Advantages and disadvantages of induction hobs

The choice of induction cookers in stores is large, but not everyone understands their features, functions and capabilities, just as not everyone imagines the operating principle of such a unit.

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But its work is based on simple and understandable laws of physics, which allow you to safely prepare food. We understand the pros and cons of an induction cooker and its features.

Types of induction cookers

Thanks to an induction hob, which is a type of electric kitchen appliance, metal cookware heats up quickly and safely.

Externally, it is a traditional glass-ceramic surface, but inside there are induction coils. The winding on them is made of copper wire, which conducts high-frequency current. There are no heating elements, but the device is equipped with an inverter and a fan.

There are stationary (built-in) stoves that can be combined with an oven, have more than two burners, some of them operate on the induction principle, some on electric.

The built-in panel can be separate, it can be easily installed on the countertop, and an oven can be placed under it, if necessary.

Small portable panels with one burner also work on this principle. This is a convenient option for travel.

Operating principle of an induction cooker ↑

An induction hob is safer than a glass ceramic hob or a regular hob with cast iron pancakes. The operation of the device is based on the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction - the occurrence of electric current in a closed circuit due to a change in the magnetic flux passing through this circuit. Thanks to the English physicist Michael Faraday, the whole world knows about the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. The development of the use of electromagnetic induction began in 1831, when Faraday made his discovery. Now it is quite difficult to imagine modern life without transformers - they are used at every step. An induction hob or induction cooker is the same transformer. The surface of the plate is glass-ceramic. Below it there is an induction coil, under which an electric current flows with a frequency of 20-60 kHz. The induction coil is the primary winding, and the cookware that is placed on the stove is the secondary winding. Induction currents are supplied to its bottom. The dishes heat up, and therefore the food in them. The pot or frying pan heats up, and the glass-ceramic surface, which is located between the heating element and the dishes, is heated by the dishes.

With induction heating, heat losses are minimal, and the heating rate of the cookware is significantly higher than that of stoves and hobs of other types (including hobs with halogen heaters). Thus, the heating efficiency of a glass-ceramic surface is 50-60%, and that of a gas stove is 60-65%. Induction heating has an efficiency of about 90%.

The operating principle of an induction hob is simple and effective.

Induction hobs appeared in family kitchens in the 80s of the twentieth century. It was then that mass production of such slabs under the AEG brand was launched. The first induction cookers were very expensive. But they were not in great demand, not only because the device was expensive, but also because users were extremely wary of innovations in the field of cooking. Now that housewives already know well what an induction hob is, reviews of these stoves are rather positive. But there are people who believe that induction has no place in the kitchen. Perhaps doubts arise because cooking on such stoves requires special utensils with ferromagnetic properties.

How does an induction cooker work?

M. Faraday at the beginning of the 19th century discovered the law of electromagnetic induction, on which the operation of a modern household unit is based. Inside there is a closed circuit in which the magnetic flux changes and the electric current begins to work.

We have already said that under the hob there are spools of copper wire. The frequency of the electric current that flows through it is 20-60 kHz. It forms a magnetic field and an induction current is already working here. The bottom of the metal dish comes into play, which in this case takes on the role of a conductor. Vortex flows act on the electronic particles at the bottom of the cookware, heat is generated, and the glass-ceramic surface itself will remain cold, only slightly heated by the cookware.

As for the efficiency of an induction cooker, it is indicative: 90%, which is 30% higher than the efficiency of an electric cooker.

What utensils can be used

In order for the induction cooker to work properly, you will either have to use suitable cookware or get an adapter.

The cookware must have a certain bottom thickness, within 3-6 mm with a bottom diameter of 6-12 cm. This is necessary so that the bottom and the burner are in complete contact with each other.

To use the hob, you need to purchase stainless steel or enameled cookware; a prerequisite is that the material must have ferromagnetic properties.

Aluminum, ceramic and copper products are not used!

Glass and porcelain are also not suitable for cooking on an induction cooktop. But a cast iron frying pan is very suitable.

The popularity of such units has prompted many manufacturers to consider covering the bottom of kitchen utensils with ferromagnetic layers, which accumulate heat and speed up the cooking process. There will be a characteristic marking on the bottom of the products.

What is an induction hob

The device works on the following principle: an inductive copper coil located under the glass surface is fed by the current generated by the generator. As a result of the passage of electric current, an electric field is formed, creating vortex flows in the dishes located on the surface. Thanks to this, the products in the container are heated simultaneously with it.

This method is considered advanced, because heating is carried out economically and quickly enough. This is achieved through a special technology that makes it possible to transfer heat to the dishes directly from the source. In this case, the surface does not heat up, which significantly reduces heat loss.

