Dual fuel vs electric cooker

FreeBear

There is a growing trend for kitchens and oven manufacturers to use induction hobs, where an electromagnetic burner heats a ceramic plate that the pan sits on, as opposed to more traditional gas-ringed hobs.

Wrong. The electromagnet generates heat withing the base of the pan. No ceramic plates used or required. Oh, and it isn't a "burner".

There are potential drawbacks that may make them impractical, however. ... they require specialist pans made from iron.

I wouldn't regard induction compatible pans as being "specialist" in any way. I get mine from a local discount store. Just take a small magnet with you when shopping for new pans. If a magnet sticks to the base, then it will work on an induction hob. That will rule out the cheap aluminium pans and those fancy specialist copper bottom pans (along with the glass ones).

Sandwich567

Thanks very much for all these replies, helped a lot! we went with just getting a very cheap gas cooker for now, but getting the electric supply there in place to cope for the future. When we refurb the kitchen we will hopefully get electric induction.