Selecting the Ideal Cooking Hob for Your Family
The debate between which appliance is better – gas hob or induction hob, will always divide opinion. Well, if you are struggling to decide between the two, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we will be highlighting some key considerations you should have when going hob-shopping. Hopefully, this gives you a clearer understanding of what works best for your kitchen!
Heating Method
As the name suggests, a gas hob relies on combustible gas to produce heat in the form of an open fire. Induction hobs rely on electromagnetic currents for heat instead. So, what exactly is the difference? With an induction hob, you will have greater control over the heat as it offers very precise heat control; great for beginners who are not yet familiar with the right amount of heat to use. While it does not provide you with such luxury, gas hobs are much more flexible when cooking and are great for the ‘wok-hey’ taste!
Cookware Compatibility
Since it relies on electromagnetic currents, induction hobs have limited compatibility with cookware – it only works with cookware made of a magnetic material (mostly steel or cast iron). However, you can easily check if the cookware you have or are buying are suitable for induction cooking as it will usually be shown in the product labels (see Induction compatible logo below). You can also check if the cookware is suitable by placing a magnet on the base, if the magnet sticks to the base it is very likely to be suitable for use on Induction. For a start, Corningware, glass or ceramic cookware are not suitable for induction cooking; but you can now easily find induction based ceramic cookware too such as the La Gourmet Induction suitable claypot here.
Energy Consumption
Gas hobs are cheaper in terms of energy bill since induction hobs require electricity to generate electromagnetic currents. However, it is not the most eco-friendly appliance around. Passionate about saving the Earth? An induction hob is your ideal choice! It does not lose heat to the environment, and is up to 95% energy efficient compared to around 60% for gas hobs. Induction hobs do not produce carbon (soots) which are carcinogenic and limit heat inside the cooking zone to keep the kitchen cool.
Cooking on the induction is cool as no heat is generated outside the cooking zone’s area; thus much more energy efficient.
Gas Hob Cooking emits heat and any burnt on food will require more efforts for cleaning
Cost
As we know, technology doesn’t come cheap. An induction hob does come at a higher price point compared to a gas hob (since gas is cheaper than electricity). A gas hob could set you back a couple of hundreds, but you will be easily looking beyond a thousand for an induction hob.
Design
Sometimes aside from functionality, you do have to consider aesthetics. While this is mostly personal preference, an induction hob looks clean and sleek, giving your kitchen a minimalist and contemporary feel. Conversely, gas hobs would be a better fit if you are going for a more traditional-style kitchen.
Photography by Fisher & Paykel.
Maintenance
The flat-surfaced induction hob makes cleaning much easier than having to scrape off residual food stuck in between the knobs and other removable parts of a gas hob (gross!). If you hate cleaning up after meals, do yourself a favour by making it less of a dread!
Induction hobs are sleek and can fit effortlessly into any kitchen design; and a dream to clean as it has no protrusions such as knobs or grids. Food does not burn on easily as the surface cools quickly.
Safety
I’m sure you have heard countless cautionary tales on fires, gas explosions and carbon monoxide poisonings. This is not to suggest that gas hobs are unsafe – well, many do come with safety features such as a shut-off valve to stop gas leaks when there is no ignition. However, the possibility of leaving an open flame unattended is always there – a huge one too, especially when it’s so easy for it to slip off our mind when we go ahead with other parts of our day.
Induction hobs eliminate this problem with its electromagnetic currents. Without an open flame, nothing will be in danger of going up in smoke. Induction hobs are also intelligent enough to switch off automatically when it does not detect cookware, so you won’t have to worry about forgetting to turn it off.
So, which should you get?
This very much depends on your cooking habits and lifestyle. Many kitchen appliances showroom offer you the choice of hands-on demonstration, so it might be prudent for you to try out the appliances before you buy! Regardless of your decision, it is important to consider the feasibility of installing your ideal hob as well as ensuring that the electric or gas connections are undertaken by certified professionals like the team from Kitchen Papa.
We also supply new and refurbished gas and induction hobs as well as offer kitchen cabinet modifications and hobs installation services. Need help? Contact us now at enquiry.kitchenpapa@gmail.com or 6282 2278.