The hob transfers heat exactly along the diameter of the bottom of the pan, which should be at least 8 - 12 cm (depending on the model), and if the diameter of the pan is smaller or it is not installed level, the stove will not turn on. This option makes the device safe to operate. For example, dishes accidentally left on it will not heat up. In addition, only metal utensils or those with a magnetic bottom are used on this type of stove.

Advantages of induction cookers

An induction cooker has many advantages, which are revealed due to the principle of its operation. Let's take a closer look at the advantages of such a device:

food is prepared very quickly, the heating process of the hob is bypassed, the bottom of the cookware immediately heats up;
electricity is spent more than reasonably, this is real savings - a magnetic field is created, which is used to consume energy;
since heating occurs due to induction, it cannot be hot in the kitchen if you compare the panel with other types of stoves;
The device is safe; heating cannot begin until the correct container has been placed in place. Once you remove it from the stove, it will stop working;
the edges of the burner are not hot, there will be no burns;
the burner does not heat up without dishes; if the surface gets dirty, you can easily clean it without fear of getting burned;
if food falls from a dish, then there is nothing to worry about, it will not burn, and there will be no smoke either;
the panel will adjust to the diameter of the bottom of the pot or frying pan, this is convenient and economical;
Maintenance of such hobs is simple.

Let us add that many models have a number of additional programs that can significantly simplify the cooking process.

Advantages and disadvantages of induction hobs

Recently, kitchen appliances have become more and more advanced, trying to please their demanding owners in everything. Every day there are more and more “electric assistants” (air grills, deep fryers, slow cookers...) capable of solving highly specialized problems well. However, in order to be able to perform a full kitchen “repertoire”, we will need something multifunctional, modern and at the same time time-tested - a kitchen stove.

Today, manufacturers offer us not only wide functionality, but also fundamentally different types of hobs. Until recently, stoves were gas and electric. Almost three decades ago, they were joined by induction cookers.

What is electromagnetic induction and how is it useful in the kitchen?

Let's first understand the operating principle of induction hobs, and then try to understand the advantages of using just such a work surface.

Thermal processing of products usually occurs as follows: a heat source (gas, open fire, hot cast-iron burner, etc.) heats the cookware, which transfers heat to the products inside. In the event that we cook barbecue or smoke fish, we don’t need an “intermediary” called Utensils at all. There will be enough heat from the coals or sawdust.

This is not the case with induction heating. Heat can only arise when the stove and the cookware on it work together.

Directly under the burners, marked with contours on the glass-ceramic work surface, there are induction coils. A high frequency current (20-60 kHz) passes through them. Each coil is nothing more than the primary winding of a transformer. The secondary winding, necessary for the occurrence of induction currents, will be dishes made of ferromagnetic material. As soon as it is correctly placed on the switched-on burner, induction currents will begin to be induced in the bottom, due to which the heat necessary for heat treatment of products will arise. It is worth noting that only the bottom of the cookware can have ferromagnetic properties - this will be enough.

Advantages of induction hobs

The operating principle described above provides the induction cooker with very high efficiency. Up to 90% of the heat generated by induction heating goes directly to the food being cooked. Only 10% will be spent on other purposes (for example, heating the bottom and walls of the pan, transferring heat to the glass-ceramic surface, etc.). Thus, induction confidently “overtakes” both gas and traditional electric stoves in efficiency. The efficiency of the former is only 30-60%, of the latter - 55-70%. In addition, thanks to this principle of operation, induction cookers cope with heating food much faster, saving your electricity by 50-80% compared to the energy consumption of modern equipment.

It is a common belief that it is impossible to get burned on the glass-ceramic surface of an induction cooker. Indeed, glass ceramics do not participate in the heating process; accordingly, it is heated only by the dishes and remains colder than in conventional electric stoves. But it’s worth remembering: the higher the cooking temperature, the hotter the stove will be. For example, if you heat chocolate over low heat, the chance of getting burned by touching the work surface immediately after cooking is minimal. However, if you decide to fry French fries and heat the oil to at least 200 degrees Celsius, you should wait until the residual heat indicator informs you that the device has cooled down and you are safe.

However, the stove cools quite quickly, and if necessary, you can start cleaning it very quickly. The only “but” of the rapid cooling of the induction hob is that you will not be able to finish cooking dishes using the so-called residual heat of the burner. However, these are little things that you can handle quite calmly, because induction cookers have many more temperature settings and are able to accurately maintain the set temperature at the level you need.

However, these stoves can not only cool quickly, but also instantly heat up. The fact is that most devices are equipped with a Power Booster function. In fact, this means that the stove has main and dependent burners. The former “take away” some of the power from the latter for a few minutes, so that you can bring water to a boil for spaghetti much faster or properly heat a heavy inertial frying pan or roasting pan (fortunately, if necessary, you can choose a stove with a heating zone for an oval bottom).

