What are induction stoves - pros and cons, specs and reviews of owners

The first induction hob appeared in the 80s of the 20th century. The manufacturer was the company AEG.

At first, the devices were not popular because of the high cost and wariness on the part of hostesses to all innovations related to cooking.

Now the situation has changed: more and more people choose induction hobs because of their safety, convenience, heating speed and automatic control.

What is an induction hob?

The induction stove is the most innovative equipment for cooking. The innovation lies in the fact that only the cookware is heated, the cooking surface itself remains cold - it happens due to the electromagnetic field.

Induction hob is undoubtedly the best option for housewives with small children, because the risk of burns is minimized. The device is much safer than stoves with glass ceramic or standard cast iron pancakes.

How it works

Induction hob works on the principle of electromagnetic induction by physicist Michael Faraday - an electric current occurs in a closed circuit after a change in the magnetic flux that passes through this circuit. You could say that an induction cooktop is a transformer.

Under the glass ceramic hob is an induction coil, under which the electric current flows.

The coil is the primary winding, the cookware is the secondary, and induction currents are sent to the bottom of it. This is how pans and pots are heated, as well as the food in them. The glass ceramic surface only gets hotter from the cookware.

Types of induction stoves

There are several types of induction stoves:

• Tabletop. Such portable cooktops have one or two burners. A good option for small kitchens, where you want to save space; as well as in the country house. The main advantages: mobility, multifunctionality, availability of a timer, holding a constant temperature, speed-up mode. The surface of stoves - glass ceramic or tempered glass, such coatings are not destroyed by strong heat or shock. Table-top induction hob is more economical than others, because it consumes much less current. In addition, its design can not but please the eye, as it corresponds to modern trends and colors.
• Recessed. Such devices are appreciated by chefs of professional kitchens and practical housewives. The stove is highly productive because it has 4 burners and an oven. The device has many temperature options, timer, cooking options. Built-in stoves are well suited for private homes, or in apartments with a large area.
• Combination stoves. The whole secret is that two burners work in induction mode, and the other two work on electricity.

How is the stove arranged?

The induction process takes place due to:

• A frequency converter;
• the connecting wires;
• control board;
• The induction coil;
• insulation layer;
• Ceramic glass surface;
• cookware made of ferromagnetic material.

In addition, the device of the induction hob includes a temperature sensor, cooling system of electrical components and housing.

Pros and cons

Let's look at the main advantages of induction stoves over gas and electric stoves:

• Instant heating. Thanks to the electromagnetic field, only pots, pans and other cookware are heated in induction technology. You can not be afraid to touch the stove with your hands, and if the soup escapes, it will not stick to the hob so that it will be impossible to wipe off with a sponge. You should not touch the burner, on which the food is cooked, let alone hot cookware.
• Working Efficiency. Induction stoves have a high efficiency, because the food heats as much as 90% of all the heat released. This greatly increases efficiency and reduces cooking time: the dishes are heated very quickly, respectively, the food also cooks faster. In terms of cooking time, gas and electric stoves are significantly inferior to induction stoves.
• Economical use of electricity. Based on the fact that the induction stove works faster than an electric stove, you can understand that it uses less electricity. The current is not used to heat the coil, but only to create a magnetic field in the induction coil.
• Automation. An important advantage of induction hobs is that the system is triggered automatically: the burners are heated when pots or pans are placed on them. It is worth noting that the hob does not heat objects with a diameter below a certain parameter. This means that if you accidentally leave a spoon on the burner, the stove will not turn on. Induction hobs have many cooking programs and automatic setting of the desired temperature. If you need a strong heat (for example, for boiling water), it is worth choosing a model with the option Power Booster. It will help the main burner to attract the power of all the others.
• Touch control. Touch switches - this is a more technological and sophisticated solution for the device, they look expensive and stylish. Their advantage is that they do not take up much space, and it is enough to touch the desired burner with your finger to control it. With the touch pad, you can intuitively guess how to adjust the temperature or cooking mode. Touch switches are easy to clean - since they are under the glass-ceramic surface, all you have to do is wipe them with a damp cloth. Typically, touch-controlled cooktops are equipped with a timer option, residual heat indicators, accidental start lock, and other useful features.
• Fitting in the hob.. An undoubted advantage for any household equipment - the possibility to build in a headset, because saving space and neat interior has never hurt anyone. Built-in induction hob in the furniture is very relevant for small kitchen spaces. Under the hob you can install a drawer for storing dishes.
• Easy care. The stove has a beautiful appearance and is easy to keep clean. If food falls on the cooking surface, it will not burn, it will be enough to clean it with a soft cloth. There is no need to buy special aggressive cleaning products for the induction hob - the panel can be wiped down every time after cooking and the hob will look like new.
• Safety. Due to the fact that the hob is only switched on if you place dishes on the burners, it is safe for both children and animals. In addition, the cooking surface stays cold during cooking, which means that the risk of getting burned remains minimal. It is worth noting that there is no risk of inhaling harmful gas substances, as well as its leakage. Induction hob will not allow to start a fire, even if you forget to remove the pan from it.

