Ideal replacement for gas and electric stoves: induction hob, pros and cons, and tips for choosing

Tags:Kitchen

A modern kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but also original design solutions that combine beauty and a large number of high-tech household equipment. Even an ordinary gas stove is replaced with various panels, making it not only convenient, but also safe. So, the induction hob is becoming more and more popular, the pros and cons of which must be considered when choosing.

Built-in panel in the kitchen table

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1 Features of induction hobs: advantages and disadvantages
- 1.1 Induction hob: pros and cons
2 Which is better: an induction or electric cooktop for the kitchen
3 How to choose an induction hob
4 In custody
5 Video: induction hobs

Features of induction hobs: advantages and disadvantages

An induction hob is much safer than gas options. It does not require a fire to heat up and is powered by electricity, not flammable fuel.

The principle of operation consists in heating induction coils, which are located under the glass-ceramic working surface of the circuits. A high current with a frequency of up to 60 kHz passes through them. Moreover, each coil is the primary winding of the transformer, and the secondary is the very used dishes made of ferromagnetic material. Heating occurs after placing the dishes on the surface of the stove, and the presence of a bottom made of this material is sufficient to cook food at the desired temperature.

Schematic principle of operation

During the operation of such equipment, heat loss is much less, and the heating rate is higher than that of other types of hobs. The efficiency of such a stove reaches 90%, while in a classic gas stove this figure is 60%.

Modern and safe

Appeared in the 80s. 20th century induction hob, the pros and cons of which we will analyze below, was very expensive. However, now its cost and variety of models makes it possible to install such a stove in any kitchen.

note! For cooking on an induction hob, use only special cookware.

Before buying and choosing a model, you need to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this technique.

Induction hob: pros and cons

Any modern equipment has its own strengths and weaknesses, so before purchasing it is necessary to carefully weigh the pros and cons. So, the induction cooker has its own strengths, which include:

The perfect solution for a small kitchen

Safety. Without placing special dishes on the surface, even a switched-on stove will not heat up, which is very important if there are small children or pets in the house. And also you can not worry about the spoons or forks left on the stove, as they do not heat up.
Ease of cleaning. Everyone knows how difficult it is to clean a gas or electric stove from the remnants of burnt food. In the induction version, this cannot happen, it is enough to wipe it with a damp cloth and that's it.

Important! Never use iron sponges or abrasive detergents to clean the stove.

Saving. By using the induction principle, you will save energy costs compared to electric stoves.

Does not heat up without dishes

Heating speed. Due to its high efficiency and low heat loss, the induction version heats up special dishes very quickly. For example, 3-4 minutes is enough to bring water to a boil in a 1.5 liter saucepan.
Booster. This is an optional feature that increases the heating rate of food. Its principle is to transfer the power of one burner to another that you are using.

Easy to operate

There is no ideal technique, therefore induction cookers have their disadvantages:

Only special dishes are suitable. If there is no ferromagnetic material on the bottom of the cookware, the cooker will not function. In this case, you can use a steel or cast iron version, but non-ferrous metals will not work. In this case, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the dishes: a small diameter (less than 15 cm) will not work.
High cost compared to other options. Such equipment may exceed the cost of analogs by 5 times, but in the process of operation it will pay off due to the cost of electricity.

Spoiled surface

Small panel strength. Glass and ceramics are prone to cracking due to impacts. For example, if you drop a cast iron lid on the glass ceramic surface, the stove will have to be repaired.
Difficult renovation. If it breaks, then it will have to be completely changed, which is much more expensive than repairing a gas stove. That is, in terms of reliability, induction cookers are inferior to other options.

When choosing, do not forget to consider the advantages and disadvantages of each option. If you are careful with your appliances and want to pay less for electricity, then you should buy an induction hob.

Related article:

What is the best electric built-in oven. The oven is an indispensable feature of any kitchen. Will help you decide which is the best built-in electric oven, reviews, as well as expert advice.

Which is better: an induction or electric cooktop for the kitchen

Often consumers have a question, what is the difference between an induction hob and an electric one, because the second option is much cheaper and does not require the purchase of special cookware.

Electric stove

Despite the external similarity and the presence of a glass-ceramic panel, there are many differences:

The efficiency of the electronic version is much lower, about 50% or 30%, if a glass-ceramic panel is not used.
Electricity consumption is significantly higher, so the induction option will pay for itself faster.
The level of safety is lower, since the stove will work until it is turned off, in contrast to the principle of inductance, which will stop heating after removing the dishes.
Heating occurs slower (about 2 times).
It is important that in the electrical version the panel itself heats up, so the temperature of the working surface is high and you can get burned.

Electric burner arrangement

Thus, comparing the electric and induction hob, consumers come to the conclusion that the second option is much safer and more economical, justifies its cost.

How to choose an induction hob

In the Russian market, the choice of high-quality panels is not so great today, but you can choose the right option for yourself. You should first decide on the following parameters:

how many burners are required;
required panel dimensions;
availability of additional functions.

Option of built-in induction hob 4-burner

Decent options among manufacturers can be seen from Bosh, Electrolux, Philips, Siemens, and AEG is recognized as one of the best, which, unfortunately, is less and less common in stores after the crisis.

Below is a table with the TOP 3 best induction hobs, according to buyers.

Table 1. The best induction hobs

Name	Specifications		Cost, rub.
Siemens EH875SC11E	Power	7.29kw	50990
	Number of burners	5, two of them with an oval heating zone
	Built-in dimensions	75 x 49 cm (width to depth)
	Additional functions	Protective shutdown.
Electrolux EGD 6576 NOK	Power	3.7kw	30400
	Number of burners	2 gas, 2 inductive
	Built-in dimensions	59 to 52
	Additional features	Thanks to the combination, it can work without electricity, there is a protective shutdown and gas control.
Bosch PIC645F17E	Power	7.2kw	26900
	Number of burners	4, 2 induction, 2 ceramic
	Built-in dimensions	56 to 49
	Functional	There is automatic recognition of dishes, emergency shutdown

Dmitry, Ryazan: “I bought myself a Siemens EH875SC11E hob that fit perfectly in size. I am very satisfied, there is no need to disconnect, and the dishes are reliable, so I bought them only once at the beginning. "

Olga, Tver: “I was looking for a combined induction hob Electrolux and settled on this option. Works great and is easy to clean. "

Mikhail, Kazan: “I've always wanted myself a Bosch induction hob. I stopped at this option, it has been working without interruption for a year already, I am very pleased with the purchase. "

There are many options and models of induction hobs, you can choose a combined or with a small number of burners. It all depends on your desire and capabilities.

Related article:

Connecting the hob to the mains. In this article, we will take a closer look at how to seal and seal the panel during installation, how to connect the panel to the network with one and three phases, and other useful tips.

In custody

Every year new equipment appears and the existing one is improved. You can find a great option for an induction cooking hob that will fit into the size of your kitchen.

Ideal for modern kitchens

Thanks to safe use and work only with special dishes on the stove, you can not worry about the safety of children or pets. You will not need to spend a lot of time cleaning the surface from dirt, and the equipment will pay for itself quickly enough due to the low consumption of electricity.

To make it easier to understand the features of the equipment, we suggest watching a video on the topic.