Which induction hobs

For this reason, induction hobs are far and away the safest option if you have young kids around the house. In a nutshell, induction cooking is more environment friendly, safer, more efficient and the products themselves are far easier to keep clean. The most pressing issue is that the magnetic induction process only works on pots and pans made out of ferrous metals like iron and steel so you will almost certainly need to change some, if not all, of your current collection.

Another thing worth noting is that most induction hobs have a toughened ceramic glass coating and some have been known to crack if a heavy pot like a Le Creuset is dropped on it. Tread carefully in this respect or you might need to replace the entire unit. Some induction hobs are also quite easily scratched by sliding rough-cast iron bases across the surface although you can quite safely place a tea-towel, piece of parchment or, if you want something neater, a dedicated silicone guard between the hob and the pan to prevent this.

Most induction models use touch-sensitive control panels to select individual cooking zones and their respective temperatures. If you have a lot of trouble using touch-sensitive panels then perhaps go for a model with knobs on. Finally, people with heart pacemakers fitted are advised to check with their doctor first as the magnetic fields created may cause problems — it pays to be careful. Most induction hobs certainly the cheaper models are made up of different-sized cooking zones that can be quite picky about having pots and pans placed accurately within their individual cooking boundaries.

This can be a problem if you have a large, oblong casserole pot as it will most likely not fit within the optimum area. Thankfully, most modern mid-priced models get around this by having flexible zones that can be bridged to form one large cooking area. These models are worth seeking out. FlexInduction hobs are fitted with loads of sensors beneath the surface that detect the size and shape of the pot above.

This means you can pretty much place pots and pans of any shape and size anywhere on the surface. Induction hobs and indeed all electric cookers should be on their own separate ring main and one of the correct amperage and wattage. You will also need to employ the services of a carpenter to build a hidden platform for the unit and perhaps some extra carpentry on your worktop surface. One of the most unfortunate issues with induction hobs is that they require the pot or pan to be placed within the circular boundary of the chosen cooking zone.

But what if you want to use an oblong casserole cocotte while boiling water in a round saucepan? This AEG comes with a self-sizing Multiple Bridge function that automatically detects the size of the pots or pans no matter how many you place on the hob at a time within reason of course — an extremely handy feature. As with most induction hobs, the AEG looks stylish and comes with a bevelled brushed-steel surround; the whole thing is an absolute doddle to clean.

While its heat-up times were a little sluggish with larger pans, we found its overall performance impressive, and loved its dual FlexiCook zones for big-scale cooking — you can link the front and back burners on both the left and right-hand sides of the hob. That should keep the sleek black surface safe from the wrath of boiling sugar and other nasty hot splashes.

If you have the cash to splash, though, we thoroughly recommend luxuriating your kitchen with the Miele KM The hob delivers full power to the zone until it reaches the temperature of the set level, and then automatically reduces power to maintain that temperature. From the innovative Danish brand Witt, the understatedly chic Witt WIF78SQW2 comes with features galore and a price tag that only the most ardent of cooks will be able to stomach. Flexible cooking zones are included under the guise of the Automatic Zone Bridge.

The automatic pan-detection feature works well, but you need to place your pans accurately on the zones, which becomes easier with use. Keep your eyes peeled for this high-end, high-fashion hob hitting the UK market. The Samsung NZ84JEK is a roomy 80cm-wide induction hob with some unique features that set it apart from its high-end crowd. Still, it cooks a charm, and its style and precision make up for its meagre foursome of burners. There are some great time-saving features, though, like how the power comes on at level 15 as soon as you press a zone button, allowing for fast heat-up instantly, or manual temperature toggling.

Standout features that defy its low price point include Schott Ceran easy-clean glass, a power-boost function, and the ability to link two zones to heat very large pans. It performs well in general, boasting good heat-up times and precise control over 19 heat levels.

We found that positioning round pans on the square marked zoned could be a bit tricky, but it makes up for some of these design oddities with power and consistency. One feature we were a bit baffled by is its Eco mode, which halves the power to all currently active zones. A child lock, for one, and a countdown timer to boot. Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest.

To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct. We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. With a flexinduction or zoneless hob, you can activate the whole surface.

Naturally, all this wonderful technology comes at a price which means that induction hobs are currently the most expensive on the market. Yes, you do need to have a compatible pan set for induction. Most induction hobs do have a specific electrical requirement, and you will need to hire an electrician to install the hob. They need to be connection to a suitable 6mm cable with a 31 amp breaker, or a 10mm cable with a 45 amp breaker providing the isolator switch does not incorporate a 13 amp socket.

Induction really is the best heating method on the market at the moment but all this technology does mean that you will need to pay a little bit extra for it. That being said, the energy and time savings could mean that the extra expense will easily pay for itself over the lifetime of the hob. You can view all the induction hobs we sell from top manufacturers like Neff on our website. Search for:. Advantages of Induction 1.

Easy to Clean As induction hobs are a flat surface, they are very easy to clean. Ease of Use Induction is incredibly easy to use — you simply select the power level you require at the touch of the button.