Posted 8 months ago
Mon 29 Jan, 2024 12:01 PM
More and more kitchens are being fitted with them, including in our Purdown View accommodation.
The hobs themselves work a little differently to regular gas or ceramic ones, and induction hobs might take a bit of getting used to if you don't usually cook on them.
Induction ready cookware:
Because of the magnetic technology in induction hobs, they will only work with pots and pans that are induction ready. Don't worry - most pots and pans are these days, with a few exceptions.
What will work:
- Regular and cast iron pans are the best
- Some types of stainless-steel pans (they need to have a low-level of nickel in them to keep the electromagnetic signals working)
What won't work:
- Glass
- Ceramic
- Aluminium
- Copper
How to check:
- If you hold a magnet (one off the fridge will do) to the bottom of the pan, it will stick if it is compatible.
- Induction ready pans usually also have an 'induction compatible' symbol on their base. This looks like a zig-zag or a coil.
How to operate an induction hob
TLDR? Here's a video guide instead:
What makes induction hobs super sustainable is they don't waste energy when not actively heating something. That means they never get warm if a pan isn't on them.
- Place an induction compatible pot/pan on the burner ring. For maximum efficiency, place it on the ring that's closest in size (for instance, small pans on small rings).
- Press and hold the power switch on the hob. This will turn on the entire hob, not just the ring you need.
- Make sure your pan has liquid or contents in it. You should never heat a dry pan.
- You can then turn on the ring you need as directed on the control map on the hob top.
- Adjust the heat as you need. It's important to remember that induction hobs can heat pans to a much higher temperature than other hobs.
- Do not leave your pans unattended at any time and do not overfill them.
- When you have finished, turn off the ring and then the hob entirely.
- Once cooled, clean down any surfaces for the next person to use.