Yahoo News The best induction hobs for every budget
Induction hobs have long been available, but only now, as the technology improves and prices drop, has there been a real rise in interest. Increasingly, people are warming to the idea that induction hobs are a cheap, environmentally friendly and high-performing alternative to gas or electric hobs.
For years, there was a stigma around induction hobs, which use an electromagnetic field below the glass surface to generate heat to the pan. Cooking snobs considered them naff, and foodies thought there was less control than gas hobs. For chefs, controlling heat and temperature by eye was the true way to display skill and technique.
There are many reasons to consider switching to induction hobs. They're more environmentally friendly than gas and electric hobs for several reasons. There's no excess heat - all heat is concentrated in the pot while others heat up the air around the pan; many include smart technology which can detect the absence of a pan and switch off; and they're more energy efficient. On the other hand, you'll have to buy a whole new set of compatible induction pans.
While the initial purchase may be greater than a gas hob (prices range from around £100 into the thousands), the money saved on bills should soon see you in the black. They are also more streamlined, sleek and modern, and many can be installed by simply plugging into a socket.
Induction hobs are extremely safe. You can't forget the gas is on, and you can't burn your hands, as the hob only heats when the magnetic pans are placed on top. While with ceramic hobs the whole cooking zone heats up, with induction only the pan warms, making it the safest option around.
Cleaning is incredibly simple - just wipe away any muck with a wet cloth, then go over it every now and then with some glass cleaner. It's worth noting that you'll most likely still need space for ventilation, and potentially additional wiring too.
If you need any more convincing, a host of top chefs have begun to make the move. Josh Eggleton, the Michelin-starred chef at the Pony & Trap in Chew Magna, says: "Cooking with induction is better for the environment and once you've got the hang of it I think it's great to use, and looks stunning too. Many models now include special functions for budding cooks from bake and keep warm to boil control and booster settings. They allow you to be very specific with temperature control."
At HelloFresh, all the recipes are conjured up on induction hobs. HelloFresh UK's chef Andre Dupin explains: "We use induction in the HelloFresh test kitchens as they are really quick to control, easy to clean, and energy efficient. They heat up very quickly - which is great for busy chefs - and cool down almost instantly. A lot of pro kitchens are switching to induction."
At P Franco in London, chef Tim Spedding was a fan, often using cheap Lakeland models. "Fundamentally induction hobs are a useful tool, commonplace in most commercial kitchens because they provide a clean, efficient and versatile heat source with very low investment," Spedding says. "For the home cook they're great because they are a fast and efficient heat source."
1. Bosch PUE611BF1B induction hob
When my dad first switched to induction he wouldn't stop going on about it. Initially, I was a bit sceptical, preferring to cook over flame. I've tried his Bosch induction hobs a few times, and, while it took a while to get used to - as I think would be the case for anyone making the switch - I'm converted.
"I didn't have to change my cooking habits too much, just some of my pans," he tells me. "But Bosch sent me four free pans - decent ones too - and I already had some which were suitable."
"It's very easy and simple to operate, and you get instant heat control like gas. I've found it very simple to clean, even during cooking, as you can touch the ring and all you feel is a bit of heat, you can't burn yourself!"
There are four hobs, all controlled from a touch-screen section where you choose your heat. The only negative, one which applies to them all, is you can't take the pan off the hob and maintain heat. For example, when tossing a stir-fry, if you remove the pan you'll lose heat, though it returns pretty much instantly. A minor point, really.
"I wouldn't go back to gas, unless one day I have the perfect kitchen which would obviously include at least one gas ring for special pans or cooking techniques. This feels like the future."
2. Fisher & Paykel C1604DTB3 frameless 4 zone induction hob
Italian Chef Valentina Harris is an avowed induction sceptic. In most cookery schools where she teaches, induction hobs are used, and "most of them frankly drive me crazy, it feels like cooking with a recalcitrant teenager," she says.
"But then", she continues, "working at the Eat and Drink Festival at the Ideal Home Show, I encountered the controllable wonders of Fisher and Paykel, and it all changed for me.
"Here at last is an induction hob that cooks like a grownup, with the cook - rather than fighting against the cook, and it appears not to have been created by someone obsessed with cleaning."
The Fisher and Paykel C1604DTB3 is sleekly design, with the touch and slide controls situated in a straight line at the bottom. A cool auto-heat reduce function means your food will never boil over again.
3. Miele KM6381 Integrated Induction Hob
There’s no denying that the Miele is a little pricey but, if you want the best, it’s worth considering.
Nominally, there are four cooking zones on this induction hob, like many others. However, this hob also comes with two “Powerflex zones”. This means you can link cooking zones together if using larger or longer pans that don't fit on one section alone.
The hob has a speedy heating time, with a power of 7.4kW. It uses an intelligent system that automatically lowers the heat after you have finished cooking, meaning your food simmers and does not burn. Plus, with a system lock included, the hob is child-proofed.
4. Caple C970i multi zone induction hob
Caple's induction hobs are favoured by chef Josh Eggleton and, though pricey, come with a host of features to make them one of the best high-end options around.
At 90cm, the Caple C970i is wider than most and, with eight heat zones rather than the usual four, you can cook with several pans at the same time, making it an ideal option for larger families. Each zone has 14 power levels for incredibly precise control - boiling a litre of water takes just three minutes.
For Eggleton, a host of useful features like bake, keep warm, boil control and booster settings, set this versatile appliance aparts. It's won awards, too, including House Beautiful Best White Goods Award. It's expensive, but, if you can afford the outlay, you'll get plenty of bang for your buck.
5. Siemens iQ-300 stainless steel
Vegan chef Kali Hamm is a big fan of Siemens' induction hobs, which she describes as the best she's used "in terms of ease of use and speed with which it heats and cools."
Indeed, this Siemens model is incredibly simple to set up - all you have to do is plug in and you're good to go. Unlike some induction hobs, you can activate and control each cooking zone individually (with some hobs, all the zones switch on together). The control panel is very responsive, too.
You can also use the powerBoost function, which ups the power by 50pc, making cooking quicker, and a handy timer allows you control when the pan will switch off, so no more burnt food and pans. The fryingSensor feature, too, is particularly impressive: essentially, your pan won't overheat, making sure your food is cooked at the optimum temperature.
6. AEG IKB64301FB electric induction hob
Induction hobs have been introduced to HelloFresh's test kitchens for their simplicity, quick results, easy cleaning and energy efficiency. For the home delivery meal provider's chef Andre Dupin, it's got to be AEG.
The German brand has a wide range of induction hobs but this model is a more affordable option. As with most induction hobs, there are four heating zones that can be turned on by touch. One of the more nifty of its functions, however, is the minute minder - an easy way to stay on top of the different components of your meal.
7. CDA HN9611FR induction hob
This five-zone induction hob from British brand CDA has a large range of features. Of the several functions, we particularly like melt and simmer - perfect for bain maries and slow cooked stews. You can also pause cooking. The anti-overflow and anti-overheat settings mean it's nigh on impossible to burn food or make a mess which, coupled with the child locks, mean it will make a good hob to introduce your children to cooking.
Do note that, at 90cm, it's wider than four-zone hobs, so make sure you have enough space in your kitchen for it. The extra space, however, gives you an extra zone in the middle, and more space to move pans around or cook using all five at the same time.
