Choosing a reliable induction cooker for your home

Content:

How it works
Pros and cons of induction furnaces
Induction cookers: what they are
Choosing an induction surface: what to look for
TOP-3 induction cookers

This article focuses on the question of how to choose an induction hob in 2019. This topic is very relevant. Although induction hobs appeared on the domestic market more than 20 years ago, they are rarely found in modern kitchens. And in vain. The heating rate of an induction cooker is in no way inferior to gas counterparts. And the efficiency and ease of operation are much higher than that of electric ones. But which induction cooker should you choose for your home, office or summer cottage? What are they and how do they differ from one another? Let's talk about this in more detail.

How it works

How an induction hob works

Before talking about which of the induction panels is better to choose, let's understand the principle of its operation. An induction coil made of copper is located under the top panel of the cooker. That is why the oven is called induction. The magnetic coil conducts an electric current, which creates a magnetic field that penetrates through the top cover. Under the influence of this field, electromagnetic oscillations are generated in the bottom of special dishes, causing heating.

By the way, the hob remains cold, so it is almost impossible to get burned. This heats up only the part of the induction surface on which the pan is standing, that is, the oven automatically adjusts to the diameter of the pan. Also, for safety reasons, it is impossible to turn on the stove if there is no saucepan or frying pan on it, which is very good for thrifty but forgetful housewives.

See also:

Pros and cons of induction furnaces

In our opinion, this technique has much more positive qualities than negative ones. Among them, for example, are: (See also: Rating of the best induction surfaces of 2019 )

Economical energy consumption. The oven heats only the part occupied by the dishes and maintains a constant temperature. Thus, the cooking process is completed much faster. At the same time, almost all models have protection against power surges and overvoltage sensors.
Safety. There is no open fire or hot plate. If there is an empty saucepan on the stove or there is none at all, the oven will not turn on.
Ease of maintenance. Even if the contents of the pan accidentally "escaped", you will not see any smoke, no burning, no fumes. After all, the hob remains barely warm and does not burn anything. After use, simply wipe the hob with a damp cloth.
There is no particular need for ventilation. Since the stove only heats the pot and not the air, there is no need for continuous ventilation.
Ease of use. Almost all 2019 models are very simple and straightforward to operate.Even an inexpensive induction hob has adjustable or even automatic modes, which greatly simplifies the process.
Compact dimensions. Freestanding one- and two-burner ovens are so light and compact that they can be easily taken with you to the country or conveniently placed even in a very small kitchen.

Among the negative qualities, only three can be distinguished:

Quite a high price.
The need to purchase special dishes.
The misconception that the magnetic field emitted by the stove negatively affects human health.

The last statement is absolutely unfounded. Scientists have proven that since the generated field is low-frequency, it has absolutely no effect on human well-being. And products prepared in this way do not accumulate anything in themselves.

Induction cookers: what they are

Induction cookers what they are

There are 3 types of induction cookers:

tabletop;
built-in;
combined.

When choosing a hob, you should first of all focus on your needs and dimensions of the kitchen. Which one to prefer?

Table stoves are the most compact option. Most often they only have one or two burners. But if you live alone and rarely cook at home, this option is clearly for you. Such a hob will be enough for a young couple without children.

The full-size built-in oven is a great choice for a family of 4 or more or a professional kitchen. Of course, this option costs a little more, but the performance of such a hob is incomparably higher.

For modern apartments, one more modification is provided - combined surfaces... If the lights in your home are often turned off, it is wise to choose this type of induction hob. Most often it consists of four burners: 2 of them are induction, and 2 are conventional, gas. Thus, you can always be sure that your dinner will arrive in time.

Choosing an induction surface: what to look for

Choosing an induction surface what to look for

To help you make your choice, we have compiled a short guide to help you spend your money most effectively.

Modes and power

Unfortunately, in induction hobs there is no possibility of stepless power control. In the process of work, you can set the switch in any fixed position, as well as set the minimum or maximum intensity of work. The accuracy with which you can regulate the heating process and control the temperature regime depends on the number of such positions. Cheaper models offer 10-15 modes, expensive ones provide more than 20 positions. ( See also: What is the optimal power for an induction hob? )

Superheat mode

For those who are used to living at a fairly fast pace, we recommend choosing a hob with an emergency intensive heating function. The stove, of course, will not be able to work in this mode for a long time, but you can boil dumplings in ten minutes. A short-term increase in power is possible due to the internal reserves of the device.