Let's consider the main disadvantages of the induction hob:

• Cost. It's no secret that the cost of induction stoves is higher than gas or electric stoves. Ordinary average buyers will not be able to afford such a device. However, it is worth noting that against the background of price increases during the crisis period, the difference in the cost of electric and induction stoves, has become minimal. The price depends on the built-in functionality, which can be abandoned in favor of the new technology.
• Effects of electromagnetic radiation. A large percentage of people's rejection of cooking innovation is based on the opinion that the electromagnetic field is bad for human health. Undoubtedly, when the equipment works, a vortex magnetic field is created. But the harm from it is absolutely the same as when using a cell phone. The manufacturers themselves claim that patients who wear pacemakers are better off staying half a meter away from the induction stoveor do not use it at all.
• Increased Noise. Unfortunately, the induction stove does not work silently - when cooking, you will hear a humming noise that occurs due to the interaction of induction coils with cookware. Some cooks may be annoyed by this, but it is worth remembering that any cooking provides some noise. Every year, appliance manufacturers are releasing stoves with lower noise levels. Also on sale is a special cookware with a perfectly flat bottom that allows you to minimize buzzing. Of course, it is not cheap, but it gets rid of buzzing, as well as improves thermal conductivity.
• Increased demands on cookware. When buying an induction stove, it is important to consider that not every cookware will work for it. For the heating from a magnetic field, pots and pans must have ferromagnetic properties. As a rule, ceramics, glass and aluminum do not have these properties. If the aluminum skoda has a mixture with copper or steel, it can be used on an induction stove. Another option is to buy removable cookware bottom attachments, these can be purchased at any store that sells stovetops. To find out the compatibility of the cookware with the magnetic field, it is enough to bring a magnet to it. If it attracts - you can safely buy.
• Automatic shutdown. Quite a few models have a function to turn off the burner after three hours. Buying a stove with induction technology, it is important to consider this point, if you plan a long cooking on low heat of jam, broth, or, for example, cold cuts.
• Impossibility of installation over a household appliance. Manufacturers of hobs do not recommend installing the hob above other built-in appliances made of metal. Thus, the equipment cannot even be installed over an oven, dishwasher, or microwave.

Comparison of induction and electric stoves

Based on the above table, we can conclude that the modern induction cooktop is a choice toward convenience, safety and functionality.

Of course, the electric cooktop is also usable, but it will not save the time and patience of hostesses as much as an induction stove will.

Popular brands and manufacturers

Induction cooktops are most often available in four burner versions.

All of the above equipment can be found in different companies:

• On the market of household appliances, the most popular manufacturers of induction stoves are the German company Bosch. The firm has the largest number of positive reviews and acknowledgements.
• Electrolux - second most popular brand. The cost of the firm's induction equipment is almost the same as the price of the leader of sales.
• Positive reviews are also deserved by induction stoves of the company Hansa .. They are the most affordable hobs, priced from 13 thousand rubles.
• In addition to the above, induction hobs are available in Russia from AEG, Whirpool, Neff, Gorenje, Siemens, Samsung etc.

Hansa BHI68300

Electric induction hob in an aristocratic, minimalist style in black glass.

The controls are intuitive and easy to understand even for the novice cook. Heating is instantaneous, reaction to changes in power is immediate.

Technical characteristics:

• type of surface - electric cooking;
• arrangement - independent;
• dimensions - 60*50 cm;
• power - 7 kW;
• material of the panel - glass ceramic;
• the number of burners - 4;
• control - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes;
• hob lock - yes;
• indicator of the residual heat - yes;
• color - black.

Electrolux EHF 96547 XK

Induction stove with all sorts of options: boiling, safety shutoff, child and pet lock, short-term pause, etc.

The burners are multifunctional, and the stove itself can be installed anywhere and even built into the furniture.

Technical characteristics:

• type of surface - electric cooktop;
• location - independent;
• The dimensions - 57,6 * 51,6 cm;
• power - 7,1 kW;
• material of the panel - glass ceramic;
• Number of burners - 4;
• Number of Hi Light burners - 4;
• Number of three-circuit burners - 1;
• Number of burners with oval heating zone - 1;
• control - touch control, slider;
• timer - yes, sound;
• hob lock - yes
• indicator of the residual heat - yes;
• shade - black with silver.

Bosch PIE631FB1E

Stove from a popular manufacturer will not leave anyone indifferent. The hob has convenient buttons on the sensor, automatically detects the presence of dishes, warns when the cooking is finished and locks against accidental contact with animals and children.

Technical characteristics:

• type of surface - electric cooktop;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 59,2 * 52,2 cm;
• power - 7,4 kW;
• material of the panel - glass ceramic;
• the number of burners - 4;
• control - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes, with sound;
• hob lock - yes;
• indicator of the residual heat - yes;
• color - black.

Fornelli PGA 45 Fiero.

Stove in an exquisite glass design. Has a BOC burner with a triple flame, which allows you to quickly heat foodу. Cookware with a spherical bottom can be used.

Technical specifications:

• type of surface - gas hob;
• arrangement - independent;
• dimensions - 45*51 cm;
• material of the panel - tempered glass;
• the number of burners - 3;
• control - rotary;
• timer - yes;
• color - black.

Hotpoint-Ariston IKIA 640 C

A beautiful induction cooktop that is a pleasure to cook on. The oven detects pots and pans and, with the help of a timer, can even detect the presence of cookware.And with the help of a timer, can cook for the required time. The cookware heats instantly, which saves you time and money for electricity.

Technical characteristics:

• type of surface - electric hob;
• arrangement - independent;
• dimensions - 59*51 cm;
• power - 7 kW;
• material of the panel - glass ceramic;
• the number of burners - 4;
• control - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes;
• hob lock - yes;
• residual heat indicator - yes;
• shade - black.

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