Any hostess spends a lot of time in the kitchen. Modern household appliances can facilitate and speed up the cooking process. The main attribute of any kitchen is no exception - the stove, which must also be safe and preferably beautiful. Therefore, many manufacturers of modern kitchen appliances pay attention to technical innovations specifically for the creation of new types of cooking appliances. The latest developments are induction hobs.
Induction hob operation principle
Electromagnetic induction is not a new technical solution. It was discovered back in the 19th century by Michael Faraday and has been used in technology for a long time and successfully, including in everyday life. In kitchen technology, non-contact current guidance began to be used in the last twenty years of the twentieth century. The induction-electric panel works as a source of electric current. Voltage is applied to the copper inductivecoil, which is under the glass-ceramic coating. A powerful electromagnetic field arises between the coil and the metal bottom of the dish, eddy currents are created at the bottom, which are accompanied by the release of heat that heats the bottom itself, the walls of the dish, and the food that is in it. This does not heat up either the burner or the surface of the stove around it.
Since thermal energy is released only in a space limited by the diameter of the cookware, it is only used for cooking, so the efficiency of an induction hob is unusually high - more than 90%, while a simple electric one is only 50%.
Induction hob damage
Induction panels create electromagnetic fields and eddy currents during operation. This is what causes a lot of talk and a negative reaction from housewives, because it is believed that electromagnetic radiation is harmful to humans.
The question of harm is most often asked on forums on the Internet by users choosing induction hobs. Owner reviews are unambiguous - there is no harm. Even women who cooked on induction cookers throughout their pregnancy confirm that eddy currents had no effect on their condition or on the he alth of the child.
The magnetic field that is created during the cooking process, firstly, is low-frequency, and secondly, it acts no further than thirty centimeters from the surface.
Only people with pacemakers are advised not to have close contact with a workinginduction hob.
Advantages of the induction hob
High efficiency, minimal energy consumption, fire safety are the main advantages that distinguish induction panels. Since the hob does not heat up, it is impossible to get burned on it, and food that accidentally gets on it does not burn, which greatly facilitates the care of the stove. You can even remove the stain with a paper towel without waiting for the dish to cook and the stove to cool.
Because heat is generated in the pot itself, the heating rate is very fast. In addition, the speed of preheating and further cooking of the dish can be effectively controlled using a modern electronic unit. The electronics regulates the power of the stove very precisely using the Quick Rapid (or Par Boil, Heat Up depending on the manufacturer) function on the quick heating burner.
Attractive design with such an impressive list of advantages is already just a nice bonus.
Disadvantages of the induction hob
Induction hobs, having significant advantages, are also distinguished by a high price against the background of very similar outwardly electric glass-ceramic hobs.
In addition, the built-in induction hob cannot be mounted above metal appliances, such as an oven or dishwasher, which may be critical for some kitchens.
Restriction on the use of dishes is often inconvenient. The induction cooker will not work with glass, ceramic, porcelain, copper or aluminum cookware.
Additional functions of induction panels
Different models of induction hobs have convenient additional functions.
For example, they can change the diameter of the heating zone in accordance with the diameter of the bottom of the cookware within the diameter of the burner, or give a light signal if the diameter of the pan is much smaller than the diameter of the burner.
In some models, there is a FlexInduction function, when the entire surface of the induction cooker becomes a single heating zone. This is convenient in families where food is prepared in large containers (pans or oval casseroles).
Additional convenience is provided by the PowerBoost express heating function for each individual burner, the power of which can be increased by one and a half times the power of another burner to reduce cooking time.
Hobs can be so powerful that the one from which energy is transferred can continue to work on the remainder of its own power.
Many models are equipped with Stop&Go function.
Induction hob manufacturers
Today, all manufacturers of household kitchen appliances also produce induction hobs. Reviews note the optimal ratio of price and quality of devices from Bosch, Zanussi, Hansa, Electrolux, Hotpoint-Ariston and Gorenje.
The Bosch induction hob model PIB651N14E remembers and maintains the heating temperature of the dishes, the desiredhostess, using the constant temperature adjustment function. The hob is equipped with a PowerBoost function for each cooking zone, and the DirectSelect function sets the power level of any burner and activates the oval burner expansion zone.
Stainless steel side profiles and a brushed front edge make the Gorenje IT642AXC built-in induction hob look great on any kitchen countertop.
Each of the four burners is equipped with a timer on which you can set the desired cooking time. The set heating mode and the entire appliance can be blocked. The burners recognize the presence of dishes and can acquire additional power. The stove can turn off when the burner overheats, it is equipped with an error indication system.
For the Hotpoint-Ariston KIO632CC induction hob, selective operation is interesting. The magnetic field does not turn on if there are metal objects on the surface with a diameter of less than 110 mm, that is, nothing will happen to a large spoon forgotten on it. The three cooking zones can automatically switch off after the set cooking time has elapsed. If any abnormality occurs in the surface, an audible signal sounds.
Original solutions for induction panels
Gorenje IT641KR induction surface of an unusual white color with twisting lines on the glass instead of the usual designation of four burners, each of which is equipped with its own separate timer, in addition to the PowerBoost and Stop & Go functions, it can thawfrozen food, child lock, beeper and alarm.
This is an expensive but popular induction hob. Reviews about it first of all note a chic design, and then very fast heating, power adjustment, no residual heating after turning off, as is typical for electric stoves.
The Hansa INARI BHI69307 induction hob is made of absolutely black glass without any images on it. In the touch control zone there are recesses for fingers in the form of symbols that allow you to change the operating settings of the device. This hob uses the "Bridge" function, which allows you to combine two heating zones into one large heating zone. Another useful solution is the keep warm function, which allows you to keep food warm after cooking.
Best induction hob
The expensive Gaggenau CX 480 premium induction hob features a continuous cooking zone of almost three square meters.
You can install four items of dishes on it in any place at the same time, the size and shape of which do not matter. The dishes are displayed on the touch large TFT display, and for each item you can set the cooking time and one of seventeen levels of heating intensity.
For each of the zones where there was a pot or pan, there is an indication of the residual heat of the surface. Child lock and display protection included for safe caresurface.
In the Neff T44T43N0 induction surface, the FlexInduction function is implemented: on the left, the heating zones are combined into one, which, if necessary, can work separately. In addition to the fairly common PowerBoost and Power Management functions (saving energy consumption), there is also a Cleaning-pause mode, when the heaters stop for 20 seconds, so that you can remove, for example, crumbled cereals.
This induction hob features an unusual magnetic switch control system. If it is removed from the surface, the panel turns off.
Single burner induction hobs
Compact induction cookers include a single burner, but have all the positive qualities of a multi-burner induction hob.
According to consumer reviews, the best single burner induction hob is OURSSON IP1200T/S. It is usually purchased in addition to the main stove, but then, as a rule, it is used instead. A wide range of settings allows you to set different temperatures, starting from 60 ° C. It heats up quickly, is easy to maintain and operate, and has a safety shutdown feature.
There is a domestic electric induction cooker "Darina", it is cheaper and easier than OURSSON. It is equipped with a safety shutdown device, a preset timer and has seven operating modes, including universal, for boiling water and milk, making soup, stewing, frying, barbecue.
Today, induction heating is the most advanced technology in everyday cooking. High efficiency, safety, saving time and energy, easy maintenance, a wide range of sizes and number of burners, attractive design - the advantages of induction hobs that look so organic in modern kitchen interiors.