In addition, induction cookers are equipped with functions that make their use safer: heating only when there is a pan present, blocking the stove’s activation modes, a forced heating shutdown function, residual heat indicators, etc.

Manufacturers have also taken care of a wide range: you can choose the required number of burners of the desired size and shape, choose the preferred color scheme of the work panel and its type. Manufacturers offer combined surfaces that combine induction and traditional gas/electric burners. Induction cookers designed for one burner (for traditional cookware or wok) are also available for sale.

Does induction have any serious disadvantages?

Quite often, people are afraid to purchase induction cookers because of the need to carefully select cookware for them. As mentioned above, utensils with ferromagnetic properties are required. However, today this “minus” should not be considered serious. Firstly, most manufacturers of good cookware offer a decent range especially for owners of induction cookers. Secondly, you can independently select a suitable pot or frying pan directly in the store by attaching a regular magnet to its bottom. If he is attracted, you can safely purchase the product you like.

During operation, you may encounter another minor inconvenience: heating will not occur if the bottom of the cookware does not cover most of the burner area. This will be critical if you like to drink a cup of Turkish coffee in the morning.

It is also quite common to come across the opinion that the cost of induction hobs is too high. Yes, they are more expensive, but don’t forget that, thanks to low power consumption, the difference in price will more than pay for itself.

Well, we didn't have too many shortcomings. In any case, the choice is yours, all that remains is to wish you a successful purchase!

Disadvantages of an inverter hob

There were quite a lot of advantages, so what could be negative about an induction hob? Well, the price may immediately seem like a minus: inverter models are not cheap at all. Although you can look for an option that is affordable, the functionality will be less rich.

The fact that you need to purchase a new set of dishes is also not always pleasing. Although there are affordable adapter pancakes that allow you to use old dishes.

Since the panel is made of glass ceramics, you should always remember the fragility of this material and handle it with care. Mechanical shocks can damage the surface. It also cannot be cleaned with abrasive products.

Sensitive people complain about the noise made by the fans cooling the coil and electronic board.

Those who like to cook jellied meat and other long-cooking dishes should know that most models have a timer for three hours; its operation will stop automatically. The instructions will indicate how long the operation of the unit can continue in a row.

Differences from an electric stove

The compared units have one thing in common: they operate on electricity. And if you compare their designs, it will not be difficult to find the differences.

Induction hob	Electric stove
Heats dishes immediately	First it heats itself, then transfers heat to the dishes
Connection requires calling a wizard	Connection requires calling a wizard
Energy saving work	Many models offer energy saving mode
Safe to use	Relatively safe to use, provided good wiring

Caring for induction hobs

Most induction hobs have a glass-ceramic coating. Caring for it dictates its own important rules.

Wash the stove with a separate sponge; you should not use the same sponge you used to wash the dishes. The fact is that such a sponge absorbs the remains of grease and any dirt; there is no need to smear these deposits on the working surface.

In the departments of household chemicals you can always buy a special cleaner for glass ceramics: their composition is designed to create a silicone film on the surface. It is invisible to the eye, but acts as a shield against dirt, leaving the panel clean for a long time.

In the absence of such specialized products, you can wash the stove with gels and creams, and the powder will act as a prohibited abrasive. However, dishwashing detergent is not suitable because it tends to leave streaks on the panel. They don't use oven cleaning spray, but they do use window cleaner.

It is not difficult to care for inverter models; they never overheat, and therefore any food residues from cooking, splashes and drops will not dry out and will not melt. Accordingly, it is easy to remove them, but this should be done immediately as soon as cooking is finished.

But sugar is an enemy for glass ceramics. You need to wipe it off with a soft cloth, and then wipe the area of contamination with glass-ceramic surface cleaner.

Syrups and jams are removed with a rag or sponge soaked in warm water. You can use a soft rubber scraper.

Do not pour detergent onto the surface itself; apply it onto a sponge!

Security measures

When using an induction cooker, safety precautions are observed, although the unit is not dangerous anyway, but if the owner wants a long and serviceable life of the device, then it is better to listen to the advice.

Use only suitable utensils.
Follow the recommendations for bottom diameter. If the diameter of the container is very small, an adapter is needed.
You should not use the cookware that was used to cook on a gas stove, even if it is suitable in its properties. The advice is based on the fact that gas heating is uneven, which leads to bottom deformation. And for the inverter cooker to work effectively, you need full contact of the bottom with the surface.
Do not hang heavy objects over the induction hob that could fall on it - glass ceramics can burst from a pinpoint impact even if the object was not hanging high.
Dishes placed on the burner must have a dry and clean bottom.

