What are induction cookers - pros and cons, specifications and owner reviews

The first induction cooker appeared in the 80s of the 20th century. The manufacturer was AEG.

At first, the devices were not popular due to the high cost and wariness on the part of the hostesses to all the innovations related to cooking.

Now the situation has changed: more and more people are choosing induction hobs, due to their safety, convenience, heating speed and automatic control.

What is an induction cooker?

Induction cooker is the most innovative cooking equipment. The innovation is that only the dishes are heated, the hob itself remains cold - this is due to the electromagnetic field.

Undoubtedly, an induction cooker is the best option for housewives with small children, because the risk of burns is minimized. The device is much safer than plates with glass-ceramic or with standard cast-iron pancakes.

Principle of operation

The induction cooker works on the principle of electromagnetic induction by physicist Michael Faraday - an electric current arises in a closed circuit after changing the magnetic flux that passes through this circuit. We can say that the induction hob is a transformer.

Under the glass-ceramic panel there is an induction coil, under which an electric current flows.

The coil is the primary winding, the dishes for cooking are secondary, induction currents are sent to its bottom. In this way, pans and pans are heated, as well as the food in them. The glass-ceramic surface becomes hotter only from the dishes.

Types of induction cookers

There are several types of induction cookers:

• Board. Such portable hobs have one or two burners. A good option for small kitchens where you need to save space; as well as in the country. The main advantages: mobility, multifunctionality, the presence of a timer, maintaining a constant temperature, accelerated operation. The surface of the plates is glass-ceramic or tempered glass, such coatings are not destroyed by strong heat or shock. A desktop induction cooker is more economical than others, since it consumes much less current.In addition, its design cannot but please the eye, as it corresponds to modern trends and colors.
• Recessed. Such devices are appreciated by professional cooks and practical housewives. The stove is highly productive, as it has 4 burners and an oven. The device has many temperature options, a timer, food sentence options. Built-in slabs are well suited for private homes, or in apartments with a large area.
• Combined. The whole secret is that the two burners operate in induction mode, and the other two on electricity.

How is the stove arranged?

The induction process occurs due to:

• frequency converter;
• connecting wires;
• control boards;
• induction coil;
• insulation layer;
• glass-ceramic surface;
• dishes made of ferromagnetic material.

In addition, the induction cooker includes a temperature sensor, a cooling system for electrical components and a housing.

Pros and cons

Consider the main advantages of induction cookers over gas and electric:

• Instant heating. Thanks to the electromagnetic field, in the induction technology only pans, pans and other dishes are heated. You can’t be afraid to touch the stove with your hands, and if the soup escapes, it will not stick to the hob so that it cannot be wiped off with a sponge. Do not touch the burner on which the food is cooked, and even more so the hot dishes.
• Efficiency. Induction cookers have high efficiency, because food heats as much as 90% of all the heat generated. This greatly increases work efficiency and reduces cooking time: the dishes heat up very quickly, respectively, food also cooks faster. By cooking time, gas and electric stoves are significantly inferior to induction.
• Economical energy consumption. Based on the fact that the induction cooker is faster than electric, it can be understood that it consumes less electricity. The current is not consumed to heat the coil, but only to create a magnetic field in the induction coil.
• Automation. An important advantage of induction cookers is that the system works automatically: the hot plates heat up when they are placed on pots or pans. It should be noted that the hob does not heat objects with a diameter below a certain parameter. This means that if you accidentally leave a spoon on the burner, the stove will not turn on. Induction cookers have many cooking programs and automatically set the desired temperature. If strong heating is required (for example, for boiling water), it is worth choosing a model with the Power Booster option. It will help the main burner to draw the power of all others.
• Touch control. Touch switches are a more technological and complex solution for the device; they look expensive and stylish. Their advantage is that they do not take up much space, and for control it is enough to touch a finger on the desired burner. Using the touch panel, you can intuitively guess how to adjust the temperature or cooking mode. The touch switches are easy to clean - since they are under a glass ceramic surface, it is enough to wipe them with a damp cloth. Typically, touch-controlled hobs are equipped with a timer option, residual heat indicators, inadvertent blocking, and other useful features.
• Headset integration. A definite plus for any household equipment is the ability to integrate into the headset, because saving space and a neat interior has not hurt anyone. Embedding an induction panel in furniture is very relevant for small kitchens. Under the hob, you can install a box for storing dishes.
• Easy care. The stove has a beautiful appearance and is easy to keep clean. If food falls on the hob, it will not burn, it will be enough to clean it with a soft rag.For the induction cooker, you do not need to purchase special aggressive cleaning products - the panel can be wiped every time after cooking and the stove will look like new.
• Safety. Due to the fact that the stove turns on only if you place the dishes on the burners, it is safe for both children and animals. In addition, the hob remains cold during cooking, which means that the risk of getting a burn remains minimal. It is worth noting that there is no risk of breathing out the harmful substances of the gas, as well as its leakage. An induction cooker will not allow a fire, even if you forget to remove the frying pan from it.

