There is a revolution going on in kitchens in the Netherlands. More and more people are switching to electric cooking and opting for an induction hob. How such a plate works is extremely interesting and not everyone understands it. However, I found out that it is wise to know in the basics how such a plate works, because it has quite an effect on the way you cook.
Cooking on a magnetic plate
The technology of an induction hob is not difficult to explain. The plate makes the pan itself become the heat source, so to speak. Underneath the glass is a special spiral of copper. It is this spiral that heats the bottom of a pan by means of magnetic forces. The special thing about this system is that heat is created only where you want it – the bottom of the pan.
Which pans for induction hobs do you need?
I also found out that it is good to check whether your pans are suitable for cooking on induction. For example, you can very well use pans made of enamelled steel or cast iron, but special pans made of stainless steel are also fine. How do you know whether a pan can be used on an induction hob? You do this by holding a magnet against it.
Check with a simple magnet
If the magnet “sticks” to the bottom of the pan, the pan is suitable. By the way, this does not mean that all pans that are not magnetic are unsuitable – there are some special pans that are not magnetic, but can be used on an induction hob. It’s all about the size of the magnetic zone. You can also just try it. If the pan does not get hot then it means that the induction plate does not see the pan and so it is not suitable.
The big advantage of the induction plate
The way heating the pan works is, at the same time, also the biggest advantage of an induction hob. There is really very little heat that is not used to heat the pan. If with gas, as much as 40 to 50 per cent of heat is sometimes lost to the environment, with an induction hob this is really almost negligible (somewhere between 10 and 20 per cent).
Saving energy and the price difference
Now that you know how induction hobs work, do you think it is a good idea to buy such a cooker? It is a question I am often asked and I always say that it depends on a lot of factors. Get out the calculator and calculate it. On the one hand, an induction hob is quite expensive to buy. On the other hand, you’ll save quite a bit of money on gas.
And oh yes, you might need to replace some pans. That too can cost quite a bit of money. Because good pans don’t come cheap at all. By the way, there are also plenty of induction cookers that come with a special new pan set. It’s all possible these days!