Induction Hobs: How They Work and Living With One

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Induction Hobs: How They Work and Living With One

The mechanism, pans, electrical supply and safety

Induction hobs heat differently from everything that came before, which changes the cookware, the wiring and how quickly things go wrong.

How it works

A coil under the glass creates a magnetic field that induces a current in the pan itself, so the pan is the heat source and the hob surface stays comparatively cool.

That makes it fast and efficient, since almost all the energy goes into the pan rather than the air around it. It also means it responds instantly, like gas.

Pans

The base must be ferrous. Test with a fridge magnet — if it sticks firmly, the pan will work. Most stainless steel, cast iron and enamelled steel do; aluminium, copper and glass do not unless they have a bonded magnetic base.

A flat base matters more than on gas, since contact is everything. A warped pan heats unevenly and can buzz.

Electrical supply

An induction hob needs a dedicated high-current circuit installed by a qualified electrician, not a standard socket. Most fixed electrical work in a kitchen is notifiable.

Check the required rating before buying, since some kitchens need the supply upgrading.

Safety

The surface is heated by the pan, so it stays hot afterwards and can still burn. Residual heat indicators matter.

People with pacemakers or implanted defibrillators should check their device manufacturer's guidance and keep a distance from an operating hob.

Keep cards, keys and anything magnetically encoded off the hob surface.

Replacing a gas hob

Moving from gas to induction means new cookware, a new electrical circuit and capping the gas supply by a registered engineer. Price the whole job rather than the appliance.

Induction also removes combustion products from the kitchen, which matters for indoor air quality.

Cleaning and care

Wipe spills once the surface has cooled, use a ceramic scraper for anything baked on, and never put a wet pan onto a hot zone.

Noise and quirks

Induction hobs buzz and hum with some pans, particularly at high power, and the cooling fan runs after use. Neither is a fault, and a heavier flat-based pan reduces the noise noticeably.

Very small pans may not be detected at all, so check the minimum base diameter each zone requires.

Check the pan detection minimum before buying a hob if you use small pans.

Keep the manual, since fault codes are meaningless without it.

Living with it

Wipe spills once cool, since sugar burns onto the glass permanently, and use a proper ceramic scraper rather than anything abrasive.

Dragging pans scratches the glass; lift them instead.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Electrolux D2C FR? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Electrolux D2C FR — official site

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