Induction Hob Technology’s Now At Great Prices

Induction Hob Technology’s Now At Great Prices

We all know that appliances using the very latest technologies are ultra-expensive when they very first come on to the market. Many consumers simply think ‘I’ll never be able to own one of those’.

But isn’t it great when you realise that you can have the thing you really wanted, and you really can afford it? That’s exactly what’s happening now, with induction hobs.

Although you might not realise it, induction hobs have been on the market place for a number of years now. Indeed, the very first patent for the technology was made in the early 1900s, and General Motors’ Frigidaire division displayed the technology in the USA in the 1950s.

But exactly what is induction technology?

Well, it’s slightly complex, but here’s the science part.

A copper coil is placed beneath the cooking surface, through which an electrical current is passed through, producing a magnetic field. The magnets make metal particles in the pan vibrate, producing direct heat in the pan. Amazingly, there is no heat on the cooking surface. That means you can even cook with a £20 note between your induction hob and your pan (if you really want to!). It’s a good trick to show your friends when they come round!

For a more visual explanation, take a look at the picture with the fried egg. Again, this happens because only the pan gets hot, and not the cooking surface.

And there are some real benefits to this feature, too. Are you forever warning your children not to touch hot cooking surfaces? With an induction hob, you can place your hand on the cooking surface the second you take the pan off it with no risk of burning yourself at all (it may feel very, very slightly warm, but that’s all).

But what about other benefits? Well, induction hobs are the most energy-efficient hobs around. That’s because all of the heat is transferred directly to the pan. Think about a gas hob, and how much heat is lost to the side of the pan, or even a ceramic hob, where the whole circle heats up and not all of the pan base covers it.

Cooking on an induction hob is fast and we mean FAST. It takes around 90 seconds to boil a small pan of water, and a fast boil can be reduced to a simmer in around two seconds. Pretty cool, eh?

Induction hobs are easy to clean, too. Because the surface never gets hot, there’s no risk of those spilled bits of food burning onto the surface. You can simply lift the pan and wipe clean immediately, with no risk.

They look cool too! Induction hobs are a great addition to any kitchen, but look particularly fabulous if you are looking for sleek, smooth lines.

You do need particular pans to use on an induction hob, though. So it’s worth checking if the current ones you have are compatible. Because the hobs use magnetic transfer, there’s a quick check you can do. Simply stick a magnet to the bottom of your pan, and if it sticks it’s OK to use! Cast iron pans are good to use, but as the hob surface is glass, please be careful and don’t be too heavy-handed! If you’re thinking about new pans for your induction hob, do check for the induction symbol, too.

What about prices for induction hobs? Well, quite simply, prices have fallen dramatically for induction hobs over the past few years. Like anything, you can go as crazy with prices as you can afford (take a look at Bosch or Siemens’ ranges), but you can also now get an induction hob in the low hundreds of pounds, rather than the eye-watering prices. We quite like Hotpoint’s CIC642 model, while Indesit, Zanussi and Newworld also have great bargain models.

So, when the heat is on in the kitchen, make sure it’s from an induction hob!

For more information, or helpful hints and tips, call My Beautiful Kitchen on 0141 771 3640.