Gas or Induction hob in new kitchen ?

GwylimT

Gas, when we moved into this flat we had an induction hob, it was awful, we got rid of it in the first month and had it replaced with a gas hob. Not only was it rubbish but the surface stained very quickly and looked awful.

silverwhistle

I used to have a gas hob, but when I moved back to my house found that it had been condemned. The housing association said fair-wear-and-tear although the encrustations of carbon suggested otherwise.. Anyway, I recently had an induction hob fitted and have been very pleased; very quick, efficient and most importantly, as I'm a messy cook, very easy to keep clean. In the unlikely event of a power cut I have a camping stove.

Grouchy

Justamum wrote: »

This is interesting as I posted a question just before this about halogen v induction. On that thread there have been no negatives about induction, and when I've checked on-line people rave about it. Now I'm confused It's such an expense and I don't want to make a mistake about it.

What happens if you spill something on it? Why is it a pain? Does it damage the surface?

Obviously just my experience but I found the surface was constantly smeary, either I'm a poor cleaner or when you have spotlights in your kitchen it shows more, I don't know? Also you have to be careful that any granulated food doesn't somehow get between pan and hob as it can scratch easily.

As I said, didn't like it at all and for some cooking the heat is not fierce enough for some cooking. Also as I mentioned wok practically impossible and also cazuela cooking is impossible. Also some pans just don't work at all. IMO very inflexible.

I did notice the other post about halogen v induction. Induction definitely. Halogen is like cooking with one tealight under the pan, useless and I had the misfortune of having one for a year or so. Was seduced by sleek looks, but they are not worth it.

Just my opinion of course, so good luck with your decision.
G

morganlefay

Thank you all for very helpful thoughts. I had not thought of the issue of electricity cuts, and as I have an electric oven and everything else, it seems like a good idea to keep to a gas hob as I suspect we'll be seeing more not fewer power cuts
decision made - thank you all so much :beer:

ellies_angel

I find using window cleaner great for a smear free shine

Artytarty

Sob sob! I collected my new hob this morning, we took out the old one, opened the new one and it was smashed to bits.
It will be Tuesday now till it can be replaced and my OH cut himself on the shards of glass.
ah well, at least the old one can go back in for a day or two but I was so looking forward to using my induction hob.

Justamum

Grouchy wrote: »

Halogen is like cooking with one tealight under the pan, useless and I had the misfortune of having one for a year or so. Was seduced by sleek looks, but they are not worth it.

At the moment we've got an oil-fired range, and it's like cooking with a tealight which has just blown out! Utter rubbish. We're using a camping gas stove at the moment perched on top of the switched off huge lump of waste metal which passes for a cooker , along with an electric steamer and a table top halogen oven so the work tops are very cluttered.

GlynD

We changed to a ceramic infra red hob, similar in appearance to your induction hob but not as fast a reaction in heat adjustment. So much easier to clean than a gas one or solid ring. Ask the memsahib though and she'll tell you she would still prefer gas because it's instant control.

I'm very happy with the ease of cleaning though. I've never seen anything so easy to get clean.

jack0212

It's induction all the way for me. In fact, I loved my induction hob so much that when we moved I took it with us!

Induction hobs work using a magnetic field so that the pan heats only when it comes into contact with the hob itself. Certain hobs come with a boost facility which means that it can almost be as quick as a kettle when bringing stuff to the boil which makes it economical too. They are more controllable than gas. You can even melt chocolate in the pan because they can be used as a really gentle heat. As for cleaning, they are so much easier than a traditional ceramic hob ( I have cooked with both) because the surface doesn't retain the heat the same especially when switched off. I clean my hob using an ecloth and polishing cloth with just plain old soapy water. It comes up like new every time. Yes you do get scratches in the glass but you get that with a normal ceramic hob too. They are not suitable for use by people who have a pacemaker fitted.

Justamum

nuttyp wrote: »

We had a gas hob fitted that way should we have a power failure fir electricity (rural area we live in) we can still have a cuppa and do some hot food.

We'll keep our camping gas stove for emergencies, but we don't really get power failures here. We've just moved into a new house, but about 5 years ago one a few doors away blew up because of a gas leak - and he didn't even have gas :eek:.