Gas or Induction hob in new kitchen ?

MoneyMission

Induction is brilliant. I love mine. Mainly because its so easy to keep clean. But its also as quick as gas to change temperature and can go really low.

Having said that, when we stay in a cottage on holiday I'm not adverse to a bit of cooking on gas. Just so long as I don't have to clean in all the fiddly bits!

Tibbie's_mum

I was going to have a Rangemaster gas hob/leccy oven, but since seeing a demonstration of the Rangemaster induction hob, I'm now all of a dither. Induction hobs are not what they used to be, I was really impressed. Although, I still like the idea of a naked flame and the fact you can cook in a power cut, having said that, we caused the last power cut round here after the electricity board had to turn leccy off at the substation because our digger went through the mains cable in the garden!

Tibbie's_mum

I've just read a few posts back now, and having not had a gas hob since we moved I'd forgotten about the fiddly bits to clean, not that I was much for cleaning it. Anyways I don't know about OP, but I'm definitely going to think seriously about an induction hob, I'm more or less sold.

Justamum

Tibbie's_mum wrote: »

I've just read a few posts back now, and having not had a gas hob since we moved I'd forgotten about the fiddly bits to clean, not that I was much for cleaning it. Anyways I don't know about OP, but I'm definitely going to think seriously about an induction hob, I'm more or less sold.

Me too :D

angeltreats

Justamum wrote: »

Why won't woks work? I've checked mine and it's magnetic.

Technically it'll work,but it's very hard to cook with a wok on an induction hob, because you're constantly picking the wok up and tossing it, you break contact with the heat and it never gets hot enough. Also only the part of the pan that's in contact with the hob will heat up, and as a wok is round bottomed it just won't get hot enough to stir fry. Kind of hard to explain, but if you google "wok cooking with induction" you'll get an idea. You will never find an induction hob in a Chinese restaurant, they have enormous gas flames to cook stuff quickly in woks.

I worked in a restaurant for a while that had induction hobs, no gas, and found everything took twice as long. Personally I will always have gas, even if it's harder to clean, and would be quite prepared to rip up floors and pay huge amounts to install gas lines if I had to :rotfl:

However I do know people (including chefs) who prefer induction. It's all a matter of preference really, but definitely depends on the type of cooking you do. If you can try out induction before buying that would be ideal, to make sure you like it.

Justamum

angeltreats wrote: »

Technically it'll work,but it's very hard to cook with a wok on an induction hob, because you're constantly picking the wok up and tossing it, you break contact with the heat and it never gets hot enough. Also only the part of the pan that's in contact with the hob will heat up, and as a wok is round bottomed it just won't get hot enough to stir fry. Kind of hard to explain, but if you google "wok cooking with induction" you'll get an idea. You will never find an induction hob in a Chinese restaurant, they have enormous gas flames to cook stuff quickly in woks.

I should be ok with mine then - I obviously don't cook the right way with a wok as I don't lift it up to toss the food, I use a spatula to turn it! Mine's got a flat bottom so I should be ok. When I get my new hob I'll give it a go anyway.

morganlefay

I noticed that good old Lakeland sell a freestanding induction 'hobbette' (not Hobbit, ha ha) and I wondered if that might be a good idea just to see if I liked it. But reading all the posts on here it seems as if people's induction hobs are all quite different and I wonder if some makes are better than others ? Please might someone with an induction hob that they really LOVE tell me what make it is ? I think I'm going with gas but wavering a bit, thinking of the cleaning....

datlex

I've got a gas cooker in case of power cuts here too. I have a stove kettle for such times. It whistles when it boils :-)

storytime

morganlefay wrote: »

I noticed that good old Lakeland sell a freestanding induction 'hobbette' (not Hobbit, ha ha) and I wondered if that might be a good idea just to see if I liked it. But reading all the posts on here it seems as if people's induction hobs are all quite different and I wonder if some makes are better than others ? Please might someone with an induction hob that they really LOVE tell me what make it is ? I think I'm going with gas but wavering a bit, thinking of the cleaning....

We had a Dedetrich in our last house which we bought from John Lewis and it came with free sauce pans. We moved and have an induction hob from IKEA. Both excellent but personally preferred the. Dedetrich. I chose induction for easier cleaning, more energy efficiency and so quick to cook. I used to have gas and didn't like the cleaning.

Justamum

Our new kitchen was finally finished on Friday so I had a chance to use my induction hob. Instant love! It's quick to heat up the pan - especially with the boost bit - and the heat reduces instantly when you turn it down. Even better, it's quick and easy to clean.

I knew I'd have to get some new pans, but I've only had to replace my saute pan and a milk pan. The house had a set of cast iron pans when we moved in (they came with the ranger cooker) so it wasn't too expensive.