Hotplate shape

Some dishes are best cooked over an open fire. In this case, special dishes with a rounded bottom are used. Heat treatment takes place very quickly, but at the maximum temperature. Owners of ordinary gas stoves, even with special dishes, are forced to be content with the semblance of such dishes. So if you are a fan of oriental cuisine, it is better to choose an induction hob equipped with special spherically concave hobs. Only in this case the dishes will taste like they were cooked on a real fire.

Safety

As already mentioned, it is almost impossible to get burned on the induction-type hob. However, there is another danger here.If you are not careful, you can injure yourself on the sharp edges of the glass surface. Therefore, if your family has mobile and very curious kids, be sure to make sure that you get a model with rounded corners. Some models are additionally equipped with a protective metal edging around the perimeter. They are also quite safe.

Dimensions

Before buying a hob, choose the place where it will be installed and measure the maximum possible dimensions of the future purchase. It should be borne in mind that the induction hob should not be placed near objects and devices that have metal parts. So the refrigerator, dishwasher and washing machine, oven and other appliances should be located as far away from it as possible.

Ability to set your own temperature on each burner

Many induction hob models allow you to set an individual mode for each hotplate. This allows you to cook more than one dish at once, but several. This uses different heating power.

Mode locking system

The most "advanced" induction surface models have a rather interesting function. You can pause the induction unit for a while by simply pressing one button. At the same time, the "smart" oven will remember all modes and settings and after restarting it will continue to work as if nothing had happened. This is very convenient when you urgently need to leave the kitchen for a short time and there is no one to look after the cooking process.

Temperature control

If you have purchased an induction hob, you no longer need to control that the dish does not overheat and to determine the temperature by eye. Special sensors will do everything for you. If the temperature indicators exceed the set parameters, the hob will independently decide to reduce the heating power.

TOP-3 induction cookers

To further facilitate the choice of our readers, we have compiled a small rating of the best induction surfaces of 2019 for home kitchen and professional. Taking into account the subjectivity of the assessments, we will not distribute prizes, but simply list several worthy, in our opinion, models.

LEX EVI 640 BL

This is one of the cheapest options on the market for such household appliances. In various retail outlets, the cost of such a panel does not exceed $ 250. Of the advantages, the following can be noted:

stylish design;
burners of different diameters;
affordable price;
touch control;
sleep timer;
child protection (blocking);
residual heat indicator.

With all the advantages listed, this model has only one drawback - fingerprints remain on the surface. But at this price, this minus is not so noticeable.

Electrolux EGD – 6576 NOK

This model from the Electrolux company will suit those who prefer to be ready for all life situations. Two of the four burners of this model are gas, so you can cook dinner even in the absence of electricity. The induction hob EGD – 6576 NOK has been confidently in the lead for about two years, and here's why:

The "gas" part is equipped with electric ignition and classic switches;
the induction side is controlled by sensors;
the system is equipped with a child lock, a gas leak controller and a residual heating indicator;
when pouring liquid onto the induction surface, the stove automatically turns off;
for those who are especially hasty there is a "Boost" mode.

This model also has disadvantages:

switches on the "gas" side get very hot, as they are located quite close to the surface;
almost any dirt is visible on a completely black surface.

Siemens EH645FE17E

This induction surface has won the highest praise from users. According to consumer reviews, it can be called one of the most popular models among the standard options.

Pros:

stylish design;
elegant protective frame in silver;
"Boost" mode;
residual heating indicator, child control lock, safety shutdown when liquid is overflowing;
the surface is able to recognize the presence of dishes;
at the end of the cooking process, the stove gives information about the amount of energy expended.

With all the advantages, this model also has a couple of disadvantages. There are few of them, but they are very significant:

when operating at high power, a strong hum is heard;
you cannot adjust the power level separately for each hotplate;
the absence of special clamps creates difficulties for self-assembly;
quite high cost.

We really hope that our article helped you understand how to choose an induction hob in 2019. It is likely that soon a new and modern kitchen assistant will appear in your home, and cooking will become easy and enjoyable.