How to Choose Between a Gas, Induction or Electric Hob
Rebuilding a kitchen requires many decisions, but few are as important to your cooking as the type of hob (or stove) you want. Here’s a quick rundown of the three options to help you choose the one that works best for you.
For years, the choice has always been between gas or electricity, and if you didn’t have a gas pipeline in your kitchen, the choice was made for you. Induction hobs, which have been popular in Europe for years, are now gaining ground in America and are an attractive third option.
Gas stoves heat up instantly
Gas hobs are a serious cooking solution. Their biggest advantage is instant heating. You don’t have to wait for the heating element to heat up, just turn it on and your pan will be hot in seconds. The same goes for raising or lowering the temperature during cooking – it will happen instantly, which means more precise control.
You can use gas for all types of pots including cast iron, stainless steel, and pans. Not every house or apartment has a gas line to the kitchen and it can be expensive to get one, but in general gas stoves are quite cheap to run. It is also worth noting that gas hobs are more prone to accidental ignition and ignition.
Standard 30-inch four-burner hobs range from $ 300 to $ 1200.
Electrical ranges are the cheapest solution
Electric hobs are common in rental properties and apartments due to their low start-up and maintenance costs.
However, their main drawback is the slow change in heat. You need to wait for them to heat up when you turn them on and the temperature changes will be slower, giving you less control than a gas stove. In general, they also have lower heat levels.
Hot plates with spiral heating elements are good because they are easy to change inexpensively. Ceramic radiant hobs are slightly more expensive to repair, but very easy to clean as they are just one flat surface.
30-inch electric four-burner coil hobs are around $ 300, while electric ceramic hobs range from $ 400 to $ 1200.
Induction hobs are very simple and effective
Induction hobs have been one of the hottest trends in kitchen appliances of the last few years (along with fridge-door refrigerators). Induction hobs use electromagnetism to cook food.
There is a metal coil under each cooking zone. When the power is turned on, an alternating current flows through the coil, creating an invisible magnetic field. If there are no cookware on the burner, no heat is generated, so you can touch it.
When a pan containing iron (cast iron, ferrous metal, or stainless steel with a magnetic grade base) is placed in the area, the magnetic field created by the coil penetrates the iron inside it and induces electric currents inside the pan, turning it into a heater.
Induction hobs are very efficient as they do not consume heat energy and the pans heat up quickly. Cleaning the surface of an induction hob is easy as it is just a flat surface, and since the surface does not generate heat, food does not “bake” and can be wiped off.
The main drawback, of course, is cost: 30-inch four-zone induction hobs start at $ 1,200 and can go as high as $ 2,700.
More things to think about before buying
Ask friends and family who share a similar cooking style for advice on which stove to use. Find a friend with hob technology you’ve never used before, like induction, and cook your food with it.
Are your pans compatible with an induction hob? If not, do you have the funds to buy new pots and pans? This should also be taken into account. And, if you don’t have a gas line going to your kitchen, get some quotes on how much it will cost and add that to your overall budget.