Induction cook tops: are they worth the price?

Induction cook tops: are they worth the price?

The ‘battle’ between gas and induction cook tops has been going on for a while, at least ever since you can see everyone on TikTok using induction ones. Whether they look better or are simply more efficient, we can’t tell for now, but what’s sure is that most people want gas stoves to be gone, especially since gas is no longer considered a sustainable choice.

That’s the reason why chefs on social media talk about the benefits of cooking with induction appliances. Jon Kung, for example, prefers them because they keep the air cleaner since they don’t burn natural resources to be operable.

But how reliable are induction cook tops really? And what about the costs of owning and running one? If you’ve ever wondered about these products’ efficiency, we’ll discuss some of these aspects to help you decide if it suits your kitchen and your lifestyle.

Induction cook tops: the technology of the future

Induction cook tops are fairly similar to electric ones as far as design is concerned, but what differs between them is the electromagnetic technology behind induction. The cook top doesn’t necessarily heat up, as the energy is transferred to the pan.

In the beginning, induction cook tops were merely a trend on social media. Nowadays, more people have got the handle on it and are switching from gas or electricity to this safer and more energy-efficient solution.

What’s the difference between induction and gas?

Induction is superior to gas in many ways, such as when we talk about surfaces used for cooking. However, the most significant benefit of induction is that it’s sustainable when compared to gas – for both nature and humans. Gas stoves can lead to respiratory problems due to emitting pollutants and are more dangerous to kids, who can be prone to developing asthma with prolonged exposure to gas from stoves.

Are there other advantages of switching to induction cook tops?

Besides being a sustainable and less health-damaging solution, induction is an excellent choice from many perspectives. Firstly, it’s incredibly safe since there are no naked flames resulting from the process. This means that it’s impossible to be burned by touching the surface of the hob. Also, there’s practically zero risk of the kitchen igniting. Moreover, most induction cook tops will automatically shut off after you remove the pan from it after a few seconds. Hence, even if you forget to switch it off after cooking, it’ll shut itself down almost immediately.

At the same time, induction is a more precise method than gas or electric when cooking & heating food because it directly heats only the bottom of the pan. When you switch the stove top off, the heat immediately cuts out, so your food won’t overcook. And since induction is more powerful than electric and gas stoves, it’s also more energy-efficient.

Finally, induction cook tops are extremely easy to clean, as any spilt food won’t burn or stick to its glass finish. Hence, you don’t need powerful cleaning products applied with lots of elbow grease; a simple wipe with a damp cloth and everything’s clean. If you install it in handleless kitchens, then you won’t have to worry about spots ever again.

However, induction is not for everyone because…

Induction is quite costly. Since it’s a fairly recent product on the market, only a few have had access to it so far. Prices tend to start at around £800. The cost for an electrician to install it will be an additional outlay; the electrical wiring needs to be installed safely. On the whole, induction is more expensive compared to gas and electric appliances.

The installation cost will be further increased if you’re making the switch from gas to induction. This is because both a plumber and electrician are needed as it will be necessary to remove the gas line safely, following which you’ll have to install specialist wiring. Finally, they’re required to test to ensure that the stove is properly integrated into the property’s electrical system.

In addition, as the material above the induction unit is glass, the appliance is prone to scratching with regular use. Even the edges are challenging to keep in good quality, which is why some induction cook tops come with a metal frame that helps them last longer in terms of appearance.

Finally, cooking on an induction cook top requires a little getting used to because it works in differently to regular gas and electric hobs. For instance, there’s a lot less waiting time when boiling or frying since pots & pans will reach the necessary temperature almost immediately.

You need a certain type of cookware

The thing with using induction cook tops is that you may have to replace your cookware or simply learn which one of your current ones are suitable for usage. For instance, aluminium, copper or glass won’t work because the material needs to have a magnetic pull for the induction to work.

You can successfully use anything made of cast iron and a particular type of stainless steel with an induction cook top. You can test if your pans are good for induction by sticking a small magnet to each and see if the pan holds it.

What do you think about getting an induction cook top?

Induction cook tops have been trending because they’re smooth and easy to use and clean. They don’t work with literal heat, so the cook top’s surface won’t burn you or the food that falls from the pans. At the same time, the heat is distributed better, so preparing foods may be smoother and faster than with any other stove powered on gas or electricity.

However, before deciding to purchase such an appliance, know that the financial outlay and installation can be quite expensive and the glass surface on top is susceptible to scratching.

disclosure*

On our radar: The Esse 1000 S

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by ESSE Range Cookers & Stoves (@esse1854)

This new electric  Esse 1000 S model is absolutely gorgeous – and quite a radical departure from the company’s traditional looking stoves. It’s very sleek and contemporary – almost resembling upmarket, high tech, kitchen units. It might not suit our rustic old cottage, but has to go into our little notebook for possible future homes of ours or perhaps a suggestion for friends.

The build quality and after sales service is always great from this Lancashire-based company, so we’re always happy to recommend them. The model launches later on this year.

How to calculate oven repair costs

How to calculate oven repair costs | H is for Home

Some Canadian home-owners might still consider DIY as a cheaper alternative to calling out and paying for someone to repair their oven. When choosing a company for oven repair, obviously cost is a huge factor in selection and understanding what that covers. So, at present, how do oven repair costs measure up to simply buying a new one?

