What sort of hob is best - induction, or gas rings, or what???

[O.A.Partygirl]

We're re-doing our kitchen and have to get a new hob . We've currently got a 4x gas ring one but are wondering about getting an induction one instead, mainly because it would be easier to clean. If anyone has time to let me know pros/cons of all and what they think is the best, that would be great thanks!

[goldilocks]

Induction every time - its massively easy to clean - its super quick and responsive. Rubbish for charring peppers but honestly find it not a huge concern!

Also - technically gas will be phased out so induction is cleaner / less polluting for indoor air as well.

We switched to induction from gas about 10 years ago and I was skeptical but I'd never go back.

[DuncanW]

Agree - we have had induction for a while now and wouldn't switch back.

Pros: Massively easier to clean, much safer if you have children, super-responsive - eg bringing a pan of water to boil faster, more energy efficient, so more environmentally-friendly.

Cons: The heat only transfers when the pan is flat on the hob, so less good for wok style stir frying etc - still possible, but you won't get the flames licking up the side of the pan, obvs

You may need to discard some of your old cookware - increasingly, pans are induction-friendly, but we had to throw some away that weren't.

Electricity is still more expensive to buy than gas, so probably slightly more expensive to use, despite being more efficient

[PeckhamNicola]

I switched from gas to induction hob when I moved house - reluctant to begin with but now really like it. Our hob has induction rings at the front and non-induction at the back. Unless you regularly use >2 hobs at a time this could be a good compromise to get round the cons listed in other responses.

[OutOfFocus]

I've found electric controls fiddly (mildly dyspraxic). Admittedly only used them in self catering places so might get used to it at home.

[goldilocks]

Electric and induction are worlds apart in terms of functionality.

Induction is instant like gas - so you turn the ring down and it instantly lowers the temp - whereas on electric it takes a while. The controls on induction are generally LED type ones but we recently went on holiday and they had a range cooker with an induction hob and that had traditional turn dials. Pretty sure that whatever your preference for controls, you'd be able to find something if looking for induction.

[Naiada]

thanks for all the helpful feedback, everyone!

[OutOfFocus]

Thanks. Choosing for myself i would go for dials. Im and old fogey in some ways

[Sue__Dulwich]

I find the electric are best. There are too many restrictions with the induction.

[goldilocks]

The only restriction is the type of pan you can use, and once you've crossed that hurdle its fine. I guess if you have copper pans or want a stove top waffle iron, its tricky but otherwise I'm not clear what the issue would be. Electric is really annoying to cook on as isn't quickly responsive in my view.

[Boddle]

I adore our new induction hob! Yes, it has dials. Induction is not the same as those with fiddly halogen/ceramic hobs you get in Centre Parcs etc.!

Possibly needing new pans is the main downside. but IKEA do them so you needn't spend a fortune if yours aren't suitable (most of ours were.) And so much safer with the kids- it generates heat in the pan rather than the hob surface so harder for them to burn themselves, and they can't turn it on by fiddling with the dials (as it needs a pan on it). A doddle to clean and cleaner air. And so fast! I love it.

My mum has found an induction hob with one gas ring as they were worried about electrical outages (they live in a remote place). so that's also possible...

[Houseoflego]

Hi,

We couldn?t decide so got a min induction hob from ikea to see how it went, ?79. We have now ordered induction. If anyone wants the ikea hob to try happy to pass it on for ?40! PM me

[scareyt]

@boddle what hob do you have please? Our AEG induction hob just died so we need to replace it and I can?t cope with the ones where you have to select the ring first and then change the temp.

[scareyt]

I?d recommend induction but wish we had gone for wider than the standard 60cm size as it get tricky to fit all the pans on for a big meal.