Induction hob: types of inverter hobs, features of the tiles, how to use it correctly

Everything in this world moves, grows and develops. Progress and household appliances are not spared. Moreover, this is one of those industries where development is especially noticeable. Washing machines, food processors, microwave ovens and other wonders of modern household appliances cannot but amaze and delight a person.

Pros and cons of induction cookers

And one of these devices is an induction cooker. Once upon a time it was even impossible to imagine how "smart", safe and convenient a simple kitchen attribute for cooking. The point is not so much about the attractive appearance, which will add additional sophistication to the interior, but about convenience and safety. After all, a modern induction hob is able to independently control its work and even manage the cooking process by adjusting the temperature, which allows it to maintain a given cooking mode.

Externally, an inverter (or induction) cooker is not much different from the usual electric cooker with a panel and touch control. In reality, they are united only by their external similarity. Then what is an induction cooker? This is a kitchen technique that allows you to cook food, the principle of which is based on the action of an electromagnetic field, which makes it unique. But, like any technical novelty, such a stove has a number of its disadvantages:

• Perhaps the main disadvantage is the price. So far, the cost of induction panels in the CIS is quite high.
• When purchasing such a tile, you should know that you will have to replace the utensils for cooking. It is desirable if it has a magnetic bottom surface in order to better contact the work surface. Of course, you can use ordinary pots and pans, but the metal from which they are made must be magnetic.
• Another unpleasant moment is the high noise level even in the latest models. However, this problem can be completely solved if you use dishes that are tightly attached to the hob.
• At a stretch, electromagnetic radiation can also be attributed to the minuses, which formed the basis for the operation of inverter plates. Of course, such radiation does not have the best effect on health, but you need to understand that electromagnetic waves can have any detrimental effect only with prolonged close contact with device. If you are more than 15-20 cm from the working surface, then the harm in this case will be no more than from a computer or mobile phone.

Despite the above disadvantages, if they can be called such, there are much more advantages for this unit:

• The main advantage of inverter cookers is safety. Indeed, unlike our usual gas or electric stoves, the work surface near the dishes remains cold. And also cutlery accidentally left on the burner will not heat up, which excludes the possibility of getting burns. Even when the stove is turned on, it will stay cold if there are no special dishes on it, and this can be a special plus when you have small children. And also fire safety can be noted, because the surface of such plates does not heat up, which means that a rag or other non-heat-resistant object cannot catch fire.
• Of course, the main advantages include efficiency. Heating will not start until ferromagnetic pans of the correct size and material are in place. So, electricity consumption occurs only when we directly prepare food, the efficiency is 80-90%.
• Multifunctionality makes it much easier to prepare many dishes.
• The cooking time of inverter cookers is significantly less than that of their gas or electric counterparts.
• Ease of cleaning. Since the surface does not heat up, spilled liquid or food accidentally falling on it will not burn out, which greatly simplifies the maintenance of the device.

Varieties of technology

Any modern technique, working on certain principles and designed for specific tasks, has some kind of variation to cover a wide range of human needs. Inverter cookers are no exception. and are also divided into several types, each of which is more preferable in a particular case:

• The small tabletop version, the induction hob, saves space and can be a kind of traveling option if needed. Naturally, if the place where the person is going implies the presence of an outlet.
• A hob - what is it? Rather, a universal option, since it can be used purely for its intended purpose, becoming part of the kitchen set. Or with the subsequent addition of an oven.
• The design common with the oven will also find its fans. It is quite convenient and multifunctional, but it requires its own place in the interior of the kitchen.

The principle of operation and capabilities of the device

The hob is made of a non-magnetic dielectric material, like glass ceramics. Directly below the surface is inductor (therefore, an induction cooker), which has good electrical conductivity and a cylindrical shape.

