So you’re updating your kitchen appliances – great! But rather than stick with the type of appliances you usually cook with, why not consider something different? Cooking on hobs has changed dramatically in the last few years and now precision technology works behind the scenes opening the doors for you to create those sensational showstoppers with a bit more ease. So what are the options you have to pick from for your kitchen?
Induction hobs are sleek and stylish. With a minimalist design, these ceramic tops are not only easy to wipe clean after preparing a feast but they also fit pretty flush to your worktop making them a great choice for any style of kitchen. You can get some extra wide Induction hobs like Neff’s T41D82X2. At 80cm wide, not only does this Induction hob have 5 different cooking zones, it also gives you a large 28cm dual zone so you can cook with a large casserole dish. Like with a traditional electric hob, an Induction hob will display exactly which hobs are hot or in use, but unlike many standard electric hobs an Induction hob will only put in its hard work into the bottom area of the pan. This means no more escaping heat around the outside of a pan and no waste of energy. Not only that but it makes wiping away any spillages safe immediately after removing a pan and any splattered oil won’t become burnt onto the outside of a ring.
Induction hobs are also much more precise when it comes to temperature control. Once you’ve got a pan to boil, reduce the temperature and it will immediately slow to a simmer. Some newer Induction Hobs also have a TempControl so you can make a setting of say 105°C for jam, and the hob will keep the contents of the pan on the hob at exactly 105°C until you want to change the temperature. So if you’re really into your cooking, baking or jam making this feature in a hob can make things much simpler.
Gas is a reliable heat source for heating up a pan, it’s visible so you can see exactly where things are hotting up however unlike the Induction Hob, it doesn’t tell you which zone has been used so you run the risk of pesky fingers coming into contact with the hot iron pan supports. Gas hobs are easy to use for temperature control but with the flames being in a fixed place, unlike an Induction pan which will heat the whole base of a pan from centre to edge, a Gas hob may miss areas of a pan if you’re not using the correct size ring. A benefit to using a Gas is that you probably won’t need to invest in new pans when you buy. An Induction hob needs magnetic based pans so you may need to invest if you’re thinking about Induction which could have been an expense you hadn’t factored in.
If you’re still stuck for which to choose, come into us at Gerald Giles on Ber Street, Norwich where you can have a live demonstration of working hobs. See for yourself how easy they are to use and how technology is helping to make the cooking world much more innovative.