Last week, we investigated a range of microwaves with integral grills. But what do you do if you don’t want to crank up the wood-fired kitchen range just to make a Sunday morning fry-up? That’s not something you can do completely in a microwave. That’s what made us look into these double induction hobs. In fact, we recently purchased the Caterlite model we’ve highlighted below.
They’re absolutely brilliant in many ways; firstly, they heat up instantly and cook far quicker than gas or ceramic electric hobs.
Secondly, induction hobs are very energy efficient; up to 90% of the heat produced is used in the cooking process. With electric hobs, the figure is more like 70%, gas is only 45-55%. Combine this data with the fact that induction cooking times are much shorter, your electricity and gas bills will be much lower if you make the switch.
Thirdly, convection is much safer than other hob-cooking methods. The glass surface cools down almost immediately when a hot pan is removed. In addition, many models automatically switch off when a pan is lifted off – you won’t have to worry about whether you’ve left the cooker on!
Lastly, they’re really easy to keep clean; the flat, glass surface has no nooks or crannies for spills & splatters to get into – no more impossible to shift, cooked-solid food remnants.
However, the one thing that you need to keep in mind is that only particular pots & pans will work on the hotplate; cast iron, stainless steel – not aluminium, copper or glass. If a magnet sticks to the bottom of a pan, it means that it will work on an induction hob.
One downside we’ve discovered is the amount of noise that induction hobs make during cooking; it sounds like an extraction fan. It does, however, stop almost as soon as the hotplate goes off. A small price to pay for the convenience, time and money saving.
- VonShef digital double induction hot plate: £73.99, Wayfair
Temperature range: 60°C to 240°C
11cm (H) x 44cm (W) x 65.5cm (D)
2.17kg - Caterlite touch control double induction hob: £130.60, Nisbets
Temperature range: 60°C to 240°C
5.6cm (H) x 60.8cm (W) x 37cm (D)
6.8kg - VariCook slim double induction hob: £149.99, Klarstein
Temperature range: 60°C to 240°C
7cm (H) x 60cm (W) x 36cm (D)
5.2kg
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Prices & links correct at time of publication.
