The basis of the induction hob is electromagnetic induction. Under the glass-ceramic surface there is an induction coil, through which an electric current with a frequency of up to 60 kHz flows. Induction currents are served in the bottom of the metal cookware, which is placed on the stove, heating not the cooking surface, but the cookware itself and what is in it.
- Advantages and Disadvantages of Induction Panels
- Selection Criteria for Induction Panels
- Induction Panels Functions
- Design of Induction Cookers
- Is induction in the home safe?
- Choosing a dish
Advantages and disadvantages of induction panels
Like any other devices, induction hob has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- High heating rate compared to all other types of cooking surfaces. The efficiency reaches 90%( for comparison, at the gas stove this figure is 60%).
- Significantly lower power consumption than traditional electric stoves. To create a magnetic field requires much less current than the heating of the spiral.
- Perhaps the most important advantage is safety compared to electric and gas hobs. It is impossible to get burned about it, there will be no fire if you accidentally forget to turn it off. The surface cools down in just a minute.
- Ease of care. You can not be afraid to spill something on the surface - it is easily rubbed off with a soft cloth.
Disadvantages:
A feature with which an induction hob often scares customers away is that it is not possible to use aluminum or glass dishware, as well as to place it over built-in appliances made of metal( for example, an oven).Another important drawback is the high price compared with analogues, as well as expensive repairs in case of malfunctions( although if used correctly, the device will last for many years).These cons interfere with modern kitchen appliances to force out the usual gas and electric stoves.
Induction Panel Selection Criteria When considering which model to choose, one should pay attention to the following parameters:
- embedded or free-standing( dependent or independent);
- shape and size;
- functions;
- design;
- price.
Freestanding are usually compact, independent, portable tiles for one or two burners. They are convenient to use in rental housing, at the cottage or during repair. Their advantage is that it can be placed on a table in any room. There are also full-size, freestanding models, connected to the oven, but they are not very popular. It is better to pay attention to the built-in independent panels, in which the hob "sinks" in the countertop. Their range is much more diverse. You can choose the best option for the kitchen of any size, configuration and design, taking into account all the features of the interior.
According to the , the is a built-in independent hob that can be rectangular, square or hexagonal. The dimensions of the are from a small 30x30 panel to a huge block more than a meter wide. The number and location of the burners, choose the best for your family. For one person, two is more than enough, but for a large family it is better to choose four or even six.
Functions of induction panels
When choosing a kitchen assistant, special attention should be paid to the amount of functionality. And decide which ones are needed and which are not, as the cost will depend on it. Here are the most basic ones:
- presence of both induction, and TENovy rings( the combined plates) - for those who do not want to part with favorite ware;
- induction hotplates of different diameters: a wide area requires a large area, for a coffee turk, a small one, take into account the size of your dishes( there are models with an expansion zone that allows you to use dishes of different sizes on one burner);
- panel lock - protects against accidental switching on of the device( important if there are small children in the house);
- protective shutdown - works if liquid spilled on the panel;
- timer with a beep - allows you to set the cooking time, the stove will turn off after a specified period of time;
- heat indicator - will show when the burner has cooled down and you can touch it without fear of getting burned;
- multistage temperature control - allows you to cook different dishes in different modes;
- indicator of the presence of filled dishes - the panel without dishes or with an empty pan will not turn on;
- automatic shutdown, if the hob is not used for some time;
- PowerBoost - the possibility of increasing the power of the burner up to 50% at the expense of the next( for the fastest possible heating);
- keeping warm - allows the cooked dish to stay hot for a long time( true if all family members come home at different times);
- “induction without boundaries” - there are no clearly defined boundaries, but only a cross, which allows you to easily arrange the dishes;
- pause - the ability to turn off the hob for a short time( if you need to quickly move away).
It should be noted that such a rich set of functions is not found in any other form of cookers, many consider these advantages to be decisive when choosing the type of cooking surface. Older people consider a large set of functions a disadvantage, but the interface of modern independent cooktops is as simple and straightforward as possible.
Design of induction hobs
The appearance is very diverse, you can easily choose a hob that fits perfectly into even the most sophisticated interior, the built-in kitchen appliances are especially popular today. If earlier most of the models were presented in black, then today white and silver are more popular, and you can also choose independent color panels. Despite the fact that, regardless of the color, the glass-ceramic surfaces are easy to clean, yet on a light background fat and moisture spots are less noticeable than on black, this advantage allows the white plate to maintain a presentable appearance even at the height of cooking. Induction plates are made not only from glass ceramics, but also from tempered glass. They are more beautiful than ceramic, but respectively more expensive.
The models also differ in the form of control knobs: touch, magnetic, mechanical. In terms of functionality, they do not differ, you can choose any, which is more convenient and more like the look. Touch buttons do not heat up at all, unlike plates with heating elements, when it is difficult to touch them after long cooking.
The price of depends on many factors: brand, functionality, new or old model, built-in or freestanding, independent or dependent. Not always the brand - the guarantor of quality, decent models can be found in the little-known manufacturers. No matter how much the panel costs, the main thing is for the store to provide a guarantee for the product, in order to return funds in case of a breakdown or to request free repair. Choose an affordable option with a huge variety of hobs is not difficult.
Is induction safe in the home?
There is a hypothesis that the magnetic field adversely affects human health. And the mechanism of operation of induction plates is not understandable to all ordinary people, therefore, safety concerns are understandable. And this opinion is not without reason: when an induction plate is in operation, a vortex magnetic field is created, theoretically it can be dangerous for people wearing pacemakers, these features should be taken into account and consulted with a doctor. It may be worth choosing kitchen appliances without induction.
But manufacturers claim that such a field in their devices is low-frequency and is not capable of harming human health. In addition, eddy currents are limited to the device body, and already at a distance of 30 centimeters from it the effect of the magnetic field is zero. In any case, the harm from the radiation plate is no more than from a mobile phone or computer.
A claim that food cooked on such a cooking surface has harmful properties is nothing more than a myth. Magnetic radiation has no effect on the properties, taste and structure of the food being prepared, the induction hob is as good as the quality of the cooked dishes. And if you compare the pros and cons of these devices - the gas and electric hob lose in all respects.
Choosing a dish
If you decide to purchase an induction hob, you need to take care of a suitable dish with ferromagnetic properties. It is not necessary to look for it in special stores, the main requirement is that a magnet be attracted to the bottom. You can not put on an induction cooker copper, aluminum, glass, ceramic, porcelain. And the ware from cast iron, stainless steel, even white enameled - quite will approach.
If you are in doubt about which pot to buy, take a magnet to the store: pull it in - that means it fits. Pay attention also to the diameter of the bottom( it should correspond to the size of the burner) and the thickness of the bottom( optimally - from 2 to 6 mm).Now on sale there are dishes suitable for induction panels. It is indicated by special characters.
