Pros and cons of induction cooktops

The kitchen is one of the most frequently used places in the house. I would like this place to be as comfortable and functional as possible, which is easily achieved with modern technology.

An induction hob is a good alternative to a conventional stove. Many people do not trust new technologies and return to the “old fashioned” method of cooking on classic stoves. Therefore, it is worth understanding the pros and cons of induction hobs.

Advantages

Any kitchen appliance has advantages and disadvantages, and this includes an induction hob.

Efficiency

The principle of operation of induction panels is simple, its essence is to heat the surface of the panel itself, and the bottom of the cookware. This is possible thanks to the high-frequency magnetic field created by the coil. Thus, the bottom of the pan heats up, but the surface remains cold.

Cooking time is reduced by almost half. For example, it takes up to 10 minutes to heat a couple of liters of water on an electric stove, but an induction panel will cope with this task in 5-6.

Fast heating

The pan will begin to heat up immediately after it is placed on the stove. Much also depends on the cookware itself, but in general the cooking time is reduced significantly.

Energy Saving

An induction hob consumes almost half the electricity compared to alternative electric options. Because most of the energy is spent heating the cookware rather than the environment, not much energy is wasted.

Automatic on and off

The panel reacts only to plates, pots, pans that have magnetic properties. Their diameter should not be less than 12 centimeters. Only after the above dishes are on the panel, the second one will begin its work. Immediately after the dishes are removed, their operation will stop.

Important! The walls of the pot or frying pan can be made of any material; only the bottom must have magnetic properties so that the panel can start working.

Touch control

You can control the induction hob using a sensor. There are no buttons or knobs on it.

Icons are drawn on the glass-ceramic surface, by clicking on which you can easily set a command. Even a child can handle the controls.

Care

Caring for the stove does not require much effort. Cleaning up spilled liquid or leftover food from the panel is no more difficult than from the table. This can be done with an ordinary sponge or rag.

Design

The induction hob is distinguished by its modern design. It looks strictly and concisely, so it will not hurt the eye and stand out in any way in the kitchen.

Flaws

The most common disadvantages of the panel include cost, as well as increased operating noise of the equipment.

Price

High cost is one of the most significant disadvantages.Good equipment will cost a pretty penny.

There are also models whose price is lower, but their functionality leaves much to be desired.

You can easily pay for your stove by saving energy. This is much easier to do with special cookware designed for inductive panels.

Increased noise

The noise is generated by the fan, which serves to cool the coil and electronics board. Different cookware causes different noise levels. For example, special cookware is much quieter than when a cast iron or steel pan is on the stove. Their material is more multi-layered, and food rarely burns on such dishes.

Electromagnetic radiation

Induction cookers do not pose a major risk to human health. Although electromagnetic radiation cannot be called useful either, so you need to follow a couple of rules:

• try to have as little contact with the stove as possible while cooking;
• you are half a meter from the stove;
• Put away electronics such as smartphones, televisions, and other kitchen appliances.

Demanding on dishes

There are really a lot of restrictions when choosing dishes. This is due to the fact that the tile only reacts to dishes with magnetic properties. Glass, aluminum or ceramic vessels can be immediately excluded; it will not be possible to cook in them on such a stove.

All vessels with uneven bottoms are also excluded. For example, frying pans with grooved bottoms or uneven pans with thin bottoms.

Important! The heating rate of the stove and the amount of lost electricity depend on the bottom. If the bottom is not level, only that part of the pan that is in full contact with the socket will heat up.Consequently, if the bottom of the vessel is not completely heated, it takes longer to heat up and more electricity is wasted.

Automatic shutdown after 3 hours

Most models have a built-in timer that turns off the stove after a certain period of time has elapsed.

Most panels are not designed for long-term cooking and turn off much faster. You will have to manually approach and turn it on again.

On the other hand, this function can protect against fire.

In order to avoid this drawback, you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics and functions of the panel before purchasing.

Comparison with a classic hob

If you compare an induction hob with a classic hob, you can find both pros and cons on both sides.

First of all, the main advantage of an induction cooker is energy savings. Since the panel automatically adjusts to the size of the pan, it heats up faster.

This function also eliminates the possibility of getting burned, unlike the classic panel, on which this is very easy to do. Even if you leave a spoon or fork on the stove, it will not heat up, since its diameter is less than 12 cm. Empty dishes also do not heat up, so they will not burn, even if they remain on the stove. The function will be very useful for families with small children.

At the same time, a classic panel is cheaper than an induction cooker. You don't need to buy any special utensils for it.

Any technology has advantages and disadvantages, and an induction panel is no exception. And to leave your choice on it or give preference to the classics is up to you!