Consider the main disadvantages of the induction cooker:

• Cost. It is no secret that the cost of induction cookers is higher than gas or electric. Ordinary average buyers will not be able to afford such a device. However, it is worth noting that against the background of increasing prices in the crisis period, the difference in the cost of electric and induction cookers has become minimal. The price depends on the built-in functionality, which you can refuse in favor of new technology.
• Exposure to electromagnetic radiation. A large percentage of people refusing innovation in the field of cooking is based on the opinion that the electromagnetic field has a bad effect on human health. Undoubtedly, when the equipment is working, a vortex magnetic field is created. But the harm from it is absolutely the same as when using a mobile phone. Manufacturers themselves claim that for patients who wear pacemakers, it is better to hold half a meter from the induction cooker, or not to use it at all.
• Increased noise. Unfortunately, the induction cooker does not work silently - during cooking, you can hear the buzz that appears due to the interaction of the induction coils with the dishes. This can be annoying for some culinary specialists, but you should not forget that any cooking makes some noise. Every year, manufacturers of household appliances produce stoves with a lower noise level. Also on sale is a special cookware with a perfectly flat bottom, which minimizes buzz. Of course, it costs a lot, but it eliminates buzzing and also improves thermal conductivity.
• Increased tableware requirements. When purchasing an induction cooker, it is important to consider that not every cookware is suitable for it. For heating from a magnetic field to occur, the pans and pans must have ferromagnetic properties. As a rule, ceramics, glass and aluminum do not exactly possess them. If there is a mixture with copper or steel in an aluminum pan, it can be used on an induction cooker. Another option is to buy removable nozzles for the bottom of the dishes, such can be purchased at any store where the plates are sold. To find out the compatibility of dishes with a magnetic field, just bring a magnet to it. If he is attracted - you can safely buy.
• Auto shut off. Quite a few models have the function to turn off the hotplate after three hours. When buying a cooker with induction technology, it is important to consider this point if you plan a long cook on a slow fire of jam, broth, or, for example, aspic.
• Inability to install over household appliances. Manufacturers of hobs do not recommend installing the stove over other built-in appliances made of metal. Thus, the equipment cannot be installed even above an oven, dishwasher, or microwave.

Comparison of induction and electric stoves

Based on the above table, we can conclude that a modern induction stove is a choice in the direction of convenience, safety and functionality.

Of course, the electric hob is also suitable for use, but it will not save time and patience of the housewives as an induction stove does.

Popular Brands

Induction hobs are most often presented in four-burner versions.

All of the above equipment can be found at different companies:

• In the home appliance market, the most popular induction cooker manufacturer is a German company Bosch The company has the largest number of positive reviews and thanks.
• Electrolux - second most popular brand. The cost of induction equipment of the company practically does not differ from the prices of the sales leader.
• The company also received positive feedback from induction cookers Hansa. These are the most affordable hobs, at a price of 13 thousand rubles.
• In addition to the above, in Russia you can buy induction cookers of companies AEG, Whirpool, Neff, Gorenje, Siemens, Samsung and etc.

Hansa bhi68300

Electric induction cooker, made in an aristocratic minimalist style in black glass.

Management on an intuitive level is clear even to a beginner in cooking. Heating is performed instantly, the reaction to a change in power occurs instantly.

Specifications:

• surface type - electric hob;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 60 * 50 cm;
• power - 7 kW;
• panel material - glass-ceramic;
• number of burners - 4;
• regulation - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes;
• hob lock - yes;
• residual heat indicator - yes;
• the shade is black.

Electrolux EHF 96547 XK

Induction cooker with various options: boiling, protective shutdown, blocking from children and animalsshort pause, etc.

The burners are multifunctional, and the stove itself can be installed anywhere and even built into furniture.

Specifications:

• surface type - electric hob;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 57.6 * 51.6 cm;
• power - 7.1 kW;
• panel material - glass-ceramic;
• number of burners - 4;
• number of burners Hi Light - 4;
• the number of three-circuit - 1;
• the number of desks with an oval heating zone - 1;
• regulation - touch, slider;
• timer - yes, sound;
• hob lock - yes;
• residual heat indicator - yes;
• shade - black with silver.

Bosch PIE631FB1E

A stove from a popular manufacturer will not leave anyone indifferent. The hob has convenient buttons on the sensor, automatically recognizes the presence of dishes, warns of the end of cooking and blocks from accidental contact of animals and children.

Specifications:

• surface type - electric hob;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 59.2 * 52.2 cm;
• power - 7.4 kW;
• panel material - glass-ceramic;
• number of burners - 4;
• regulation - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes, with sound;
• hob lock - yes;
• residual heat indicator - yes;
• the shade is black.

Fornelli pga 45 fiero

Plate in an exquisite glass design. It has a wok burner with a triple flame, which allows you to quickly heat foodat. You can use dishes with a spherical bottom.

Specifications:

• surface type - gas cooking;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 45 * 51 cm;
• panel material - tempered glass;
• number of burners - 3;
• regulation - rotary;
• timer - yes;
• the shade is black.

Hotpoint-Ariston IKIA 640 C

A beautiful induction hob, which is a pleasure to cook on. The device recognizes the presence of dishes, and with the help of a timer, it may take time to cook. Cooking dishes happen instantly, which saves you time and money for electricity.

Specifications:

• surface type - electric hob;
• location - independent;
• dimensions - 59 * 51 cm;
• power - 7 kW;
• panel material - glass-ceramic;
• number of burners - 4;
• regulation - touch, buttons;
• timer - yes;
• hob lock - yes;
• residual heat indicator - yes;
• the shade is black.

Customer reviews

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Useful video

Comparison of induction and electric stoves and recommendations for selection: