Induction Vs Gas Hob – Are Induction Hobs Better than Gas?

Last Updated On October 17th, 2019

The stove is the most important appliance in your kitchen and deciding which is best – whether an induction hob or a gas is a tricky decision to make. There are many differences between induction and gas hobs, both having their pros and cons.

Induction Hobs

Induction hobs are quicker than other hobs and they are generally cheaper than others as they only use the exact amount of energy you need. This means after cooking, you will be left with a cool stovetop, excluding the area directly under the cooking vessel. This obviously means the induction hobs are safe in family environments as well as less chance of those baked on spills. This type of hob is generally more efficient due to only heating the pan rather than the entire cooking surface. The heat on an induction hob is instantly adjustable, rather than slowly heating up or cooling down found on other hobs. Induction units are usually vertically thin, often requiring less than two inches of depth in the countertop surface.

Gas Hobs

Gas hobs are a big favorite in professional kitchens and chefs. These hobs give instant heat and usually distribute heat well across the base of pots and pans and the heat can be controlled with precision. There is little chance of food overheating if left on the hob, as these generally cool down quickly. As well as this, if you like to broil foods, the gas hob can provide the uneven appeal to your food.

Induction Hob Vs Gas

However, both type of hob come with their downfalls. The induction can only be used on pans with magnetic materials. These are usually stainless steel and cast iron, therefore you may need to invest in a whole new set of pots and pans. Due to the lack of flames on an induction stove, cooks who like to use the charring method may find this a drawback. Occasionally, induction hobs can create noise. Although induction itself is silent, it can result in loose fitting handles on the stove to vibrate, as well as pans with irregular bottoms can make noise on the glass tops, but this is generally only on high heat settings. Also on the high heat settings, light lids may slightly vibrate which may create noise. Due to induction hobs working on electrics, if you live in an area for the electric goes down frequently, this may become an issue.

The gas option also comes with its own negatives. For example, the flame stability can be off putting. Obviously, due to the open flames on this range, open windows can diminish them. Gas hobs are also known to be difficult to clean. Each of the heavy, cast iron grates needs to be moved to be cleaned efficiently and can easily be knocked out of place, which if left unnoticed, can lead to uneven flames when cooking.

There are many factors that cannot be used as a: for or against, such as the running cost for each stove. Due to the energy prices being so volatile, it is impossible to say which stove would be cheaper overall to run.

Summary

Overall, the decision on which hob is better is really down to personal preference when cooking. However, if you aren’t a cook that likes to char food, it would seem the only downfall to the induction is its inability to work with certain types of pots and pans; although, compatible pans can be purchased for a relatively cheap price. This inevitably point to the induction hobs being the more superior range.

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