When turned on, a high-frequency electric current flows through the coil, which, in turn, excites an alternating magnetic field. Going beyond the panel, the magnetic field also captures the dishes on the surface, made of a material with magnetic properties (cast iron, iron). An electric current is excited in it, which experiences resistance to its movement. As a result, the material of the cookware heats up. Simply put, the pot or pan itself is heating, not the surface of the hob.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that if you touch the work surface near the dishes with your hand while the stove is in operation, it will be at about room temperature. But under a frying pan or saucepan, the temperature is slightly higher. This is because the surface heats up not by itself, but from the dishes in which we cook. If, for example, you remove the frying pan, the panel will return to normal room temperature pretty quickly.

All inverter cookers are equipped with a built-in timer, which is quite versatile. Let's say it allows not only to restrict the amount of energy expended when cooking, but also extremely accurately set various cooking modes. Many models are equipped with a "boil mode", which makes it possible, after boiling the dish, to let it boil for a specified time, after which the stove will automatically turn off.

Undoubtedly, so "smart" devices equipped with an electronic scoreboard on which you can see:

• Watch;
• Power consumption;
• Temperature;
• Cooking time;
• In the event of a sudden shutdown, an error code is displayed to make it easier to determine the cause of the failure.

Of course, depending on the brand and model, these parameters can be much wider. There are models in which both induction burners and conventional electric ones are implemented.

Features of induction cookers

I would like to note some features, which may be interesting and useful for a more accurate understanding of inverter cookers:

• The price threshold of the described devices is higher due to their higher manufacturability.
• Contrary to the delusion of some people, there is absolutely no harm from cooking, due to the insignificant effect of electromagnetic fields on the food being prepared. However, you should not expose yourself to prolonged contact with the working surface, because how such radiation acts on the human body is not completely clear.
• Such plates are equipped with temperature sensors that very accurately maintain the mode specified by the program. There are no such possibilities on simple gas or electric stoves.
• It provides the possibility of sound signals, which is extremely convenient when preparing various dishes.
• Almost all tiles are equipped with emergency shutdown temperature sensors. This means that in the event of a malfunction or failure of the main program upon reaching 250 degrees, the smart machine will turn off your kettle or frying pan in any case.
• The described devices are also distinguished by the high accuracy of the temperature regime. Suppose, in electric stoves, heating occurs due to heating elements, which implies inertial heating, and this reduces the accuracy of the maintained temperature.
• If drops of oil, water or pieces of food get on the surface during cooking, they will not burn and can be removed immediately, because they simply stop heating up.
• During cooking, you can lay a towel to prevent splashing on the surface of the panel.
• The units in question are also programmed for additional savings. If several burners are used at the same time, then the program itself will reduce the total power in order to reduce the load on both the electronics itself and the wiring in the house. For example, if the total power consumption is 3 kW, then the consumption will decrease to 2.5 when all the burners are turned on.

Installation tips

It is clear that such things require knowledge of some points in terms of installation:

• It is not recommended to install induction hobs near metal objects: pipes, corners, metal structures, etc. There is no danger here, but this can negatively affect the operation of the device itself.
• In advance, you need to think about good ventilation, since the electronics of such stoves require good cooling.
• Avoid placing tiles close to other kitchen appliances. And the point here is not so much in the presence of metal in the design of such units, but in the mutual influence of electromagnetic radiation. The minimum recommended distance between them should not be less than 50 cm.

Recommended cookware

This technique requires specialized dishes. Of course, you can cook in the usual one, but it is worth knowing that the stove won't workif your dishes:

• Does not conduct electric current;
• Conducts too well;
• Diameter less than 5 inches (≈ 12 cm);
• Already heated above the permissible value (usually ≈ 100 ° C).

Otherwise, any material that contains metal is suitable, so both cast iron and stainless steel are quite suitable for cooking on such stoves.

If you choose cookware with the calculation of use and on "induction", then pay attention to the presence of a special icon that says that such cookware is suitable for these purposes. It looks like a spiral with the inscription "Induction" at the bottom.