Everything You Need To Know About Induction Hobs
We’ve been proud users of the induction hob since 2021. Some of you might be surprised to know that we’ve in fact used 2 different hobs in the short span of 4 years. Both hobs had their pros and cons, our current one has more pros than the other.
To start, here are the advantages and disadvantages of induction hobs:
Advantages
• Easy to clean
• Less heat emitted from stovetop
• Not a fire hazard
• No toxic fumes
• Built-in digital timers
• Higher precision to repeat recipes at same heat level
• Sometimes shortens cooking time
Disadvantages
• Requires specific cookware
• Might not be able to make certain traditional/cultural recipes
• Takes some getting used to if you've never used one before
I do feel all the disadvantages can be overcome. For us, we have a portable gas stove for the extremely rare occasion we want to make claypot rice at home. On the flip side, all the advantages of the induction hob are the disadvantages of the gas stove and they unfortunately cannot be overcome.
Now, we’ll share what we think home owners should keep a look out for when shopping for induction hobs in their kitchens!
1) The danger of more heating zones
This is one of those situations where more is not more.
Our first induction hob was 76cm wide with only 2 heating zones. When we were shopping around, there were many hobs with 3 heating zones, but less wide.
The danger comes when you actually need to use all 3 heating zones. Depending on the size or shape of your cookware, you may not be able to fit all of them on the hob properly!
From our experience, we truly never had a problem with just 2 heating zones. A home cook can rarely find enjoyment juggling 3 or more dishes cooking on the stove at once.
Our hob actually has 5 heating zones now, but we have never turned all 5 on. On the rare occasion we use 3, but it is so so rare!
2) Quality of hob
I'll admit I'm not the most knowledgeable about the different brands and their qualities.
Glass should be the standard material for induction hobs, and if I were to buy another induction hob, I'll definitely make sure it will not shatter on impact.
With our first hob purchase, we learnt to look out for "SCHOTT GLASS". If the hob is made of this award-winning material, it will be printed somewhere on the hob. Keep a look out for it because it means it is highly durable & resilient.
3) Safety features
This should be everyone's non-negotiable when shopping for an induction hob.
Both our current and old induction hob had built-in safety features which could sense liquid spillage & extreme heat outside of the heating zones.
This means that the hob will set off its gentle alarm and shut itself off automatically after a few seconds, if no changes occur (i.e. liquid is not cleaned up, or temperature of surface does not fall)
This safety feature is assuring to have because you'll never experience serious over-boiling from neglecting your pot.
Oh, the hob also shuts itself off automatically if it is turned on without cookware on it.
4) Extra functions
This is where the induction hob shines brighter than the gas stove (together with its safety features). Again, I'm not the most well-versed with all that is offered in the market, but I do feel certain functions are highly helpful from my experience in the kitchen.
Our current hob is able to track the duration of each heating zone once it is turned on individually. Similarly for timers, we can set 5 individual timers. Once the timer goes off, that heating zone shuts off as well.
We find this particularly useful for eggs, stews and soups. We don't have to keep tending to the stove when making such dishes, which frees up time for us to do something else without worrying about food overcooking if we can't give it immediate attention.
These features were something our previous hob couldn't do. It was a great hob for cooking, but I prefer having all these extra functions as someone who aims to always have the easiest time cooking at home.
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Trust this to be more powerful than some built-in gas stoves
