Cooking on an induction hob has quite a few advantages over cooking on gas or on traditional electric hobs. If you're considering switching to induction, there are a few things to keep in mind. Below we've listed some things for you to consider.
The hob
Induction hobs come in all shapes and sizes. The smaller ones have four cooking zones, the larger models have five or six. The use of flex zones is unique to induction: by connecting two cooking zones, you easily have a larger cooking zone. Perfect if you want to use an elongated pan, grill plate or teppanyaki plate for a tasty dish. When buying an induction hob, also look at the options. For safety purposes, many models are equipped with a child lock and automatic switch-off after a certain time. Digital timers for each zone individually, automatic keep-warm and a booster function for super fast heating are just some of the options that increase convenience and cooking pleasure.
The electric installation
When you switch to induction, adjustments in the fuse box may be necessary. Induction hobs can be categorized according to the power consumption.
Four-zone hobs have a maximum power of 7,360 Watts. A special 'perilex' plug is available for this, which draws the power from two groups in the meter box at the same time. Most hobs use a double cooking group (or 2-phase connection). If you do not have this type of connection, it must be installed.
The most advanced hobs – like those with five or six cooking zones – require more than 7,360 watts at a time. These models require a 3-phase connection in the meter box.
The pans
Whether or not your existing pans are suitable for induction cooking depends on the bottom. It must be flat and magnetic. Aluminium and copper pans are often unsuitable for induction. And if you're going to buy new pans, don't just pay attention to the design (important, because looks matter). But for suitable pans, the coil-shaped symbol is also important: this indicates that the pan is suitable for induction cooking.
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