Induction hob: advantages and disadvantages, selection rules

For several decades, the induction hob has been a success in America and Europe. Russian housewives continue to treat this piece of technology somewhat wary. Let's see why, and also find out more about this type of hob.

What are the advantages

An inductive hob has a number of advantages when compared to gas or electric hobs:

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Operation is absolutely safe. The stove can be used even if there is a curious little child in the house. When he grabs his hands on the operating panel, he will not get burned and will not even feel a pleasant warmth. Many experiments were carried out when a hand was calmly placed on the surface next to a pot of boiling water or a sheet of paper was interlayered under the dishes - it did not catch fire.
Efficiency. Efficiency (efficiency) of 90% is achieved. This indicator is the highest among competitors. The efficiency of heating glass ceramics is 50-60%, and that of a gas stove is 60-65%.

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There is no dependence of power on mains voltage.
The heating speed of the panel is much higher, which means that food preparation is faster. Scientists set up an experiment: half a liter of milk of the same temperature was boiled on an electric, gas and inverter stove. Needless to say, in the latter case, the milk boiled much faster - 4 minutes 10 seconds compared to 4 minutes 48 seconds on gas and 5 minutes 32 seconds on an electrician.
Easy to clean. If you suddenly have porridge running out of the saucepan or you have broken an egg past the pan, there is no reason to worry. Since it is not the stove that heats up, but only the dishes, the liquid remains liquid, it will not burn or dry out. It can be easily wiped off with a kitchen rag and the stove will shine like new.
Economical consumption of electricity. Due to the high percentage of efficiency, energy is spent only on heating the dishes, there is no thermal effect on the air and the remaining panel. This is the main difference from the electric stove, where the current is spent on heating the spiral. Here it is necessary to create a magnetic field in the induction coil, which is much less expensive. We will dwell on this in more detail when we consider the principle of operation of an induction cooker.
To turn on the hotplate, you need dishes of the appropriate diameter - at least 8 centimeters. This feature eliminates the possibility of roasting a fork that has accidentally fallen to the surface. The smart panel also automatically calculates that the diameter of the bottom of the pan should be at least half the diameter of the hotplate.
There are many built-in cooking programs available, unlike the gas hob. This makes the housewife's life much easier and also saves a lot of time.
It is impossible not to mention the appearance of the convection hob. Smooth shiny surface, minimal design, no unnecessary buttons. By the way, a little advice: a panel in a silver color will look more advantageous in the kitchen, since grease stains are less noticeable on it.

What types of induction cookers are there

Convection plates differ in size, functionality, as well as in the option of embedding:

The size. The panel can be either 30x30 centimeters or more than 100 centimeters in length. It depends on the chosen shape: square, rectangle or hexagon. You can experiment with an interesting shape, place tiles in the kitchen in different ways: it can even be angular.
Functional capabilities. The induction hob can be filled with various functions. Some of them are: keep warm mode, pause mode, electronic timer, power control and so on.
Embeddability:

the stove can be combined with an induction oven for the kitchen;
the combined version provides for the presence of several burners, the operation of which is based on different principles: two induction, two electric;
a surface for several burners, which is easy to integrate into kitchen furniture. Shelves for storage or an oven can be installed under it;
small tiles with one burner, which is convenient to move around the apartment or even take with you on a trip.

What are the differences from other plates

In addition to the qualities listed in the advantages, there are other features that distinguish the convection hob from its competitors on the market.

The first is the price. Here the difference is immediately noticeable. An inductive panel will be much more expensive to purchase than a gas or electricity model, which have a similar set of functions. On the other hand, the simplest induction can remain inexpensive and still of high quality. On the websites of equipment stores, you can find many budget options with photos, descriptions and detailed reviews that reveal the advantages and disadvantages of all the models presented.

Secondly, you need special utensils to cook food normally. Cookware with ferromagnetic properties is required. Don't be intimidated by this difficult word. In simpler terms, a magnet should be attracted to pans and pots. Such utensils for cooking can be found in any store, they are marked with a special icon indicating their properties. Additionally, you can take a magnet with you and check the authenticity. However, it is not necessary to change the entire set of cookware for the sake of a new stove. Proven cast iron and stainless steel items will do, even if they have a layer of enamel on them. Never use materials such as aluminum, copper, porcelain, glass, ceramics. If you do not want to part with your favorite dishes at all, but you do want a modern stove, then there is a solution to the problem. Just buy special metal discs that attach to the bottom of your good old saucepan and make it suitable for use.

Thirdly, the convection hob makes a certain noise. It quietly hums or buzzes - this sound is emitted by the working coils when they interact with the dishes. The hum, however, is not too loud, it dissolves into the everyday atmosphere of noisy fuss in the kitchen. In addition, the more modern the model of the hob, the quieter the sound it emits.

Induction hob working principle

Let's finally deal with the question that torments all readers from the very beginning of the article. It's time to find out how an induction cooker works.

We owe the existence of the inductive cooker to the famous English physicist Michael Faraday. It was he who in 1831 discovered the phenomenon of electromagnetic induction. In order not to delve into the history of science, let us turn to practice. Let's answer the question what an induction cooker means.

The hob is made of glass ceramics. Under it is an induction coil made of copper wire, which by its appearance resembles a flat snail with numerous turns on the sink. An electric current with a frequency of 20-60 kHz passes through all the turns of the coil, an alternating electromagnetic field appears, and then an induction current. Cookware with a ferromagnetic circuit, which has already been mentioned above, becomes part of the electromagnetic circuit. Thus, the induction coil acts as the primary winding, and the cookware on the stove is the secondary winding. The bottom of the cookware is heated by the induction eddy current.

Heat losses in this case are minimized. The main forces are the direction of heating the dishes, the food in the dishes is heated, and the glass-ceramic surface is heated by the dishes on it. And then, as soon as the pan is removed from the panel, it automatically turns off and cools down in a matter of minutes.

Recommendations for use

Never use cookware made of materials that are not suitable for use with an induction hob.
There are models that automatically turn off after 2-3 hours. Watch your stove if you cook for a long time.
Not every induction hob has the ability to place an oven, dishwasher, microwave oven and other metal appliances. When choosing a model, pay attention to this, get advice from a specialist.

Induction hob malfunctions

Despite the high cost, the stove is not perfect and can break like any other. The most common problems:

insufficient heating power - associated with the wrong diameter or location of the dishes, as well as overheating of the copper coil;
one of the burners or a whole row does not work - most often it occurs due to the incompatibility of the dishes with the type of stove;
no connection - it is necessary to check the fuse and mains power;
Residual heat indicator is broken - run a software test to check the temperature sensor is working.

There are not so many malfunctions, and they are all subject to resolution. In extreme cases, you can be helped by a master - a specialist in the repair of inverter plates.

What the market offers, the main manufacturers

There are many different models and manufacturers in Moscow's hardware stores. The most famous of them: AEG-Electrolux, ILVE, BOSCH, Hansa, Zanussi, Samsung, Siemens, Gorenje. Among the options offered are both more economical brands and those targeted at the premium class of consumers.

Induction hob technology is the most advanced and modern in the world. It is only gaining popularity so far, but has already managed to gain the well-deserved respect of cooking lovers living in advanced countries.