Induction to electric hob change

[Lookingdownthebarrell]

we moved to a new place and it has an induction hob. Is it straightforward to change to an electric hob? Like buying and plugging in an electric hob? Not keen on replacing our hide pots, as an alternative do adapter plates work?

Have you actually cooked with induction hob, I’ve had one for over 10 years and I wouldn’t go back to cooking on anything else.

Agree with @Lennonjingles - I'd replace the pans not the hob. Induction is much better than electric.

What is hyde a typo for? As per PP, induction is far superior, it would be a mistake to downgrade to electric.

Try your old pans, some may work fine with the induction hob. Had a gas hob for years but used an induction hob on a holiday and when we re did the kitchen made sure an induction hob was installed & would not go back. Only two of my older pans didn't work the rest were fine.

I think it is fairly easy to change them and from what I have read, those adaptor plates aren't a good idea as they make it overheat or something.

I've moved into a place with induction and am annoyed that I can't use some of my favourite pans that I've been using for decades plus ones inherited from my grandmother and mum.

We moved from electric to induction. Wouldn’t do it the other way.

What brand is in the induction hob? Is it a fully wired in one or a plug in one?

Induction hobs are about a million times better than a regular electric hob. They are as responsive as gas, easy to clean, turn off automatically, quick to heat up. All the things that electric hobs aren't.

You don't need expensive pans. Every decent pans would cost less than buying an electric hob.

I changed from gas to induction. I do note Nigella (who I consider knows what she’s doing in the kitchen) uses gas.

But induction so much easier to keep clean and it’s excellent to use. We had to replace a couple of our pans but have never looked back.

Plus wasting and installation cost of new hob.

Electric hobs need a more powerful power supply, so you’d need to check that your cables are ‘big’ enough before switching. I agree with others though that it’s worth trying the induction one for a few months first - maybe give it a go for 6 months and then you can buy a new hob in the sales if you still want to swap.

Why would you not want an induction hob? Just replace your pans. Surely cheaper than downgrading and buying an electric hob?

Induction hobs heat up much faster. They are also safer. If you accidentally leave one on it doesn’t get hot. It’s the reaction with the pan that generates heat.

Wrong way around. It’s induction hobs that need thicker cables. So going from induction to traditional electric isn’t a problem in that respect.

Are you sure? Because we had issues going from induction to electric for that reason (I think… I may have misunderstood).

we had induction fitted and needed thicker cable.

However actually I don’t think you can really generalise. It all depends on the power of the particular hob you are fitting, not whether it is induction or not. So your recollection is probably correct as well.

Electric hobs are awful and induction is great. Get induction pans from IKEA and that will be much cheaper and better than switching the hob.

Thank you all, and Oh wow! I was not expecting to hear so many good things and so much support for induction! I have a plate in the post for Bialetti coffee pot will start the experience with that.

Can you suggest specific brand and pots you use on induction. I have a collection of stainless steel copper and cast iron.

For my induction hob I use stainless steel Procook and IKEA.

Another convert here, switched from electric to induction with moving house, was gutted to part with beloved sets of pots and pans but now love induction. Find it preferable even to gas which used to be my fave but in a holiday cottage recently I didn’t enjoy its gas hob.

Keep the induction!!! They are wonderful things.

when buying pans it will clearly say if they are suitable for induction

you stainless steel might work and cast iron will. Copper won’t. But if you really love the pans you have that won’t work you can buy a metal plate to go underneath them - I use it for the tagine

For your existing pots, check them with a magnet. If the magnet sticks to the bottom, they will work.

For new ones, just check for the induction symbol.

I have always used Tefal, but I am sure that there are better brands available.

I could not imagine swapping my induction hob for a plain old electric hob! Think of how instant induction is, I hate electric hobs!

As for pots and pans, go to Makro, they always have lots, just look for the induction sign on the packaging. My best pans I bought from Makro.

You can get induction compatible pans most places. I have a range from le crueset to aldi. I love my induction and would never go back.

Only thing I have never found is an induction compatible tiny one-egg frying pan. I can live without it but it was useful!

My pro cook pans are suitable for induction - not cheap but not ridiculously expensive either - £150 for 3 pans

This kind of thing is useful to know if you’re a passionate cook.

Nigella often uses what she calls “pixie pans” for melting/cooking small amounts on her gas hob. They are very small and their bottom wouldn’t cover the requisite 80% surface of the smallest ring on my hob, so I wouldn’t be able to use them and as a PP says, they can be really handy.