Disposable income has played a huge part in convincing Canadians to not simply adopt a DIY policy (when it comes to oven repair); indeed, when it comes to household appliances in general, smaller appliances tend to be replaced when something goes wrong. With larger appliances such as ovens however, lower upfront costs have helped offer a wide range of choice.

Putting roast dinner dishes into the oven

Cost of repair

If you’re going to budget for calling out to have your oven repaired, there are some potential costs to take into consideration:

  • $130-$260 – per project cost
  • $135-$300 – average spend on a call-out
  • $100-$260 – average cost per hour for a repair person

Some of the most common faults are as follow:

  • Broken burner – this will need a new burner
  • Oven door stuck – it may be the touchpad is stopping it from closing or the self-clean latch isn’t properly lined up
  • The oven isn’t working – this could be the valve or baking igniter; it depends on whether it’s gas or electric. If gas, there’s a problem between the thermocouple and pilot light
  • Heating is poor – this will likely need to be replaced as it will be a problem with the controller (if an electric oven) or igniter in a gas oven
  • Bad temp – this will need a replacement; it’s probably the temperature dials or thermostat
  • Fault with baking – this also depends on whether the oven is gas or electric. If electric, a replacement part is needed; if gas, the valve will need to be looked at for gas flow into the oven
  • Burner is too hot – it may just be a switch replacement needed
  • The indicator light isn’t working – switch replacement

As you can see, with many aspects of oven problems, it may simply be a case of replacing a switch or just a dial but equally, it might require a new component part, which is why it would always be advisable to call a repair professional. However, you can make sure you get some guarantees on their work. So before committing to hiring someone, look around for at least 2 or 3 estimates and feel free to ask:

  • Are any damages caused during repair covered by them?
  • Can you have a written guarantee?
  • Do they have any previous client examples, testimonies or information about previous work?
  • Would they accept card payment and/or cash?

The one thing you want to ensure is that by shopping around, your oven is being repaired by a reputable individual or company – the last thing you want is to find yourself needing it to be looked at again in a few weeks or a month’s time.

Knobs on the front of the oven

New oven?

If your oven is no longer under warranty or the quote you receive indicates that you might be spending hundreds of dollars on a repair, it may be just as prudent to look around at deals for new ovens. As a very rough indicator of prices, here’s what some US research suggested as average price ranges. We’ve converted it to equivalent Canadian dollar price ranges:

  • Stand-alone – $400 – $2,370
  • Wall $900 – $4,900
  • Convection – $1,300 – $3,000
  • Baking – $3,000 – $46,000
  • Residential industrial quality – $4,800 – $28,000

It’s worth bearing in mind a number of other factors. If you’re choosing an electric oven, then you might have more digital controls but be at the mercy of a power cut. With a gas oven, you have instant heat but will need a gas line and possibly a vent hood.

Whole chicken cooked in an electric oven

Best options going forward

So, if you’re in the position of needing your oven repaired, shop around to see how much it would cost to fix and do consider how long it would also last following repair. If your overall costs are even close to buying a new oven, then you have to consider the best option for you. After all, there’s a huge difference in prices for each type of oven. Clearly, a stand-alone might set you back up to $1,000 but if you have an expensive wall oven costing $4,000 and it would set you back $400 in repairs, then maybe a repair is your best option.

With the huge range of options available these days online (as well as in-store), you should have a good range of choices, whatever decision you make; take your time, look around and you’ll reach the best decision.

[disclosure*]

Price Points: Stove fans

Stove fans | H is for Home

We have two wood-burning stoves in our new cottage – a large one in the lounge and a small one in the dining room. The former really blasts out the heat, warming the room very quickly. However, we’ve come to the conclusion that the latter needs a bit of help… so we’ve just bought one of these stove fans.

People have recommended these little devices to us in the past… it’s only taken until our 4th house with real fires to get one! Each of our Price Points fans has something different to offer, but ultimately they all aim to push more of the warm air horizontally out into the room at chair height rather than vertically up to the ceiling.

We actually bought model , and we can attest that it truly run silently. We also chose it because our dining room stove is pretty dinky and can’t accommodate a large fan or stand on its top. However, had we seen before we bought the one we did, we would have chosen that instead. In the past, we’ve seen examples that attach to the flue via an obtrusive, silver-coloured metal band. This one attaches to the flue magnetically – and almost invisibly – which frees up the space on the stove top.

  1. 4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black: £19.99, Amazon
  2. 6-blade stove fan: £29.95, eBay
  3. 4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan: £35.65, Banggood

shop stove fans

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Prices & links correct at time of publication.

4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
£35.65
6-blade stove fan
6-blade stove fan
£29.95
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
£19.99
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
£35.65
6-blade stove fan
6-blade stove fan
£29.95
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
£19.99
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
£35.65
6-blade stove fan
6-blade stove fan
£29.95
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
£19.99
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
£35.65
6-blade stove fan
6-blade stove fan
£29.95
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
£19.99
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
4 blades silent wall-mounted heat powered stove fan
£35.65
6-blade stove fan
6-blade stove fan
£29.95
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
4YourHome silent heat-powered stove fan + free stove thermometer, satin black
£19.99