Induction hob design

The appearance is very diverse, you can easily choose a hob that will fit perfectly into even the most sophisticated interior; built-in kitchen appliances are especially popular today. If previously most models were presented in black, today white and silver are more popular, and you can also choose independent colored panels. Despite the fact that, regardless of color, glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean, stains of grease and moisture are less noticeable on a light background than on a black one; this advantage allows the white stove to maintain a presentable appearance even in the midst of cooking. Induction cookers are made not only from glass ceramics, but also from tempered glass. They are more beautiful than ceramic ones, but correspondingly more expensive.

The models also differ in the type of control regulators: touch, magnetic, mechanical. They do not differ in functionality; you can choose any that are more convenient and appeal to you in appearance. The touch buttons do not heat up at all, unlike stoves with heating elements, when it is difficult to touch them after a long cooking period.

The price depends on many factors: brand, functionality, new or old model, built-in or free-standing, independent or dependent. A brand is not always a guarantee of quality; decent models can also be found from little-known manufacturers. No matter how much the panel costs, the main thing is that the store provides a guarantee for the product, so that in the event of a breakdown, you can return the money or demand free repairs. Choosing an affordable option with a huge variety of hobs is not difficult.

Popular brands of induction hobs

The most famous brands have not neglected appliances such as induction cookers. Among the positive reviews you can find such companies as German Siemens, Bosch, Swedish Electrolux, Czech Gorenje, Polish Hanca.

Siemens has models that heat very quickly and have 4 burners, one of which is dual-circuit.

The hob has infrared sensors, which speeds up the cooking process. There are models that offer a “stop sensor” function that interrupts the process for 3 minutes. To resume work using the previous settings, press the key again. If you do not click on it, the system stops working.

Siemens has a range of slabs in black, gray, and white at prices ranging from 32,000 to 75,000 rubles.

Another world-famous brand, Bosch, also offers hobs of different designs. Models may have several burners, some of which may be induction, and some may operate in HiLight mode. It is possible to combine them into one heating zone.

Bosch has models that have the PowerBoost function. This is what allows you to increase the power of each burner by half. This allows you to make cooking as fast as possible. But this happens due to the fact that power is taken from another, free burner.

The hob has electronic sensors that allow you to accurately assess the diameter and volume of the container on it, as a result of which the hob itself will adjust the required power. You can purchase an excellent model for around 35,000-40,000 rubles.

You can admire the elegant induction hobs from Electrolux. The concern produces high-quality products, reinforcing their surface with corrugated glass ceramics. There are models with beveled edges, stylish and modern.

There are models equipped with induction and gas burners, and there are products with a Wok burner for a special frying pan. The cost of the slabs is around 25,000 rubles.

Consumers give high marks to Gorenje slabs.

Advantages

This technology is relatively new, so it has a whole string of advantages. An induction cooker has the following advantages:

Various sizes.

This type of stove can be equipped in any kitchen in any home. Manufacturers offer a wide variety of models: from miniature single-burner stoves to large industrial stoves with a complete panel.
Varied design.

A modern kitchen is not only a place for preparing food, but also a space for creating exclusive interior designs. Induction cookers come in a variety of designs, allowing them to be used in any kitchen style.
Easy to care for.

Since the stove does not heat up, maintaining it will not be difficult. Food particles do not burn. Cleaning the stove is as easy as cleaning a regular table.
Instant heating. After turning on the stove, the contents of the cooking container immediately begin to heat up. There is no time spent on heating the heating element and the cookware itself.
High cooking speed. The efficiency reaches 90%. Almost all energy is spent only on cooking.
Safety.

Since the hob does not heat up at all, the possibility of getting a burn is reduced to zero.
Wide power range. Modern induction cookers have a wide range of power adjustments. Many modes allow you to cook or reheat any dish.
Saving. This is one of the main advantages of this type of slab. Although they are quite powerful, electrical energy consumption is reduced due to the fact that the energy is transferred directly to the cooking container and does not escape into the environment. Compared to a standard electric stove, it consumes almost half the electricity.

Like all electrical appliances, an induction cooker has disadvantages:

To maintain the presentable appearance of a glass or glass-ceramic surface, you must purchase a special product. It coats the cooking surface with silicone grease. This makes it shiny and protects it from minor physical injuries.
Let us remind you that kitchen utensils for cooking on an induction hob should not have a diameter less than twelve centimeters. If it has a smaller diameter, contact with the surface is not guaranteed. If there is a need to use a Turk, you need to purchase a special module. This adapter resembles a pancake from a barbell or a teapot stand. It provides contact with the hob, and you can place a Turk or other utensils with a small bottom diameter on it.
Induction cookers are not cheap, so their main disadvantage is their high cost, especially if it is a multifunctional cooker with different cooking zones.

It's up to you to decide whether to buy a new stove or use an old electric or gas one. If your friends are thinking about buying an induction cooker, share the above information with them.