bargain basement’ hob. I got rid of it and bought a Neff one again. Definitely recommend Neff. We have the usual extraction fan above the hob. Induction hobs are so easy to clean.

Eyesopenwideawake · 26/05/2025 08:13

Had one, hated it, went back to gas. Much happier.

Caspianberg · 26/05/2025 08:18

We have a Bosch induction and it’s great

We bought the sunken version so it’s installed fully flush in our ceramic worktop. So no edge or crumbs can get under. We love it

As a comparison. We put a cheaper ikea one in our guest annexe and it was crap, really temperamental. So we swapped it out also for Bosch after a few years

Roselilly36 · 26/05/2025 08:21

We have a Bosch induction hob, really pleased with it, I might be wrong but I think, Neff/Bosch& Siemens are built by the same manufacturer.

andtheworldrollson · 26/05/2025 08:23

I love my induction hob as it has great controllability, easy to keep clean and doesn’t release asthma triggering chemicals into the kitchen

just avoid the cheapest brands like howdens own make

get your electrics checked though as sone people need an uplift to suport the induction hob

Weedkillerworks · 26/05/2025 08:26

I have an AEG and it’s great. For me it’s a trade off - I prefer to cook on gas but really hate cleaning fiddly gas hobs.

I went for one with a metal edge after reading lots of reviews from people who’d chipped the edge of the glass by dropping eg a tin on it. A good idea if you are clumsy like me or have a top cupboard near it.

cottaterra · 26/05/2025 08:31

I have had an induction hob from Ikea which is now 12 years old and has never given a moment of trouble. It looks as good as new, we are careful not to drag pans on it, and clean after each use with a soft damp microfibre cloth. Would never go back. So easy to control. So clean! And in a small kitchen, it is an extra bit of worktop when not needed for cooking.

applegingermint · 26/05/2025 08:32

We have a Miele induction hob and it’s great. Fast to heat and much easier to clean than gas.

We only had 1 pan that wasn’t induction ready and that was a non stick sauté pan > 10 years old.

We have kept a single butane burner for stir fries and steaks, a bit like what you see on cooking shows on TV. The downside of any glass topped hob is that you can’t agitate a pan vigorously else you’ll scratch it. I still wouldn’t go back to full gas though.

Delphigirl · 26/05/2025 08:39

Love my induction which I’ve had for 14 years now. Gaggenau. No issues at all, would never have anything else.

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 26/05/2025 08:39

@applegingermint we used to have an induction hob and I used a muslin under pans where I wanted to shake them so that I didn't scratch the glass.

We've now moved to a house with a gas hob and I hate it. I loved my induction hob

Jeezitneverends · 26/05/2025 08:46

Can anyone advise how complex/£££ it is to have an induction hob hardwired?
There won’t be an issue with the fuse box.
I got gas rather than induction as part of a kitchen replacement a couple of years ago and am really regretting it!

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 26/05/2025 08:49

@Jeezitneverends we looked into this last year as I can't stand using gas after having had an induction hob in our last house. Our electrician said that, in our case, he would have to rewire the whole kitchen as it's at its limit in terms of power. It's an old house though. We decided to wait until we can afford to have a new kitchen, when we will definitely be putting in an induction hob!

PennyPugwash · 26/05/2025 08:54

Going against the majority here, I really dislike them. Gas all the way for me